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SAARP Mission
SAARP believes that senior citizens are entitled to a secure and rewarding existence in line with the highest moral principles of mankind. We work with vigour to enrich lives, raise self-esteem and influence society to support these ideals.
About SAARP
South African Association of Retired Persons
Introduction
SAARP (South African Association of Retired Persons) was originally established in 1982. In 1996 the Registrar approved the restructured Articles of Association for SAARP to be incorporated as a company under Section 21 of the Companies Act (Non-profit). The Registration number is 95/09042/08.
The prerequisites for the Registration of Companies qualifying for non-profit status were changed in the recent past by the Taxation Laws Amendment Act No. 30 of 2000. This necessitated SAARP having to register as a company which is now liable for tax payments, or to comply with provisions that required us to act outside a pure member focus, however, the aims and objects of the company have not changed materially.
We are, in essence, a service organisation in terms of the registered Memorandum and Articles of Association and we exist solely for our members. There are no shareholders who can lay claim to assets or profits.
Our Social Clubs operate under the umbrella of a specially registered non-profit company (SAARP Social Services Reg. No: 2006/003084/08) which functions under a dedicated General Manager, Ray Hattingh, who is also a director of SAARP.
How SAARP works
SAARP’s mission is to do its utmost to assist senior citizens without trying to accumulate profits to the benefit of any individual.
SAARP negotiates with relevant companies to provide services at a reduced cost to our members. Our main source of income (excluding donations) is the commission which we receive when members use these products. We stand by the fact that if we cannot save you any money on our products, you should not feel obligated to use them.
SAARP charges no membership fee and the only qualifying requirement is that members are of retirement age - 50 years of age. We are registered with the FSB (No. 4234) and have staff members who are fully qualified to advise members on their short term insurance needs.
Because SAARP does not try to accumulate profits to the benefit of any individual, we are able to plough a large percentage of “profits” back into benefits for members.
Benefits for our members
SAARP has negotiated special deals for its members, and we also wish to make members keenly aware of certain discounts which are generally available to pensioners. On retirement people inevitably find that, over time, the value of their income diminishes in terms of purchasing power. This is not just true of a particular time period in the economy (although phenomena like recessions do have an undeniable influence), but in these retirement times of financial gymnastics, stretching the Rand is a necessary exercise.
Our directors have also been particularly active in being founder members of SAHERPA (South African Home Equity Release Protection Association). This is a “watchdog” organisation created especially to set high ethical standards and to ensure contractual protection for people making use of this instrument.
From as far back as 1982 SAARP has undertaken to position itself as a champion of the senior citizen in South Africa. Gradually we are building ourselves toward becoming an indispensable tool to assist retirees in maintaining a lifestyle of dignity.
The retiree’s “Survival with Dignity Arsenal” is not just about how you spend your money. It also encompasses areas like social activities. SAARP has a keen interest in ensuring that the endorsements, facilities and products available to our members form a comprehensive menu of benefits that go toward making up a complete, satisfying and achievable choice of lifestyle.
We have looked at a retiree’s life in the form of the main pillars upon which dignified living depends, and we believe that by using these as a guideline, we are able to develop meaningful strategies which enable us to enhance the lives of our members.
These pillars include:
Finance and insurance – finance and insurance form the backbone of a retiree’s ability to retire and live in dignityHealth – as we age, our health becomes an extremely important factor in the way in which we can enjoy our retirement years
Leisure – leisure is an important aspect of our post-employment years
Technology – the growth in the use of technology has exploded in recent years and retirees need to keep pace with basic technology
Social clubs – when we retire, our ‘social networks’ tend to diminish, therefore our social clubs provide a platform for members find and interact with other retirees
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