Fire risks at home

It’s very tempting to turn on the electrical heater as soon as it gets a bit nippy. But using electricity incorrectly can result in a potentially damaging and fatal fire in your home. Never overload plug points and adaptors, and do not use plugs or appliances with signs of fraying or damage, or showing exposed wire, until you have repaired or replaced them. Be aware: a smell like burning tyres, plastic or metal indicates that a fuse or plug is heating up to dangerous levels. Turn off the appliance immediately! Are there sparks when you remove or insert a plug? Do you experience a mild electric shock when using an appliance? Stop using it straight away!

Fire season media features

In the lead up to the fire season, Safire has undertaken a media campaign to highlight the risks of fire and to emphasise to both existing and potential clients what could and should be done to avoid becoming a fire season statistic. Tips include the following:

An important part of fire season preparation is reviewing your insurance cover. Timber price increases necessitate a reassessment of timber values. It is important that insured values are current and that any changes to planted areas are conveyed to your insurer. Factors that could have an effect on fire risk or changes affecting insurance cover should also be disclosed.
Be aware of any limitations regarding controlled burns set out by both your insurer and FPA, whether within the fire danger period or not.
Familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of your insurance cover.

2019 Safire Golf Classic

The annual Safire Golf Classic took place at Victoria Country Club in Pietermaritzburg on Friday 7 June. 120 golfers started the day in chilly conditions but nothing could put a damper on the good spirits of everyone there! Several event partners manned watering holes, including Shackleton Risk Management, Charka, Hay & Scott, OnePlanet Advertising, Jonsson Workwear Depot and Expand A Sign. This year, the Balls to the Wall trophy, in memory of Hansie Boshoff who lived life to the full, was awarded to a Brokersure broker, Byron Ekerold, seen here receiving his trophy from Safire CEO, Pierre Bekker (left). The top four 4-balls in the Safire Golf Classic were as follows:

1st place - Gavin Yeats, Mark Lynn, Pierre Berrange & James Bryant

2nd place - Dave Edmondson, Alan Martin, Matt Pennefather & Pete Greene

3rd place - Annel Niebuhr, Sue Tatham, Paula Beddow & Sonja Purdon

4th place - Pierre Bekker, Peter Taylor, Harald Niebuhr & Trevor Blackstock

Watch

Safire fares well in Ombudsman’s report

We were delighted to feature positively in the latest report for 2018, released by the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance (OSTI), which provides consumers with a free, efficient and fair dispute resolution mechanism. According to the latest statistics, Safire received 7428 claims, with only 10 matters (0.11% of all claims received by OSTI) forwarded to OSTI for perusal. The report states that the Ombudsman resolved 9,474 complaints out of 9,779 formal complaints lodged in the review period, with 65% of cases finalised within four months. Motor vehicle insurance had the highest total number of finalised complaints (48%), followed by homeowners insurance at 21%. Want to know more about “the most complained about insurance companies” in the country?

The greatest shoal on earth is on its way!

The Sardine Run is one of the most anticipated events on the KZN coastal calendar. This teaser for last year’s run shows why… and those in the know say the slippery silverfish are on their way!

That's Life

Thanks to all the fathers out there for their insights and advice throughout the years!

Economic snippets

2020 – extended deadline for the ending of economic sanctions against Russia, as agreed by European Union leaders last week.

R1.25-billiion – Cartrack revenue to end of February 2019. South Africa remains its biggest market, with subscriber numbers increasing by 30% this past year.

243 – number of jails in the country, all involved in the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day campaign, with inmates making blankets for those in need.

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.