Question NW3729 to the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
11 December 2023 - NW3729
Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
Considering that several poor and unemployed women in the rural areas have been contributing towards group funeral schemes with the SA Post Office (SAPO), and noting that in the past three weeks their funeral claims could not be paid, with SAPO claiming that it has run out of funds, (a) what is the exact reason behind the nonpayment of the SAPO funeral claims, (b) what total number of (i) claims has SAPO received from 1 October 2023 to date and (ii) the specified claims were not paid, (c) what is the total monetary value of the claims, (d) which provinces are most affected, (e) by what date is it envisaged that the claims will be honoured and (f) how does SAPO intend to ensure that all the investors do not lose their funeral benefits?
Reply:
(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f) The SAPO does not have a product on funeral schemes. It only collects monthly premiums for Assupol, Lifewise etc. and no claims for these clients are processed via SAPO. The only claims for funeral cover that are claimed through the Post Office are for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) which is funded by them, and there is no backlog with these (GEPF) claims.
Thank You.