Why some public servants wish to continue beyond retirement age

SOUTH African public servants facing mandatory retirement at 65, share their experiences and desires to continue working and the challenges posed by financial insecurity.

According to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the current mandatory retirement age for public servants is 65.

“In terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 (PSA), the normal retirement age of employees is 65 years, and such employees will, on retirement, retire with no pension penalties. Although employees from the ages of 55 to 60 years may retire from the public service, such retirement may be subject to penalties to their pension,” stated in the DPSA retirement document.

However, with the rising cost of living and tough economy, many individuals said they would prefer to continue working if it meant getting a stable income or just continuing their passion. 

Jason Ramcharan, a welder from Pinetown, retired at 65-years-old. He always wished that he could continue working as he loved his job and felt he was competent enough to continue working. 

“I always loved working as a welder, it was my passion. When I finished school, my father asked me what I wanted to study and I said I wanted to get into a trade. While my siblings studied to become teachers, I started an apprenticeship in welding. I never regretted my choice because even though it was hard work, it was exciting and motivating,” he said.

Ramcharan, now 68 years old, said he possessed all the knowledge to help others but had to sadly end his welding journey due to the retirement age. 

“I was good at my job and because I have so many years of experience under my belt, the job is second nature for me. I was proficient at my trade and had no issues. Sadly, retirement ended my career.

“To be a welder, one has to learn all the time and have a sharp mind – the ability to think on the spot. If I had the opportunity, I would definitely go back to work. A lot of people said the work was strenuous and difficult, especially with age. But for people like myself, we know what it takes to get the job done. My passion drove me.

“I have years of experience and knowledge that could still be used in the industry. Sadly, 65 crept up faster that I knew. I think it would have been great if the retirement age could be amended. It would allow some of us to continue working and sharing our experience a little longer. Well, that’s provided we are physically and mentally fit," added Ramcharan. 

Daniela Govender from Chatsworth, was a pre-school teacher and retired two years ago when she turned 65.

“Initially I wanted to retire at 60 but my husband had taken forced early retirement at 50-years-old. We decided that I should continue working for as long as I could. I loved being a teacher. It was always my dream but sometimes the school environment could be tough and today’s children are less well-behaved. However, the income and benefits from being a teacher was great, so I continued teaching until 65.”

The now 67-year-old said for the first few months before her retirement she was stressed and worried about the financial implications of her not working.

“At times I even feared signing my retirement papers because it felt so final. The reality is that I would not get my salary every month. Medical aid was our top priority. Fortunately, the government still pays half of the premium each month. Knowing that I was not going to get a fixed monthly income made my stress over the rand and cents. I had to tighten our purse strings.

“Even though we had saved money for our retirement, our lifestyle has changed. Sometimes we feel that my pension income is not going to be enough. I think that stems from my husband retiring early. The funds that he had did not last long and currently there is not a lot of money left. We have children but we don’t want to be a burden to anyone.

“I feel that if I was allowed to retire later, we would have been able to save more money to make us comfortable. More especially, I loved being a teacher. In the teaching profession, the older you are, the more knowledge you have. Ultimately it helps the pupils in the long run. We have a lot of experience and we could also guide the younger teachers,” said Govender.

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