Sars defends its handling of VAT refunds and taxpayer disputes
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has defended the way it handles VAT audits after this issue, as well as the time taken to resolve disputes, was raised by the Tax Ombud in […]
Author: Mark Bechard
FSCA appoints statutory manager for N-e-FG Administrators
The FSCA has appointed a statutory manager for N-e-FG Administrators (Pty) Ltd, saying it is concerned about N-e-FG’s failure to manage the funds it administers responsibly. It is also investigating N-e-FG’s conduct relating […]
Santam flood claims hit Sanlam’s earnings
Sanlam has reported “a creditable performance” for the first four months of this year, with “strong results” in the life insurance and investment management businesses offsetting weak general insurance and credit business results. […]
Finance MPs want action on Tax Ombud’s independence
Parliament’s finance committees have resolved that their respective chairpersons will engage directly with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on legislation to make the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) “more clearly” financially and operationally […]
Most respondents say they will adopt a D-I-Y approach when planning their retirement income
Most respondents who participated in the latest Just Retirement Insights survey believe it is important to set objectives based on their financial needs, but more than 60% said they intend to decide what […]
Tribunal upholds debarment for providing unauthorised advice on Ecsponent preference shares
The Financial Services Tribunal (FST) has upheld Discovery Life’s decision to debar a financial adviser who advised clients to invest in Ecsponent preference shares although he was not authorised or licensed to advise […]
Reduction in CPD requirements: FSCA explains why KIs and reps are treated differently
The FSCA has confirmed that the provision for a pro rata reduction in CPD hours as a result of parental leave, or because of illness or disability, applies only to an FSP’s representatives, […]
Discovery Life’s individual life cover pay-outs jump 173% in 2021
Discovery Life paid claims to the value of R11.79 billion last year, of which R9.1bn was for more than 10 000 individual life claims – an 89% increase in the value of individual […]
Tribunal sends Sharemax determination back to the FAIS Ombud for a second time
Between 2008 and 2010, a pensioner couple invested in two Sharemax property syndications. They complained to the FAIS Ombud in 2011 after losing their money. Seven years later, the FAIS Ombud issued a […]
No happy ending at the tribunal for couple who reconciled after divorce
The Financial Services Tribunal (FST) has dismissed a reconsideration application by a couple who wanted to be provided with a joint-and-survivorship pension because they reconciled and lived together as if married after their […]
UK award sets up Videosign for new growth trajectory
Videosign, the unique online meeting platform that allows for e-commissioning and the remote witnessing of signatures, is set to enter a new growth phase after winning the Innovation and Technology Award at the […]
Brokers don’t need to be cyber-security experts to sell cyber cover
The demand for cyber insurance is increasing, but cyber liability is the form of specialist cover brokers are least comfortable with placing, according to SHA’s 2022 Specialist Risk Review. Sizwe Cakwebe, the cyber […]
Momentum reports lower claims impact from Covid
The impact of the fourth wave of Covid-19 on Momentum Metropolitan Holdings’ South African life insurance businesses eased during the nine months to the end of March. In a trading update, MMH said […]
FSCA overlooked FSP’s response because it landed up in a junk folder, says tribunal
The FSCA’s assumption that an FSP had not responded to one of its questions contributed to its decision to debar him. But a pack of documents the FSP sent the FSCA landed up […]
Failure to avoid FATF’s ‘grey list’ poses a risk to the stability of SA’s financial system
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has identified the potential of an unfavourable outcome of the Financial Action Task Force’s Mutual Evaluation of South Africa as a threat to the stability of the […]
Fund cannot withhold a benefit if an employer has only instituted criminal charges
The Financial Services Tribunal (FST) has reiterated that a retirement fund cannot withhold a benefit if only a criminal case has been instituted against a member. In fact, even if the member has […]
Momentum and Sanlam the only major life insurers to grow new business above pre-Covid levels, says PwC
Momentum Metropolitan Holdings (MMH) and Sanlam are the only major life insurers in South Africa to have grown the value of their new business relative to pre-Covid levels, according to PwC. PwC based […]
