GEHS Covers(Reduced).

pdf 1 2017/03/17 11:54:05 AM

All citizens should have equal access to the services to which they are entitled.

A Caring Government
Employer of Choice
Citizens should be given full, accurate information about the public services Government Employees
Home Ownership
Citizens should be told how national and provincial departments are run, how Housing Scheme
/ŵƉƌŽǀĞĚŵƉůŽLJĞĞWƌŽĚƵĐƟǀŝƚLJ
General Information Booklet
If the promised standard of service is not delivered, citizens should be GEHS calls on all government employees to enrol
offered an apology, a full explanation, a speedy and effective remedy, and
when complaints are made, citizens should receive a sympathetic, positive
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All employees are required to first enrol with GEHS to access any and
all services offered by scheme. All data provided by the employee is
M
confidential for purposes of the scheme.
Y

in order to give
CM For enrolment queries: Call 0861 12 34 34
MY

CY

C
CMY

M
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GEHS: Contact Details

MY

CY

CMY

Employee Enrolment Support Call Centre: 0861 12 34 34

E-mail: [email protected]
www.gehs.gov.za
www.dpsa.gov.za
Other GEHS Contacts:
GEHS Website: www.gehs.gov.za
Employee Enrolment Support Call Centre: 0861 12 34 34
SA Home Loans Call Centre: 0860 2 4 6 8 10
GEHS email: [email protected]
DPSA website: www.dpsa.gov.za We Belong, We Care, We Serve

BATHO PELE PRINCIPLES GEHS Backpage.pdf 1 2016/06/13 01:46:44 PM

BROUGHT TO YOU BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Communities should be consulted be consulted about the level and quality of
public services they receive and where possible, will be given a choice about
GEHS
Government Employees
Housing Scheme
Citizens should be told what level and quality of public service they are to
For Service. For Dignity

All citizens should have equal access to the services to which they are entitled.

A Caring Government
Citizens should be given full, accurate information about the public services
Employer of Choice
 GEHS General Information

1.What is the GEHS?

The Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS) is an employee benefit

scheme that offers housing access support services to government employees.

In addition to Government Pension Fund (GEPF) and Government Medical Aid

Scheme (GEMS), the State as employer administers an employee housing assistance
scheme (GEHS) to ensure that employees have access to adequate housing on a
sustainable basis.

Similar to other employer companies, the GEHS offers housing access support ser-
vices specifically to government employees in national and provincial government
departments and related public institutions.

Government Employee’s Housing Scheme

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 1 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 Governance and Management

2. Background to the GEHS

Government and Organised Labour concluded a collective agreement to establish a

Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS) with the following objectives:

• To support, educate and advice employees on housing options and

opportunities.
• To enhance employees access to affordable housing.
• To promote home ownership and facilitate asset security among employees.
• To assist employees to access affordable housing loans and
finance.
• To assist employees to rent houses with a view to buy and own homes.
• And to provide transitional arrangements towards the GEHS.
The agreement is contained in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining
Council (PSCBC) Resolution 7 of 2015.

3. Governance and Management

In terms of clause 4.1.3 of the said Resolution “the employer is responsible to operate,
administer and manage the GEHS with due consideration of labour as a key partner to
be represented in the governance thereof ”.
In the interim the Department of Public Services and Administration (DPSA) admin-
isters the GEHS through a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO).

Ultimately, a special purpose public entity will be established to operate, administer

and manage the GEHS.

4. Enrolment to the GEHS

Employees must first enrol with GEHS to access any and all services offered by the
scheme

Have you enrolled to the GEHS?

Purpose of enrolment:. Employees enrolled with the scheme are profiled for purposes
of accurate advice and housing access support.

Government Employee’s Housing Scheme

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 2 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 GEHS Scope of Services

Who should enrol? All employees must enrol. Employees who are on total-cost-to –
employer packages shall not be eligible to receive the housing allowance, save for all
other provisions and services of GEHS.

Is my information safe? All data provided by the employee is confidential for purposes
of the scheme.

How do I enrol? Employees can enrol online www.gehs.co.za or call the call centre at
0861 12 34 34

5. GEHS Scope of Services

5.1. Benefit Administration

5.1.1 Housing Allowance

Purpose: The housing allowance is paid as a monthly contribution to qualifying em-

ployees to assist with their recurring costs of their accommodation.

How to Access the Housing Allowance? Employees must contact the Human Resource
division in their respective departments in order to access the housing allowance.

How much is the Housing Allowance? As at 1 July 2015, the quantum of the housing
allowance is R1 200 per month, paid to eligible employees and will be adjusted by infla-
tion each year in July.

GEHS Housing Allowance for Homeowners: Employees who are home-owners and
have submitted proof of Title Deed or a Permission to Occupy (PTO) certificate
including a sworn affidavit that the employee and their immediate family occupies the
house, are eligible to receive the housing allowance of R1200.

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 3 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 Individual Linked Savings Facility

GEHS Housing Allowance for Tenants: Employees who are tenants and have submitted
proof of rental occupancy will receive the housing allowance as follows:

• Employees who were employed before 27th May 2015 (date of signature of
the Resolution 7 of 2015), will continue to receive R900 and R300 will be
diverted to the GEHS Individual Link Saving Facility (ILSF).

