. If a member had less than ten years service, that person would be paid a gratuity pension benefit only, which was calculated in a different way to reach a larger lump sum, but no monthly annuity would then be paid. However, under Rule 10.4 a member could apply to the board of the GEPF to purchase additional service that could then be recognised as pensionable service. . Rule 14.2.1 prescribed that if a member had at least ten years pensionable service, that member would be paid both a gratuity and a monthly annuity. Such an application had to be made prior to a person exiting the GEPF. . Ms Van Rheede applied to purchase additional service only after she had already left the GEPF, and GEPF had confirmed that no prior application had been received from her while she was still a paying member of the Fund