Are you driving a welded death trap?

Would you willingly buy a secondhand vehicle made from two separate car bodies? Code 3 vehicles are those that have been written off by an insurer, but this does not prevent unscrupulous people from removing damaged section(s) and welding the non-affected part to a section of a similar make/model vehicle. Unsuspecting buyers could be "sitting behind the wheel of a potential death trap".

Noteworthy news in numbers

39.3 carats: size of a rare blue diamond found at Cullinan diamond mine and sold this month for R576 million, making it one of the most expensive rough diamonds ever found.

67 minutes: amount of time that supporters of Mandela Day on 18 July (his birthday) dedicate to serving others in memory of the South African statesman and international icon.

$50 million: price of a 'fake' Mona Lisa sold at Christie's in Paris recently. The painting is a replica of Da Vinci's masterpiece and was sold for ten times its auction estimate.

Is your cellphone the weakest link?

Only around 1% of cellphones carry security software and 46% of US companies have found themselves infected by a malicious app from an employee's phone. A leading cybersecurity expert warns that a surge in malicious apps is a serious threat to iPhone users despite the widely held view that iPhones are much safer. The security risks of the two platforms are now apparently comparable.

Eat your dinnerware

First it was edible straws, now a local company, Munch Innovation, has developed edible bowls in an attempt to reduce the use of plastic food packaging. The bowls, made from organic ingredients such as unbleached and stone-ground wheat flour, bran, canola oil and rooibos extract, are currently exported to Ghana, Dubai and Belgium as well as being sold locally.

The changing face of agriculture

The World Economic Forum has listed environmental factors, including climate change, among the top five global risks in its '2020 Global Risk Report'. Several initiatives aim to harness the latest technology for the agricultural sector to help promote food production...

Moving? Let us know!

Despite the upheaval of moving house, don't forget to inform your insurer that your circumstances and address have changed. In addition to cover for your household items while they are being moved, you need to ensure that the building is protected. If selling, make sure that cover is in place for your previous home until transfer is complete and that your new home is covered from the date you take ownership. A secure estate or enhanced security may result in reduced premiums, while having the incorrect address on your policy could invalidate a claim.

Explore SA's "wonderful" underwater forest

The Great African Sea Forest near Cape Town has been named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World by Bloomberg. This vibrant underwater kelp 'jungle' is 1 200 kilometres long and is larger than the Grand Canyon. Come and explore...

The Insurer newsletter and the content of any article published herein, should not be construed as forming part of any insurance contract or policy nor as constituting any form of advice. It is aimed at providing an informal and informative read to the readers thereof. Whilst every effort is taken to attempt to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained herein, Safire Insurance Company Limited does not give any assurance regarding such accuracy or correctness and accordingly does not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from any reliance placed in the information contained herein.