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THE INSURER

NOVEMBER 2017

Check your doors

Car remote jamming isn’t new but as we will soon be heading to the malls for Christmas shopping or holiday fun, it’s pertinent to remember that criminals can quickly gain access to your vehicle without any show of force. Using various devices, they block radio frequencies so that your remote locking device cannot lock your vehicle. They then simply open the doors to take anything they want – perhaps even the car too. Want to avoid becoming a victim?

Who’s driving?

Handing the keys of your vehicle to a family member so they can use it might seem natural, especially if it’s your spouse or a child who has just got their driver’s licence, but are you covered if anything happens while you aren’t behind the wheel? It’s important to keep your insurer in the picture, because if you are the sole ‘regular driver’ according to your policy, your claim might be disputed or rejected if someone else is driving when an accident occurs.

Mobile branding

Safire is a proud supporter of South African cycling, which is why our distinctive branding can now be seen on the roads on a Safire branded car being driven by leading professional cyclist Brendon Davids. Brendon is a past winner of the Safire Baynesfield MTB Classic (in 2014) and lives in Pietermaritzburg where Safire has its head office.

Saying goodbye

Reg Niebhur has been with Safire since its establishment in 1987 and is one of the longest-serving directors. After many years in the Safire boardroom, he recently resigned. Safire CEO Pierre Bekker says, “Reg has been an integral part of shaping the ethos and client-centric culture of this company. He is a man of great integrity who will be sorely missed. I have really enjoyed working with him.” Reg says of his time with Safire: “It has been very meaningful to me to be part of the establishment and development of this company that has been so innovative and so instrumental in revolutionising how timber insurance was provided to the country’s timber growers. Loyalty to the company has been most important to me and I wish them an exciting next 30 years.” Reg is seen here with Safire CEO Pierre Bekker at the company’s 30th celebrations in April.

Weather warnings

ClimateWise, an international coalition of brokers and global insurers, reports that weather-related catastrophes have increased by 600% since the 1950s. This feedback comes in the aftermath of damaging storms in Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng that have seen local insurers taking a knock, following from 2016 when flooding alone racked up losses of R700 million. The financial impact on the country could be in excess of R500 million as assessment of the various disasters continues, and more bad weather could be ahead as the traditional summer storm season arrives. Since 1980, the 491 recorded climate disasters that have hit southern Africa have resulted in $10 billion damage, 110 978 deaths and left 2.47 million people homeless.

A time and place

There’s a time and place to catch up on your Facebook and Twitter communication, and while driving isn’t it! Using your phone for social media while driving could be considered reckless behaviour by an insurer, giving them the right to decline a claim in the event of an accident, especially as using a cell-phone while driving is prohibited by road traffic regulations. If claims arise from a criminal offence, such as using your phone when driving, or if a driver acts recklessly and does not exercise the proper amount of care to try and avoid an accident or loss or damage, you may not be covered. Catching up on social media while driving goes beyond negligence and is viewed as being reckless as a driver would be aware of the risk that would result from their conduct, so the insurer would be able to reject any claim.

Double billing

Uber drivers in Lagos, Nigeria use a fake GPS app created for developers to “test geofencing-based apps” to double charge passengers. Lockito sets a false GPS movement while allowing the phone to track its actual journey. The Uber app cannot tell the difference and the real and fake rides are tallied up together. Drivers claim they have to boost their income after the slashing of fares by 40%.

Smoking ban

Thailand has introduced a ‘no smoking’ ban on twenty of its most popular beaches including Patong Beach in Phuket, after 140 000 cigarette butts were picked up in a single 2.5km stretch of the famous tourist destination. The ban has been introduced as the peak tourist season approaches, and smokers who disregard the ruling could face fines of $3 000 or up to a year in prison.

Crime crackdown

In a demonstration of its zero tolerance stance on even petty crime, authorities in Singapore are about to sentence a 60-year-old man after he pleaded guilty to a charge of ‘mischief’, having been caught sticking toothpicks into bus seats. He admitted to the offence and offered to pay a fine, but prosecutors are pushing for a jail sentence. The crime of ‘mischief’ carries a maximum one-year jail term.

Drunk driving campaign

As we head into the festive season, we need to be aware of the dangers of driving under the influence. This award-winning clip entitled “Yes Mum” is considered one of the most impactful campaigns to deter drinking and driving, especially amongst younger partygoers. Have a look...

WATCH

ECONOMIC TIDBITS

$450.3 million – amount paid for a painting of Jesus, believed to be by Leonardo da Vinci, the highest amount ever paid for an auctioned artwork.

16 717 – number of carjacking incidents recorded by South African police over the past year, the highest in a decade.

£536-million – the French rugby federation’s anticipated total financial return from hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup, £64-million more than South Africa’s.

12.8 million – estimated number of households in SA that own one or more TVs, yet only 1 in 4 households are paying for a TV licence.

+R53 billion – estimated total online spend by South Africans by 2018 according to the PayPal and Ipsos annual commerce report.

+R12 billion – what absenteeism costs the SA economy per annum; two out of three employees who take sick leave aren’t physically ill.

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