By 
By Delisa Thwala
Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF)’s investment has soared for the year 2024.
This is contained in the CEO’s performance report which she presented during the 6th ENPF Stakeholder meeting.
Over the past five years, they have taken great strides towards investing at least 30% of our assets locally, per the requirements of the Retirements and Insurance Funds Act of 2005.
In 2008 their compliance rate was 31% of their investments, 33% in 2009, 34% in 2010, 39% in 2011, 40% in 2012 and 42% in 2013
Meanwhile in 2024 the investment for foreign was 43%, while in local investment is 57%.
While in 2024 local investment was at 40% foreign and 60% local.
According to the report, the Fund continues to pursue its minimum risk investment goal and it further continues in: Ensuring that all assets are liquid and tradable, including all property investments. Striving to yield investment returns more than inflation over the medium to long-term horizons.
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“Reducing property investment exposure to an absolute maximum of 20% of total assets in line with international portfolio trends, balancing the Fund in both regional and global asset allocation to reduce risk and enhance returns,” reads the report in part.
Just like all other years the most important function of the Board as regards ensuring that the Fund declares annual members’ interest that is above the threshold of 3% as set by the Swaziland National Provident Fund Order No.23 of 1974 has not been forgotten.
“As we have done over the past four years the percentages declared to continue to be higher than all other interests in the financial industry. For the year under review, we were able to declare a member interest of 8.5%,” further reads the report.
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On receipt of the contributions, the Fund, through its Investment Committee invests the money in the best way possible. In terms of the Order, the Fund deducts from the total returns collected each year, administration costs i.e.
salaries, motor vehicle expenses, travel costs, etc. From what has remained, the Fund pays interest to all members’ accounts at the rate determined by the Board from year to year.
This rate of interest shall be fixed by the Board in such a way that a surplus remains for credit to the reserve account in compliance with the provisions of the Order.
