News
CLARENCE NETHENGWE | OM Bank aims to redefine what banking means for SA's middle class
3+ day, 3+ hour ago (646+ words) South Africa's middle class is under siege as inflation erodes wages, while high interest rates and rising debt costs squeeze already strained budgets. Consumers are navigating higher food, transport, electricity and insurance costs amid economic stagnation, uncertainty and declining disposable…...
Old Mutual's OM Bank surges to 473, 000 customers as integration builds
1+ week, 1+ day ago (729+ words) Old Mutual has made "solid progress" with the integration of Old Mutual Finance into OM Bank, reporting growth in both customer numbers and retail deposits in the first quarter. The group, which is valued at more than R54bn on the JSE,…...
Weather disasters expose risk to underinsured SA farmers
1+ week, 1+ day ago (749+ words) The inclement weather that has devastated the Western Cape and Eastern Cape has shown that most South African farmers are not adequately insured against extreme weather events, which are likely to become more frequent as a result of climate change....
How a baby can break the UIF piggy bank
3+ week, 3+ day ago (776+ words) Parental leave benefits in the private sector are declining, which could drive employees who are new parents to dip into their unemployment insurance fund (UIF) savings to supplement their income while on parental leave. This is according to data from…...
Solar boom exposes local firms to insurance blind spots
4+ week, 1+ day ago (617+ words) South African businesses investing in solar power and battery storage systems to reduce reliance on Eskom may be unknowingly exposing themselves to significant insurance risks. The insurer said this is creating potential exposure, as many commercial policyholders assume renewable energy…...
Insurance giant raises alarm over business insolvencies
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (542+ words) The fallout from the Middle East conflict is reversing the economic props that have supported South African businesses, with insolvencies expected to start ticking up in 2026 after several years of decline. This year, local business insolvencies " the state in which…...
PETER WEST & MAYIBONGWE SANGWENI | SA's life insurers look for new channels of distribution
2+ mon, 5+ day ago (806+ words) South Africa's life insurance industry appears, at first glance, to be one of the continent's great financial success stories. With a life insurance penetration rate of 9. 5% of GDP as of 2024, South Africa ranks among the highest globally and continues to…...
It's all going according to script for Dis-Chem
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (666+ words) When Rui Morais stepped into the CEO role at Dis-Chem in mid-2023, he inherited more than a prominent retail pharmacy brand. He took on the task of evolving a founder-led business into a more scalable health-care platform. Now, 1, 000 days into the…...