• Employees employed after 27th May 2015, the R1200 will be diverted to the
GEHS Individual Link Saving Facility

5.1.2 Individual Linked Savings Facility

The GEHS individual-linked savings facility is provided for in terms of clauses 4.5.6.3
and 4.5.6.4 of the PSCBC Resolution 7 of 2015. Features of the ILSF:

• Administered by the GEHS Office (including all liaison)

• Saved funds earn interest
• Employees receive periodic balances of accumulated savings
• Tax deduction is deferred until withdrawal of funds
• The ILSF to be audited annually

5.2. Employee Education and Advice

Advice and education on housing opportunities and affordability will be provided to
government employees to support them in accessing sustainable housing solutions.

As part of empowering employees to participate in housing access, a housing education

and advisory services programme is envisaged

Government Employee’s Housing Scheme

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 4 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 Housing Finance Access Service

5.3. Housing Finance Access Service

GEHS facilitates access to affordable housing finance for

homeownership through:

• Profiling of enrolled employees to inform housing choices or solutions.

• Arranging affordable housing finance with registered financial service
providers.
• Offering home loan repayments through payroll-deductions.
• Facilitating access to available subsidies e.g. Finance-Linked Individual
Subsidy Programme (FLISP) at the Department of Human Settlements
• Supporting innovative and enabling housing access products and solutions

5.3.1. Non-Mortgage Housing Loan (Un-bonded)

The non-mortgage housing loan is a loan accessed from a registered financial institu-
tion for purposes of buying, building and/or renovating your house. Generally, such
loans have the following features:

• No bond registration costs (which are normally associated with

morgage-based home loans).
• Shorter repayment terms (3-8 years).
• Average loan amounts of up to R350 000 – subject to affordability and lenders
qualification terms.
• Evidence of property existence and/or ownership.
• Employees may access this type of housing loan through lenders who
participate in GEHS.

5.3.2. Mortgage-based Housing Loan (Bond)

The mortgage-based housing loan, is a loan accessed from a registered financial insti-
tution for purposes of buying, building and/or renovating a house. A house is usually
held as security for the loan. Generally, such loans have the following features:

• Bond registration costs

• Estate Agent’s commission priced–in
(ordinarily paid by the seller of the house)

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 5 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 Mortgage-based Housing Loan (Bond)

• Related insurances
• Average repayment term of 20 years and more
• Loan subject to affordability, value of the house and lenders’ terms
• Valuation and inspection of the house
• Employees may access this type of housing loan through lenders who
participate in GEHS.

5.4. Supporting Rental Housing

State Rental Housing - The GEHS collaborates with sector departments in government
to review and/or enhance their state housing policies.

Private Rental Housing - The GEHS will educate and advice employees on the advan-
tages and disadvantages of long-term rental in contrast to home ownership.

5.5. Facilitate Delivery of Houses

GEHS facilitates availability of houses for employees by implementing the following

initiatives:

• Maintaining a database of demand for and supply of housing.

• Aggregation of employees housing demands to inform and match the supply
of houses to employee housing needs on the basis of available and planned
housing units for development.
• Engage and coordinate with housing supply-side role players to ensure
development of houses to meet the needs of employees.
• Undertake project management and sourcing services for
housing developments aimed at accommodating employees.

Government Employee’s Housing Scheme

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 6 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 Contact Details

Important GEHS Contact Details

GEHS Website: www.gehs.gov.za

Employee Enrolment Support Call Centre: 0861 12 34 34
SA Home Loans Call Centre: 0860 2 4 6 8 10
GEHS email: [email protected]
DPSA website: www.dpsa.gov.za

GEHS Pamphlet .indd 7 2017/03/17 11:46:46 AM

 GEHS Covers(Reduced).pdf 1 2017/03/17 11:54:05 AM
All citizens should have equal access to the services to which they are entitled.

A Caring Government
Employer of Choice
Citizens should be given full, accurate information about the public services Government Employees
Home Ownership
Citizens should be told how national and provincial departments are run, how Housing Scheme
/ŵƉƌŽǀĞĚŵƉůŽLJĞĞWƌŽĚƵĐƟǀŝƚLJ
General Information Booklet
If the promised standard of service is not delivered, citizens should be GEHS calls on all government employees to enrol
offered an apology, a full explanation, a speedy and effective remedy, and
when complaints are made, citizens should receive a sympathetic, positive
C
All employees are required to first enrol with GEHS to access any and
all services offered by scheme. All data provided by the employee is
M
confidential for purposes of the scheme.
Y

in order to give
CM For enrolment queries: Call 0861 12 34 34
MY

CY

C
CMY

M
K

CM

GEHS: Contact Details

MY

CY

CMY

Employee Enrolment Support Call Centre: 0861 12 34 34

E-mail: [email protected]
www.gehs.gov.za
www.dpsa.gov.za
Other GEHS Contacts:
GEHS Website: www.gehs.gov.za
Employee Enrolment Support Call Centre: 0861 12 34 34
SA Home Loans Call Centre: 0860 2 4 6 8 10
GEHS email: [email protected]
DPSA website: www.dpsa.gov.za We Belong, We Care, We Serve

BATHO PELE PRINCIPLES GEHS Backpage.pdf 1 2016/06/13 01:46:44 PM

BROUGHT TO YOU BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Communities should be consulted be consulted about the level and quality of
public services they receive and where possible, will be given a choice about
GEHS
Government Employees
Housing Scheme
Citizens should be told what level and quality of public service they are to
For Service. For Dignity

All citizens should have equal access to the services to which they are entitled.

A Caring Government
Citizens should be given full, accurate information about the public services
Employer of Choice