Kickbacks crackdown: regulators target estate agent-conveyancer inducements
The PPRA and LPC tighten enforcement as complaints surge over referral incentives, early commissions, and covert ‘gift economy’ deals.
Industry News
Ombud warns of surge in day-trading losses as investors underestimate risk
Many trading platforms are FSCA-licensed but expressly do not provide advice. This typically blocks successful complaints unless advice can be proved.
Eleven schemes account for nearly 90% of broker fees
Broker service fees made up 17.65% of medical schemes’ directly attributable insurance service expenditure in 2024.
Speeding spikes 23% over the holidays – but the time saved is negligible
Discovery Insure’s report on festive-season travel discloses who speeds, who swerves, and who needs to put the phone down.
Sizwe Hosmed making substantial progress, says curator
An accelerated 19% contribution increase is designed to correct historic under-pricing and shore up reserves.
When gold miners become tech giants: a timely lesson in a concentrated market
How to manage money responsibly when 84% of JSE equity performance is concentrated in only a few stocks and investors are tempted by huge rallies and FOMO.
NPC report recommends reducing retirement funds’ offshore limit
The National Planning Commission recommends revising Regulation 28 to redirect at least 20% of retirement fund assets towards infrastructure and productive fixed assets.
Relief at last: Ithala depositors can access frozen funds from 8 December
Treasury’s R2.2bn intervention ends an 11-month account freeze, unlocking payouts for Ithala’s 257 000 depositors while the liquidation case continues.
Countdown to JIBAR cessation: SARB urges market to step up transition to ZARONIA
South Africa’s financial markets brace for the end of Jibar as SARB signals a major shift toward the more transparent, transaction-based ZARONIA benchmark.
Co-payments unpacked: the real drivers behind member shortfalls
A practical guide to why co-payments arise, how schemes set them, and how advisers can help clients manage the risk.
Santam goes global: Lloyd’s approves Syndicate 1918 launch
South Africa’s leading short-term insurer is set to underwrite international property, marine, cyber, and more from January 2026.
Dead on arrival: Court strikes claim issued after borrower’s death
The High Court strikes FirstRand’s repossession action after finding the defendant died months before summons was issued.
Calls grow for full audit trails in eFiling profile hijackings
Tax practitioners argue that the apparent targeting of refund-eligible profiles points to either insider access or critical control failures.
Court raises bar for repudiation based on misrepresentation or non-compliance
Non-life insurers may repudiate claims for alleged misrepresentation or regulatory breaches only when they can produce clear, consistent, and reliable evidence.
Letsoalo stand-off: SCOPA vs RAF’s former CEO
Parliament’s announcement that SCOPA will seek the Speaker’s approval to lay criminal charges against former Collins Letsoalo leaves South Africans waiting to see what will happen next.
Why I turned bullish on Bitcoin and bombed-out AI hyperscalers
Ryk de Klerk links Bitcoin’s slump and hyperscalers’ pain to a jump in Big Tech bond spreads, arguing the market has priced in heavy capex and financing needs.
Alternative stock exchange resolves ‘opt out’ listings dispute with FSCA
A2X says it will pay the fine, adding the vast majority of the affected companies have elected to retain their secondary listings.
