Continental Reinsurance has announced the 30 finalists for the 11th Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards, selected from 184 entries. Winners will be revealed in April 2026 in Kigali, recognising excellence in reporting and offering engagement with leading industry stakeholders.
Allianz Trade has appointed Luke Morawitz as Country Manager for South Africa, effective 1 February 2026, while he retains his role as Head of Credit. A 14-year veteran of the business, Morawitz succeeds into the leadership role reporting to Luca Burrafato, Head of MMEA.
The Allianz Risk Barometer 2026 highlights cyber incidents as the top global risk for a fifth year, with AI surging to second place amid rapid adoption, while geopolitical tensions, regulation, and business interruption continue reshaping the global risk landscape.
As festive foot traffic surges, slip-and-fall risks rise, highlighting recent case law on liability in malls. A key judgment confirms that cleaning contractors aren’t liable for hazards they aren’t contracted to monitor, placing primary responsibility on mall owners and managing agents.
AI’s explosive growth is reshaping the physical world, sparking a massive global data center construction wave. Discover the forces driving this expansion, the risks and rising costs involved, and whether the boom can be sustained in the years ahead.
Hannes Van Den Berg, CEO of Momentum Advice, warns that rising fuel prices from global conflict will increase household costs and inflation. He advises consumers to protect essential cover like insurance and medical aid, and manage budgets carefully to maintain long-term financial resilience.
Abdul Vally, CEO of Coface South Africa, says despite a slight decline in liquidations, businesses remain under pressure from weak demand and high costs. He emphasises that proactive credit risk management is critical to protecting cash flow and improving resilience in uncertain economic conditions.
Ronald King, Head of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs at PSG Financial Services, warns that expanding access to retirement funds may provide short-term relief but risks undermining long-term savings discipline, potentially worsening South Africa’s retirement crisis by reducing future retirement capital and encouraging harmful withdrawal behaviours.
Kabelo Makeke, Head of Personal and Private Banking at Standard Bank South Africa, rejected allegations of misconduct relating to a historic vehicle finance case, stating they are false and baseless. He reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to ethical practices, transparency, and defending its reputation against misinformation.
Yusuf Wadee, Head of Exchange-Traded Products at Satrix, says the firm’s strong showing at the 2026 SALTA awards reflects growing investor reliance on ETFs as transparent, cost-effective building blocks for long-term portfolios, supporting Satrix’s mission to make investing more accessible to South Africans.
Arthur Kamp, Chief Economist at Sanlam Investments, says rising oil prices threaten South Africa’s disinflation outlook by pushing inflation expectations higher. While rates may stay on hold short term, sustained inflation pressures could force the SARB to delay cuts or even hike rates.
At the 2026 SAVCA Conference, industry leaders debated private capital allocation, with some advocating a flexible, generalist approach for diversification and agility, while others stressed the need for segmented allocations to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with differing risk-return profiles.
Mark Phillips, Head of Portfolio Management and Analytics at PPS Investments, says rising geopolitical tensions and higher commodity prices are increasing inflation risks and complicating monetary policy. Despite this, the SARB held rates at 6.75%, with future decisions dependent on inflation trends and currency stability.
Continental Reinsurance has announced the 30 finalists for the 11th Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards, selected from 184 entries. Winners will be revealed in April 2026 in Kigali, recognising excellence in reporting and offering engagement with leading industry stakeholders.
The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) highlights that unsafe driving behaviours, such as speeding, driving under the influence, poor vehicle maintenance, and non-compliance with policy terms, are key reasons motor insurance claims are rejected, reinforcing that responsible driving is essential for both safety and financial protection.
South Africa’s widening life insurance protection gap highlights the importance of acting early. Securing cover while healthy, understanding policy terms, and disclosing all information can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure meaningful financial protection when it’s needed most.
While Easter road safety has improved, risks remain during busy travel periods. Santam urges homeowners to secure their properties by testing alarms, arranging check-ins, and reviewing insurance, ensuring peace of mind and protection against common threats like housebreaking over long weekends.
Old Mutual Insure has appointed Tandiwe Cimela as Executive: Elite, effective April 2026. With extensive industry experience, she succeeds retiring co-founder Tarina Vlok, whose leadership helped establish Elite as a trusted high-net-worth insurance offering.
If your insurance could speak, it would ask whether your cover still matches your life. From updated assets and addresses to accurate risk details, regular reviews are essential to avoid underinsurance and ensure your policy truly protects you when it matters most.
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Africa Re’s long-term issuer and financial strength ratings to Full “A” with Stable Outlook, recognising its strong performance, robust underwriting, risk management, and pan-African footprint, marking a historic milestone for the African-led reinsurance company.
Senzo Mbhele, Managing Director at Cloud On Demand, says businesses should move beyond AI hype and focus on practical, value-driven use cases. He emphasises that AI works best when augmenting people, starting small, and aligning with clear business outcomes rather than replacing human roles.
Allan Juma, Lead Cyber Security Engineer at ESET, says multicloud strategies should be viewed as essential enablers of resilience, compliance and innovation, rather than just cost centres, helping businesses remain competitive, secure and operational in an increasingly complex and risk-prone environment.
The insurance industry is rapidly evolving as AI, rising risks and globalisation reshape operations. Insurers are leveraging technology and international partnerships to improve efficiency, enhance risk assessment, and deliver more proactive, client-focused solutions in an increasingly complex environment.
Jordaan Burger, Managing Director for Sage Africa and Middle East, says the rollout of Sage AI will help businesses reduce administrative burdens, strengthen compliance and improve productivity. The human-first AI tools aim to support SMB growth by automating accounting, payroll and finance tasks while maintaining trust, security and user control.
Personalisation is evolving but remains underutilised. Andrew Solomon, Client Strategy Director at Achievement Awards Group, explores its challenges—data complexity, AI integration, and resource constraints. Despite these hurdles, businesses can start small, refine strategies, and gradually enhance customer engagement through tailored experiences.
Complaints are an inevitable aspect of running a business. Handling these customer grievances effectively is crucial, not only for maintaining a good relationship with the complaining customer but also for safeguarding your business’s reputation - especially in an era where social media can amplify an individual’s voice
Janeesha Ragubeer, Area Manager at Business Partners Limited, foresees a promising season ahead for South African small businesses, offering her insights on three actionable strategies to help them flourish this spring.
