BY THEMBA ZWANE
NHLANGANO — The Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) has put its management of members’ savings under the spotlight after declaring a 10% members’ interest for the financial year ended June 2025, as the Fund intensifies direct engagement with workers across the country.
The figure was highlighted during the Fund’s Catsatsa! Sikuwe Member Engagement Roadshow in Nhlangano, where ENPF Chief Executive Officer Futhi Tembe and the executive and management team engaged employees and employers at Zheng Yong Factory, Montigny Investments and FTM.
The 10% return represents an increase from the 8.65% declared in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023, making the performance of members’ savings a central issue during the workplace engagements.
Tembe said the return should be understood alongside the responsibility carried by the Fund in managing workers’ money.
“When members see a return such as 10%, they should also understand the responsibility behind that number. This is their money, earned through their work and saved for their future. Our job is to manage it responsibly, protect it and create sustainable value for members,” Tembe said.
The roadshow provided employees with an opportunity to question ENPF management directly about their savings and benefits, while the Fund used the engagements to explain its operations and respond to practical concerns raised by members.
Discussions covered members’ interest, contributions, Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, claims, benefits, Ingungu voluntary supplementary savings, Sizumbulu lump-sum savings and Siphephelo free funeral cover.
Employers also raised issues relating to compliance, member education and communication between the Fund and their employees.
The employers expressed appreciation for the Fund’s stewardship of members’ savings, with transparency, innovation and regular engagement identified as important factors in strengthening confidence among employees.
The Fund’s expanding digital presence also featured prominently, with employers welcoming #MyENPF as another channel through which members can access information and remain connected with the institution.
The Fund said combining digital communication with face-to-face engagements was important in reaching members across different generations and workplaces.
The roadshow also highlighted the need for members to take a more active interest in their retirement savings rather than viewing their monthly deductions merely as figures appearing on payslips.
ENPF General Manager Operations Vusi Ngcamphalala encouraged members to consider voluntary supplementary contributions to strengthen their eventual retirement position.
He also explained the implications of the Fund’s proposed conversion from a provident fund into a pension arrangement, which is intended to provide members with income during retirement rather than focusing solely on a lump-sum benefit.
The engagement further addressed Siphephelo, the Fund’s free funeral benefit for qualifying active members, and the importance of maintaining continuous contributions and complying with KYC requirements.
Tembe said the purpose of the roadshow was not simply to communicate information to members but to create a direct platform for accountability.
“Catsatsa! Sikuwe is not about speaking at our members. It is about speaking with them. We want members to ask difficult questions, understand their benefits and know what is happening with their savings. Putting members first means being accessible and accountable to them,” she said.
Popular personalities Gogo and Silwane added an entertainment and community dimension to the activation, helping create an accessible environment around financial education and member interaction.
The Nhlangano engagement forms part of ENPF’s broader message of “Putting Members First, Securing Lidlelantfongeni’s Future for Generations.”
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