Divorce Claim:

Good day.

Divorce claim was submitted to liberty on the 14/03/2025.

Acknowledgment email was received on the 23/03/2025 and on the same I received an email stating that the phrase “from date of marriage” is not in accordance with the definition of pension interest because pension interest starts from inception date, therefor they will proceed in accordance with the ACT in processing my claim.

On the 28/03/2025 another email was received informing me that my claim is pending and has been submitted to liberty legal department for further guidance. Follow up was done on the 04/04/2025 by myself requesting feedback.

On the 04/04/2025 feedback was received from liberty informing me of the outcome from liberty legal team, however liberty management is yet to make decision. Same day/ 3 minutes after I received another email confirming Tax applications have been made, payment has been created, and the claim is ready to be paid however, they wait for the go ahead from “management”.

On the 09/04/2025 email was received, that I must obtain variation order, which I find so unacceptable and frustrating. The frustrating part is how did the claim get processed before doing the due diligence, apply for tax and other things, if indeed the order from court and settlement was incorrectly phrased.

I find Liberty services extremely poor and not treating customers right. Sanlam fund confirmed via email on the 04/04/2025 that the wording is also not ideal however they will process payment to my husband as we got married before i became a member of the fund. Again confirmation from my fund Sanlam on the 09/04/2025 was that claim has been approved and they await tax directives for my ex-husband will be, Due diligence was done before processing the claim and management approved the claim. My point is if Sanlam EB can process the claim and make payment to my ex-husband why do I have to get Variation order while same settlement and decree were used to process the claim. Please explain on how does the clause” from date of marriage” have an effect on liberty from processing the payment/claim, my ex-husband joined the fund (Liberty) in July 2013 which was after we got married in November 2012, the order and settlement are clear, and the intensions of the parties are also clear.

Applying for Variation will require legal step, time and money, did the fund considered that before rejecting my claim.

my ex-husband will be paid / or have already received the money using the same documents by the SEB fund, I find liberty very unprofessional and not putting customers first.

On the 09/04/2025 I then emailed PO of the fund raising my frustrations and concerns, he didn’t waste time and I’m grateful. He informed Liberty to look at my email to date i haven't received acknowledgment from liberty management especially Mellisa Abrahams as I have emailed her before complaining to the PO also PO did include her on the email, but she did nothing I mean nothing at all.

This is frustrating and unacceptable