South Africa’s rail revival opens a new insurance market
As private operators, financiers, and rolling-stock owners enter a rail system long dominated by the state, a specialist insurance market is developing alongside the infrastructure reforms.
Industry News
High Court rejects challenge to SASRIA’s treatment of co-owned properties
The insurer’s differentiation between co-owners was rationally connected to its risk-management objectives.
Madlanga Commission: Why fixing policing matters to business
The inquiry’s revelations about organised crime and weak enforcement have implications for AML effectiveness, investment, and the recovery of criminal proceeds.
Absa takes over custody of GEPF’s R3.5 trillion
Absa is taking over custody of the GEPF’s R3.5 trillion portfolio – but what does a master custodian actually do, and what does the change mean for the Fund’s 1.7 million-plus members and beneficiaries?
Why South Africa’s changing fire risk matters to insurers
Evolving buildings and technologies are complicating structural fires, increasing the importance of prevention, resilience, municipal capacity, and effective risk transfer.
Insurer cannot rely on policy terms after adviser’s misrepresentation
A policyholder’s godfather was recorded as her father despite the adviser knowing the true relationship, leading to a ruling that the insurer must pay the claim.
The rand’s long-term outlook may be changing
Improving domestic fundamentals, a potentially weaker US dollar, and lower inflation could mean the rand depreciates more slowly than investors have come to expect.
Treasury’s proposed unclaimed-assets model revives central fund debate
The framework separates administration from custody and investment and introduces a possible time limit on owners’ and beneficiaries’ claims.
When AI becomes the risk, who will insure it?
iTOO is building an AI insurance book cautiously, using performance data, international experience, and reinsurance to price a risk that is still evolving.
It may be claim number 49. It’s their worst day.
A routine interaction for an insurance professional can be a crisis for the person on the other side, making empathy a practical part of the job.
Bonitas transition stabilises, but providers still face problems
Operational improvements have reduced the disruption, but short-paid and unpaid claims, tariff discrepancies, and difficult authorisations continue to require attention.
Why I’m bracing for a surge in stock market volatility
Rising bond yields and widening credit spreads suggest mounting risk, but equity valuations have yet to reflect it, raising the prospect of sharper market drawdowns.
Document checklist falls short in retirement fund withdrawal dispute
The Tribunal found that evidence of tax non-residence must be assessed against the legislation, with clear reasons given when it is considered insufficient.
Responsible investment: South Africa has the policies, but can it prove they work?
Most asset owners say they are responsible investors, but 43% have no independent way to assess whether their managers are delivering on their ESG commitments.
Fintech Kastelo weighs walking away from appealing blocking order
The FSP has paused its crypto-arbitrage service after the High Court upheld the SARB’s order, finding reasonable grounds to suspect exchange control contraventions.
Investors return to equities as CIS inflows strengthen
General equity portfolios recorded their first net inflow in a year, while multi-asset funds continued to attract the bulk of investors’ money.
A better year ahead? The economic outlook starts to look promising
From the rand and commodities to electricity and logistics, several pieces of the South African investment story are moving in the right direction.
