By WeNkosi Khumalo
At first glance, Banele Matsenjwa’s story could easily be mistaken for that of any young liSwati hustling to make ends meet. But at just 25, this quiet cattle herder from Ncandvweni in the Lubombo region has made a decision that sets him apart; a choice rooted in wisdom, responsibility, and hope.
Banele, the fifth of eight siblings, finished school at Nkhanini High in 2020 and has never had formal employment. He lives on piece jobs, and today earns a modest income guarding a homestead and looking after cattle. Yet, despite these challenges, he made a bold move in 2024; he opened a Voluntary Contribution account with Lidlelantfongeni, determined to secure his future.
“My late father inspired me to save,” he recalls with quiet pride. “He used to contribute to Lidlelantfongeni, and I saw how it helped our family, especially when he passed away. We didn’t have to struggle because the funeral cover from the Fund took care of everything. That left a deep impression on me.”
One afternoon, he asked his father to take him to the Lidlelantfongeni offices in Big Bend, where the staff explained how he could start small and stay consistent.
From that day, I made it my habit to save something from every job I do, no matter how little,” says Banele. “The key is to be consistent. Saving has given me peace of mind. It has changed how I think about money and my future.”
“Noma ngabe yincane kwani lemali loyitfolako, ubohlephula incenye uyifake emgodlagodleni. Bese uyimikisa ka Lidlelantfongeni. Loko kuta kusita kusasa – no matter how little the amount you get put something aside and take it to Lidlelantfongeni. That will help you in the future.”
Banele thanked Lidlelantfongeni for holding his hand in his journey of saving.
“I want to thank Lidlelantfongeni for treating even people like me — without a payslip with dignity. They showed me that saving is not about how much you earn, but how committed you are.”
Banele now dreams of getting into the agriculture business and owning his livestock and one day building a big business. His advice to other young people is simple but profound, as he urges them to grab early opportunities to save.
“Don’t wait to be rich to start saving. Even if you are unemployed, take something from what you get and put it away. It’s not about the amount, it is about the habit. It brings discipline, security, and hope for your family.”
He urged young people to go to the Lidlelantfongeni offices to find out more about how they can shape their future, find the various products for saving and building a nest for themselves and their families.
A New Generation of Savers
At the picturesque valley of KaZombodze ePhasemdzimba, outside Matsapha, Temvelo Sibanyoni, aged 24, echoes the same spirit, but with a different twist. A Diploma graduate in ICT, and another in Catering and Decoration, Temvelo turned her frustration with unemployment into action, launching Buhlebetfu Fast Food and Restaurant in 2024.
That same year, she started making Voluntary Contributions to Lidlelantfongeni, inspired by her father’s saving habits.
“I saw how my father’s savings carried us through difficult times,” she says. “When my mother passed away, he was able to cover all the expenses and still provide for us. That dignity stayed with me.”
Temvelo’s contributions vary depending on her business takings, but she never skips a month.
“It does not matter how small the amount is. What matters is that you stay consistent and faithful. Saving gives you control over your life. It is safe, it is growing, and it gives me confidence about the future,” she says.
She encourages her peers to start early. “When you are young, time is your greatest advantage. Start now, keep something for the rainy day. You’ll thank yourself later.”
She thanked Lidlelantfongeni for opening opportunities for the youth, and all emaSwati to realize their dreams of financial independence.
Meanwhile, the third edition of the Lidlelantfongeni Stakeholder Recognition Awards, CEO Futhi Tembe praised the two young savers for being “symbols of courage, foresight, and financial discipline.” The awards which will run up to December 2025 are a weekly celebration of members, employers and tenants of ENPF who go over and above what is statutorily required of them in terms of contributions.
“What sets Banele and Temvelo apart,” Tembe said, “is that even without formal employment, they took the initiative to save voluntarily. That is true wisdom and responsibility. They are role models to the youth and to all of us.”
She urged them to continue “preaching the gospel of saving” and challenged Lidlelantfongeni staff themselves to lead by example.
“As custodians of this great Fund, we must also walk the talk. Saving with the organisation we serve is a sign of faith in our mission, and a commitment to our own futures.”
Walking the Talk: Staff Who Lead by Example
When 26-year-old Ziyanda Methula walks into the Lidlelantfongeni reception each morning, her warm smile is more than just good customer service; it is a reflection of a deeper optimism about the future. As one of the youngest employees at the ENPF, Ziyanda is part of a new generation that is rewriting the story of financial empowerment and long-term security.
She joined ENPF in September 2024 and, within just a few weeks, made a decision that would set her apart, she began making supplementary contributions.
