Santam, Africa’s largest short-term insurer, has been ranked No.2 on the list of South Africa’s leading companies by the Top Employer Institute (the Institute), the global authority on Human Resource (HR) certification. The company also continues to maintain its 1st place in the insurance industry.

Santam is being recognised for the tenth consecutive year by the Institute. The Institute is the global authority on HR certification, benchmarking and advisory, active in 131 countries/ regions. Its Programme certifies organisations based on the results of its HR Best Practices Survey which covers six domains including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing. 

Since first receiving certification, Santam has steadily strengthened its workplace practices. Over the past five years alone, the company has made continuous progress, moving from 18^th place in 2022, to 10^th in 2023, 8^th in 2024, 5^th in 2025, and now 2^nd in 2026. This trajectory reflects Santam’s deliberate, long-term investment in its people.

Norah Sehunoe, Santam’s Executive Head of Human Capital, says, “We are incredibly proud to once again be recognised as a Top Employer. This achievement reflects the commitment and passion of every employee who helps make Santam a place where people feel supported, valued and able to thrive. Being certified as a Top Employer is not just a milestone – it is a reflection of the culture we continue to build together.

“Achieving this ranking is a remarkable testament to the great strides we continue to make. Our rise through the ranks shows the impact of our sustained investment in our people, our employee experience, and our commitment to creating an environment where talent can grow. This recognition reinforces our ambition to be the employer of choice and inspires us to continue creating an environment where our people can thrive and contribute with confidence.”

Top Employers Institute CEO Adrian Seligman says, “Achieving a Country Top Employer Certification for 2026 reflects Santam’s dedication to building an outstanding workplace that enables sustained business performance. Their strong alignment between people strategy and organisational goals, combined with a commitment to continuous improvement, demonstrates the impact of their transformative practices. We are proud to recognise Santam for their meaningful contribution to a better world of work in South Africa.”

The Country Certification gives organisations access to globally benchmarked insights, data-driven recommendations, expert validation, and proven best practices to strengthen their people strategy. Certified companies benefit from enhanced employer branding, clearer strategic focus, improved decision making, and a stronger ability to demonstrate impact to leaders, boards and talent markets. They also gain opportunities to connect with a global community of certified Top Employers.

In 2025, the Programme certified and recognised nearly 2,500 Top Employers in 131 countries/ regions, positively impacting over 14 million employees worldwide.