JSE delistings: ASISA-commissioned study challenges popular narratives
Research finds that mergers and restructuring drive nearly half of JSE delistings and highlights that the determinant of listing activity is economic growth.
ASISA
Investors pull R16.5bn from local equity funds despite 42% ALSI rally
Multi-asset and interest-bearing portfolios dominated inflows in 2025 as South African investors continued to favour diversification.
Retail hedge funds overtake qualified investor funds as industry hits R216bn
Retail investors are increasingly shaping South Africa’s hedge fund industry, driving inflows and pushing retail portfolios into the lead for the first time.
Visible risk, invisible cost: advisers urged to pair sun safety with financial cover
With high melanoma rates and limited cover, Momentum Life says summer is the time for advisers to translate health messaging into critical illness conversations.
Second-highest quarterly CIS inflows on record in Q3
For the first time since 2020, a meaningful share of the quarterly inflows came from new capital rather than reinvested income.
Affordability pressures to drive innovation as insurance gap hits R50 trillion
The Insurance Gap Study finds SA’s life and disability shortfall has swelled to R50.4 trillion, with the average earner holding only 39% of the cover their dependants would need.
Huge shortfall in critical illness protection leaves most income earners exposed
ASISA’s research shows formally employed South Africans face a major liquidity risk: R4 trillion in earnings versus only R1.1 trillion in critical illness cover.
Treasury urged to retain tax relief for manager-initiated unit trust transactions
ASISA says further consultation is needed to avoid negative consequences for investors and the collective investment schemes market.
Slight increase in life insurance policies in first half of 2025
Recurring-premium risk policies grew modestly, while the number of endowment policies and retirement annuities declined, ASISA statistics show.
ASISA report: ownership gains, management equity lags, new targets raise pressure
The misalignment between the FSC benchmarks and stricter government employment equity targets is set to increase the transformation pressure on life offices and asset managers.
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.
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.
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.
Increase in cases of fraud and dishonesty detected by ASISA members
There was a significant decrease in actual losses involving fraudulent and dishonest life insurance claims compared with 2023.
Collective investment schemes post strongest quarterly inflows in years
Despite a turbulent first quarter marked by political discord and trade-tariff shocks, CIS managers attracted R48bn in net inflows – the highest quarterly figure since 2020.
Financial institutions urged to prioritise cyber resilience as Joint Standard takes effect
With Joint Standard 2 on cybersecurity coming into force on 1 June, the Prudential Authority emphasises the need for financial institutions to bolster resilience, share intelligence, and prepare for inevitable cyberattacks.
Life insurers pay a record R639 billion in 2024
Sales of recurring-premium savings policies continued to improve, while lapses of risk policies declined.
