Kandua has launched Jess, South Africa’s first AI-powered home companion, combining conversational AI with vetted service providers to simplify home maintenance, improve transparency and trust, and create a smarter, more seamless home services experience for consumers and small businesses.
Allianz Commercial’s latest Safety and Shipping Review warns that geopolitical tensions and shipping route disruptions are reshaping global maritime trade, while traditional risks such as machinery failures and vessel fires continue to challenge industry resilience and safety.
Luke Morawitz, Country Manager of Allianz Trade South Africa, says rising geopolitical tensions and higher global cost pressures are increasing insolvency risks for businesses, making cash-flow resilience and stronger credit risk management more important than ever.
Mpumi Tyikwe, CEO of Sasria, says the insurer’s strong financial recovery and capital growth position it to expand its mandate, strengthen resilience, and better address emerging risks such as climate-related events and socio-economic shocks.
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.
Hyphen’s Pieter Brand argues that businesses should stop accepting payment reconciliation challenges as inevitable, urging finance teams to treat collections as a strategic customer engagement process rather than simply an administrative function.
FNB Life Insurance has streamlined its funeral claims process, paying half of all valid claims within 30 minutes during early 2026, helping families access financial support quickly when they need it most.
New Liberty and UCT research reveals that South Africans aged 35 to 55 are redefining financial success, prioritising resilience, stability and flexibility over wealth accumulation as they navigate rising financial pressures, career uncertainty and changing retirement expectations.
Using the analogy of a medical check-up, Andile Jonas explains why regular financial reviews with a trusted adviser are essential to long-term financial wellbeing, helping South Africans diagnose risks early and build a healthier financial future.
Business Partners’ latest SME Confidence Index shows confidence among South African SMEs has weakened as rising fuel costs and global uncertainty drive businesses to prioritise resilience, cost management and operational efficiency over growth.
Following a research trip to China, PSG Asset Management argues that investors may be overlooking compelling opportunities as intense domestic competition, technological innovation and global expansion create a new generation of internationally competitive Chinese companies.
The World Gold Council’s Mid-Year Outlook 2026 says gold’s direction in the second half of the year will depend on geopolitical tensions, interest rates and investor sentiment, with strong long-term global demand expected to underpin the precious metal’s resilience.
Old Mutual Wealth’s Izak Odendaal explores how rising geopolitical uncertainty and populism are reshaping global markets, arguing that disciplined diversification, attractive valuations and managing investor behaviour remain essential for long-term investment success.
Kandua has launched Jess, South Africa’s first AI-powered home companion, combining conversational AI with vetted service providers to simplify home maintenance, improve transparency and trust, and create a smarter, more seamless home services experience for consumers and small businesses.
Miway encourages South Africans to use the mid-year financial review as an opportunity to reassess their insurance cover, ensuring it remains aligned with their current needs and continues to provide meaningful financial protection against unexpected events.
Santam has launched a new CashBack Programme that rewards responsible policyholders with cash back for remaining claim-free, extending the value of short-term insurance beyond traditional claims by recognising low-risk behaviour.
PSG Insure CEO Cedric Masondo says climate-related disasters, rising motor repair costs and growing cyber risks are reshaping South Africa’s insurance landscape, making regular policy reviews, accurate valuations and proactive risk management more important than ever.
More than 2,300 delegates attended the 2026 Elite Wealth Conference, where industry leaders explored how resilience, intelligence and adaptability are reshaping wealth creation, investment, risk management and financial advice in an increasingly complex world.
Miway’s Nomvula Nxumalo highlights a significant short-term insurance knowledge gap among young South Africans, encouraging first-time earners to protect everyday assets like cars and smartphones as part of building long-term financial resilience.
The African Insurance Awards (AIA) 2026 will take place on 7 June 2026 in Cairo, celebrating excellence and innovation across the industry. Nominations are open until 13 April 2026 across categories including CEO, Insurance Company, Innovation, and InsurTech of the Year.
Kandua has launched Jess, South Africa’s first AI-powered home companion, combining conversational AI with vetted service providers to simplify home maintenance, improve transparency and trust, and create a smarter, more seamless home services experience for consumers and small businesses.
Troye argues that successful cloud transformation depends on simplifying application delivery rather than simply migrating infrastructure, with integrated Citrix and Nutanix solutions helping organisations securely manage modern hybrid and AI-driven workloads.
PROFIDA has upgraded its document security to industry-leading 256-bit AES PDF encryption, significantly strengthening the protection of sensitive insurance documents while delivering enhanced data security without changing the user experience.
Alex Thomson, co-founder of Naked Insurance, says Naked’s launch of a native ChatGPT app capable of generating binding car insurance quotes signals a future where AI assistants will increasingly help consumers compare, manage and personalise financial services on their behalf.
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.
