Average living annuity drawdown rate drops below 6% for the first time since 2011
Strong market returns and rising balances have prompted many retirees to reduce withdrawals – a trend ASISA encourages annuitants to maintain.
Industry News
Labour inspectors to regain power to enforce contribution compliance
The Department of Employment and Labour is withdrawing a determination that prevented inspectors from enforcing section 34A of the BCEA.
Syndicates falsely claiming links to JSE and FSCA
Two WhatsApp-based syndicates are misrepresenting links to the JSE and the FSCA and unlawfully soliciting funds.
South African insurers harness AI to spot risks sooner and serve clients better
From early-warning systems in liability cover to behaviour-based motor premiums, local insurers are adapting AI tools to South Africa’s unique risks.
High Court allows OMART to search underwriting manager’s premises
Old Mutual Alternate Risk Transfer wants to access data held by SA Guarantee Specialists after discovering that offshore guarantees were issued without authorisation.
Court slaps Ithala for ignoring warnings, upholds repayment administrator’s authority
The High Court says the state-owned financier must comply with deposit controls while awaiting the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling.
Sticky VAT thresholds create ‘economic distortion’
Tax specialists say stagnant thresholds have the opposite effect of policy aims – instead of freeing SMEs to scale up, they incentivise remaining under the threshold.
Why I turned bearish on risk assets
Stocks are tasting new highs – largely powered by IT and communications services – yet leading indicators point to weaker manufacturing and downside earnings risk.
Cyber threats: awareness high, but cover still low
Only a fraction of South African consumers and businesses have cyber cover, leaving a significant gap between awareness and protection.
Rapid growth of Ninety One fund signals rising demand for SA infrastructure debt
The SA Infrastructure Credit Fund has reached R2 billion in assets under management, with over 80% deployed into transport, energy, water, and digital projects.
Insurer told to withdraw advert that promoted discrimination
The ARB found that the ad’s analogy between greeting a taxi driver in the ‘wrong’ language and driving without insurance relied on a harmful stereotype.
Life insurers pay out R39.5bn, with 95.6% of death claims honoured
Policies subject to underwriting had the highest payout rates in 2024, reflecting lower fraud and non-disclosure and the value of comprehensive risk assessment.
‘No one is coming to save us’ – a call for women-led wealth networks
Biotech innovator Dineo Lioma urges female entrepreneurs to back one another, citing Africa’s $45bn funding gap and the power of women-led businesses to multiply capital and create jobs.
No blanket exchange control exemption for cryptocurrencies
The SARB will publish targeted frameworks to govern cross-border crypto flows and CASP reporting, says the Minister of Finance.
CIS industry tops R4 trillion as investors ride JSE rally
Only R23bn of the R146.13bn in annual net inflows was fresh capital, yet reinvested dividends and interest helped push AUM to R4.16 trillion.
MFSA: Buy Now, Pay Later operating in a regulatory void, putting millions at risk
BNPL’s credit-like features require the same statutory protections under the National Credit Act, says MicroFinance South Africa.
Buy now, panic later: a legal deep dive into SA’s payment revolution
This analysis examines whether BNPL falls under the National Credit Act or the FAIS regime, spotlights enforcement gaps, and considers how the pending COFI Bill could plug systemic vulnerabilities.
