20 March 2026
How Glacier helps to build the practice of financial intermediaries focusing on the public sector
The Glacier Public Sector Summit 2026 webinar kicked off with National Business Development Manager at Glacier by Sanlam, Dinash Pillay, detailing how Glacier empowers intermediaries to better serve their clients employed in the public sector. The need for holistic financial planning, especially retirement income planning, has never been more critical as thousands of public sector employees face early retirement and retrenchment. 49 South African government departments employing 1.3 million employees are undergoing downsizing, including the Departments of Health, Education and Correctional Services, as well as the South African Police Services (SAPS), and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Consequently, the processes for retrenchment and early retirement are underway in these departments.
Sanlam has the knowledge and expertise to be able to guide these employees to prosperity by preserving their retirement funds through retrenchment and to ensure a post-retirement income plan that sustains them for the years ahead.
In South Africa, only 6% of South Africans are on track for a secure retirement. Withdrawals from their savings remain a challenge. The Two-Pot has helped somewhat to ensure the preservation of funds, but more needs to be done to inform and educate consumers, especially employees in the public sector.
Preservation, tax efficiency and longe-term income strategies are the key outcomes of good financial planning especially for clients facing retirement. Workshops, tools, insights, helping clients and intermediaries to get to grips regarding rules, processes and polices within public sector retirement funds.
We provide intermediaries with thought leadership, practical knowledge and know-how to help them better serve their clients employed in the public sector. View the presentation
A conversation around transformation
In her presentation, Vera Ngalo, Head of Adviser Development Transformation at SanlamConnect, challenged attendees to think deeply about what is required to serve an evolving market, where 82% of the population is African Black.
While the demographics are changing in our client segments, there is a growing demand for investment solutions tailored for emerging markets as well as advisers and financial planning that caters specifically to African Black clients.
Sanlam Connect and Glacier are poised to assist intermediaries to be equipped to meet the needs of an evolving market. Through the African Black Investment Specialist (ABIS) Programme, promising black advisers are empowered through training, tools and skills to serve South Africa’s emerging investment market.
Considering the race breakdown in South Africa, of the 63 million citizens in SA, 82% are African Black, 8% Coloured, 7% White and 3% Indian/Asian. African Black clients in investments are a growing demographic. Glacier and SanlamConnect are gearing to meet the needs of this developing market, by focusing on upskilling black advisers to provide holistic, sustainable financial planning and investment solutions that meet goal-directed and retirement investment planning.
Culturally intelligent financial advisers have an opportunity to make a difference in this market and create prosperity.
To win this new market, transformation must be central to the strategy.
Advisers need to know and understand the environment which means being debt-aware and culturally savvy, which will help to build trust. Sanlam is focused on changing client engagement and distribution models to meet the new demands.
Panel Discussion 1
Navigating tax implications for public sector members
Facilitated by Dinash Pillay, National Business Development Manager, Glacier by Sanlam
Panellists: Jabulani Sibanyoni, Waldette Stoffberg, Lee-Anne Pieterson, Business Development Managers at Glacier by Sanlam and Kurhula Ngwenya, Technical Support Specialist, Glacier by Sanlam
View the presentation
Tax planning for public sector employees has become a critical need especially for those who are leaving the public sector through retrenchment, early retirement and retirement.
Before and post-retirement withdrawals for their retirement funds have very different tax implications.
The panellists unpacked some withdrawal, resignation and transfer scenarios and their technical tax implications. They also examined the pre-1998 tax-free benefit. The post-retirement conversation delved into discretionary investment and how these solutions can add to a post-retirement income plan.
The Glacier Public Sector Tool
Lee-Anne Pieterson, Business Development Manager at Glacier by Sanlam, got really practical, and took a look at what happens when a high school principal leaves work for good. Financial planning requires an understanding of her financial circumstances, her dreams and goals, as well as the options open to her to ensure a prosperous financial future. View the presentation
Panel Discussion 2
Unmasking the phantom: Seeing clients beyond their generations
Facilitated by Yondela Gqweta, Business Development Manager, Glacier by Sanlam
Panellists: Kgabo Matshebula, Lushan Enoch, Business Development Managers at Glacier by Sanlam and Valery Mukwevho, Junior Business Development Manager at Glacier by Sanlam
In the second panel discussion of the day, there was agreement among the panellists that the responsibility of our industry is to ensure that we are able to respond to the needs of clients today and for future generations.
The panel unpacked the concept of fear, and the effects that this has on people’s cognitive and decision-making capacity. In the public sector, fear exists among clients based on what they have experienced themselves or the experiences of others – a fear of the financial services industry exists, stemming from misconception, misinformation and distrust.
A large part of the adviser’s job is to ensure that they have knowledge, processes and tools at their disposal to assist clients to make informed decisions that guide them to prosperity.
Glacier’s one-day course for financial advisers covers a range of topics and themes to help intermediaries get to grips with providing holistic financial planning in the public sector. There are also many knowledge resources available to intermediaries across Glacier and Sanlam.
Processes and procedures regarding divorce in the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF)
Noma Modise, Business Development Co-ordinator at Glacier by Sanlam, examined a case study where a non-member spouse (the ex-spouse of a member) needs to make a divorce claim against a public sector pension fund. She detailed some of the intricate rules, requirements, documents and processes. View the presentation.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Bonang Mohale
In his keynote address, Professor Mohale closed the Glacier Public Sector Summit 2026 with profound insight about leadership and the values that drive it.
‘Values are easy to articulate, but difficult to live’, said Professor Mohale. “The responsibility that underpins leadership demands people to act with integrity and honesty. Leadership insists that leaders take difficult decisions in uncertain times. Leaders put the people that they lead, first.”
These thoughts apply to leaders in the public sector as well as the private sector.
He pointed out that the key factor in democracy is not only to elect good people but also to remove the bad ones quickly and that leadership is centred on the other, and not on self. In South Africa, leadership must, of necessity, break the cycle of crippling, abject poverty.
After 32 years into democracy, global leaders observe us to see what we are doing about the profound inequality and the highest unemployment rate in the world. We also have the highest failure rate of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMEs).
He further noted that when young people don’t have something to occupy their time, they will look to crime to survive. An unfortunate reality is that 28 million South Africans benefit from social security. He believes this is not something to be proud of as a nation. Given that 60% of the South African population is 35 and younger, we have an advantage over developed nations who are struggling with aging populations. What we need is an environment where we empower our youth through education and create opportunities for employment.
When we choose leaders, here are some attributes to look for:
- Elect leaders that can root out state capture. R1.5 trillion was stolen over five years during state capture – syphoned to two families.
- Elect ethical leaders. Ethics is what you do and talk about when no-one is watching.
- Choose leaders who have a focus on law and order. People thrive then they are safe and secure, in an environment where criminals are dealt with seriously.
What should we have learnt from the rest of Africa?
- Anyone who has been in power for 50 years cannot add any more value. In fact, there is the possibility that they could destroy value.
- We need an empowered political watchdog that keeps our leaders in check.
- We need a viable opposition in our democracy.
In this time and space, we have the responsibility to elect ethical leaders who can root out state capture. He describes ethical leadership as what you do and talk about when no-one is watching.
