SAMRO urges members to update personal information

Titled SAMRO Retirement Annuity Fund (SRAF), the initiative follows the implementation of South Africa’s Two-Pot Retirement System, which came into effect on 1 September 2024 and allows qualifying members to access a portion of their retirement savings under specific conditions.

According to the fund, more than 275 savings withdrawal claims have been processed since the system was introduced, resulting in payments exceeding R2.4 million to members.

Established in 1969, SRAF serves qualifying Associate and Full members of SAMRO. The fund currently has more than 12 300 members and manages assets valued at over R490 million.

However, the fund says incomplete member records are creating communication challenges. SRAF reported that 2,347 members do not have an email address on file, while only 5 240 members have valid contact numbers recorded. This leaves more than 7 000 members potentially difficult to contact.

The fund has also identified gaps in members’ tax information, which is required for processing certain retirement-related transactions.

In February 2026, SRAF distributed annual benefit statements by email. More than 2,000 of those statements could not be delivered because of invalid, outdated or inactive email addresses.

SRAF general manager for member services, Nobambo Goduka, said the organisation was seeking to ensure that all eligible members could access their retirement information and benefits.

“We want every qualifying member to have access to their retirement information and benefits,” Goduka said.

“The challenge we face is that many members have changed their contact details over the years without updating their records. We are encouraging all members to verify and update their information to ensure they can access their benefits when needed.”

The fund is urging members to review and update their contact details, banking information, tax numbers and beneficiary information to avoid delays in accessing benefits and future withdrawals under the Two-Pot system.

SRAF said it will continue providing retirement, death and ill-health benefits to qualifying members while supporting long-term financial security for individuals working in South Africa’s music industry.

Members requiring assistance with updating their details or seeking information about their benefits have been advised to contact SAMRO Member Services.