Her story is a testament to the compounding effect of early financial foresight. Just two months having joined the organisation, after an internal drive focused on the Supplementary Contributions product, she did not just understand the message, she immediately acted on it. By November 2024, she was already contributing above the statutory minimum. This move, financial experts agree, is the defining difference between a merely adequate retirement and a life of genuine financial independence.
The Self-Love Investment
For Ziyanda, saving is not a chore or a restriction; it is an act of deep self-respect.
“There is no better way to love yourself than to save for your future,” she states simply. “The future is simply an extension of who you are today, and taking care of it means setting something aside, no matter how little. I realised that the ‘future me’ is depending on the discipline of the ‘current me.’”
Ziyanda understands the golden rule of wealth creation, that time and consistency are worth more than lump sums. By starting in her mid-twenties, she gives her supplementary funds decades to grow tax-free, benefiting massively from compound interest that workers who start in their forties can never catch up to. Her approach is a blueprint for every young professional navigating their first job: pay your future self-first.
Leading by Example in the Office and the Community
Ziyanda’s initiative has not gone unnoticed. She credits the supportive environment at ENPF, where she has received invaluable mentorship. “I appreciate the warmth, guidance, and support from my colleagues. Many of us are now supplementing our contributions—and it feels good to know we’re leading by example.”
Her vision extends beyond personal gain. She sees her financial stability as a stabilising force for the entire community.
“The greatest myth is that you must be rich to start saving. That is false. The truth is, you must start saving to become rich, and the best time to start is with your very next paycheck.”
“Financial security is not a luxury. It is a social responsibility. When I secure my future, I reduce my reliance on my family and my community, freeing up resources for those who truly need them.”
Ziyanda’s simple decision to put more away today ensures she is not just building a pension, but a foundation for a life of choices, setting a powerful precedent for her peers across the country.
How Gogo’s Saving Culture Inspired Me to Build my Nest
Siphosethu Matsebula is not just an employee; she is an evangelist for financial foresight. Joining the ENPF in 2020 at the height of global uncertainty, she turned a crisis, she started implementing the powerful lesson she learned from her beloved grandmother.
“When I got here at ENPF, the first thing I did was to go straight to HR and asked to be signed up for supplementary contributions,” Siphosethu shares. This immediate decision, inspired by her dear Gogo’s lifelong advice and example of saving and forward-planning, locked her into the habit of saving from day one. This consistency, she says, is what separates the dreamers from the builders.
The Power of the Periodic Top-Up
Siphosethu’s discipline goes beyond initial enrollment. She uses strategic moments in her career and the calendar year to turbocharge her retirement fund, a move that harnesses the true power of compounding.
“When I was later promoted, I immediately increased my contribution, and every January, at the start of the year, I add a little more. It is truly amazing how quickly those strategic top-ups multiply,” she explains.
This consistent action ensures that any increase in income does not just inflate her current lifestyle, but is strategically channeled to secure her future self. By topping up with salary increases and at the start of the year, Siphosethu maximises the effect of time and compound interest. This consistent investment provides stability and financial elasticity, giving her the confidence to navigate life’s unexpected expenses without derailing her retirement plan.
A Culture of Confidence and Gratitude
Siphosethu is quick to acknowledge the community that supports her journey. She sends endearing thanks to her wise and inspiring grandmother for instilling the foundational value of saving. She also applauds the visionary leadership of the ENPF for creating accessible voluntary opportunities like the Supplementary Contribution product.
“I’m deeply grateful to the leadership for creating such opportunities and for relentlessly encouraging a culture of saving. They do not just process paperwork; they promote prosperity,” she notes.
She also expresses gratitude for the mentorship from her colleagues and friends who offered advice and encouragement.
Siphosethu has a heartfelt plea for those still on the fence. “My message to colleagues who are not yet a part of the supplementary saving is this: Don’t delay your peace of mind. Saving is key to a secure future.”
We Continue to have Faith, Invest in Own Products
Cabangile Dlamini, Service Centre Manager at ENPF urged her colleagues to take the step of having supplementary contributions, as the ultimate endorsement of the financial security products they deliver. She says this further enhances trust on the products, and a demonstration that they all believe in what they are selling to the public.
She commended proactive staff, like the notably young Ziyanda Methula, Siphosethu Matsebula, and many others, for taking up the challenge to consistently top up their retirement savings through the supplementary contribution product.
“When we, as employees, save through the very same products we advocate for, it transcends marketing; it becomes a testament of our professional faith,” Cabangile asserts. “It builds intrinsic trust and shows absolute confidence in our brand. We cannot be effective messengers if we are not, ourselves, confident users.”
“We are not just selling a service; we are selling certainty. When clients see our staff actively investing their own hard-earned money in these funds, they know we are serious. We are literally putting our money where our mission is.”