Millions may get SARS refunds without submitting returns
Auto-assessments begin on 1 July. This is what taxpayers should do to avoid delays, protect themselves from scams, and ensure refunds are paid without a hitch.
Latest FATF review puts South Africa under a harsher spotlight
Treasury says the country already has most of the rules it needs; the challenge now is proving that institutions are using them effectively.
The 11-year health gap: what adds – or costs – years of life
Discovery Health’s analysis of 2.7 million medical scheme members shows how earlier intervention, better treatment, and healthier lifestyles are reshaping life expectancy.
ASISA insurers pay out 94% of death claims in 2025
Beneficiaries received R44.2 billion last year, with most declines linked to non-disclosure, fraud, unpaid premiums or policy exclusions.
Last call: FETC applications close on 12 June
Applications for MBSE’s FETC: Wealth Management and FETC: Short-term Insurance qualifications close on 12 June, marking the final opportunity for new students to enrol in these widely used entry-level financial-services programmes.
MPs query whether tougher AML laws are solving the problem
Treasury adviser Ismail Momoniat warns that police corruption and unfinished financial-crime cases could weigh on SA’s FATF assessment.
DUI exclusions drive increase in motor claim disputes
Motor, homeowners’, and commercial policies again generated the most complaints to the Non-life Division, with exclusions and claim rejections driving many disputes.
Banking complaints surge as fraudsters follow customers online
Complaints to the banking ombud jumped 25% in 2025, with phishing, account takeovers, and unauthorised transactions leading the way.
What six banking disputes reveal about how the ombud thinks
The NFO’s 2025 annual report offers a glimpse into the disputes that reach the banking ombud – and the lessons they hold.
Life Division complaints rise 18.8% as funeral disputes dominate
The division recorded more formal investigations in 2025, but improved turnaround times and secured almost R300 million for complainants.
Can a tax deduction be claimed a decade late?
A fuel exporter lost a R38.8-million deduction claim, but the Tax Court ruling may open a fresh battle over whether the correct tax years can still be re-opened.
SA’s ratings revival comes with a warning: don’t ignore the ‘uglies’
Fitch’s first upgrade in 21 years caps a remarkable turnaround, but hidden liabilities, weak growth, and structural problems stand between the country and investment-grade status.
SCOPA finds RAF failed experts, then tried to let their claims expire
Years of payment delays, missing invoices, and weak administration left medical experts unpaid, before the Fund sought to invoke prescription against some claims.
More early signs that the two-pot system is working
Data from Alexforbes and Sanlam suggests more members are preserving retirement savings, though it is too soon to know whether the shift will last.
NFO’s only non-life final ruling of 2025 turns on theft, not ‘missing items’
Even though the SAPS case was marked ‘unfounded’, the NFO held this did not prove there had been no theft, and the policy claim fell within cover on the facts.
Bigger, older, and more concentrated: 7 facts reshaping medical schemes
Twenty years of industry data show that medical schemes have become increasingly dependent on scale, investment returns, and strong reserves to remain sustainable.
Convicted fraudster jailed again for second ‘investment’ scheme
More than 20 years after his first conviction, a court found that Andrew Futcher ran another scheme that left investors millions out of pocket.
Old Mutual sees strong Q1 as life sales rise and OM Bank customers jump
New life sales rose 28% in the quarter to March, while stronger investment inflows and a better new business margin supported a broadly positive update.
