Sanlam umbrella pension fund : withdrawal process request escalation

I am extremely disappointed with the level of service I have received from Sanlam regarding the processing of my withdrawal request. I resigned from my previous employer on 30 December 2025 and completed all the required paperwork at the time. Initially, I had opted not to withdraw my funds. However, when I later attempted to make a two-pot withdrawal, the system would not allow me to proceed. I received a notification stating that my employer had informed Sanlam of my resignation and that I needed to contact my previous employer regarding the next steps. I contacted my previous employer for assistance with the two-pot withdrawal process, but I was advised that they could not assist me and that I needed to submit a withdrawal request directly to Sanlam. I then completed and submitted the withdrawal forms on 4 May 2026. On 13 May 2026, instead of receiving feedback regarding my withdrawal request, I received an email from Sanlam informing me that my status had been changed to a “Paid-up” member. No progress or communication regarding my withdrawal request was provided. I then contacted Sanlam again on 15 May 2026 to follow up on the status of my withdrawal. To my surprise, I was sent withdrawal forms yet again and had to complete the process for a second time. There appears to be absolutely no sense of urgency or proper communication in handling client requests. It is unacceptable that a withdrawal process can take almost five months without resolution or clear guidance. The lack of efficiency, accountability, and customer service has been extremely frustrating. I request that this matter be urgently escalated and that my withdrawal request be processed without any further delays.