Insurance Association highlights the impact of climate-related catastrophes

Loading player...
GUEST – Themba Palagangwe, SA Insurance Associations's General Manager: Governance and Transformation



Climate-related catastrophes such as floods and storms continue to exert a significant toll on both consumers and society at large, greatly affecting South Africa’s socio-economic landscape.



The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) has observed a notable surge in weather-related insurance claims among its member companies for both property and motor insurance, underscoring the growing vulnerability of individuals and communities to climate change risks.



South Africa experienced severe weather events that resulted in more than 400 deaths and destruction of more than 12 000 homes in 2022. In KwaZulu-Natal, the floods were the most catastrophic natural disaster to hit South Africa in living memory, leading to billions of Rands in economic losses. According to the Western Cape government, at least R3.5 billion worth of infrastructure was destroyed in two major floods in June and September last year. Such devastating events have a huge impact on the well-being of communities.



In response to this escalating trend, SAIA remains committed to enhancing consumer awareness and promoting risk management frameworks. By advocating for the adoption of non-life insurance products and services as integral components of comprehensive risk mitigation measures, SAIA aims to empower individuals and households to navigate the evolving challenges posed by climate change.
8 Apr 2024 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

IDC Swings to a FY Loss of R4.6bln on Subsidiary Pressure

The Industrial Development Corporation released its 2026 financial results, showing R17 billion disbursed, R28 billion mobilised in co‑funding, and R2.3 billion in Company-level profit, despite a challenging industrial environment marked by weak fixed investment, global trade uncertainty, and pressure on export-oriented sectors. There remains pressure at headline level as it…
27 Aug 1PM 13 min

Clicks Taps Into South Africa’s Township Economy

Clicks CEO Bertina Engelbrecht breaks down the launch of KwaMakhi a new township‑focused retail format designed for high‑density, lower‑income communities. She explains why Clicks is expanding beyond traditional malls, how KwaMakhi differs from standard stores, and what this means for healthcare access in areas like Alexandra, Soweto, Tembisa and Khayelitsha.
27 Aug 12PM 10 min

Grindrod’s Record Volumes & Rail Future: CEO Kwazi Mabaso on H1 2026

Grindrod CEO Kwazi Mabaso unpacks the Group’s strong interim performance — including record 8.4 million tonnes at the Port of Maputo, a 52% surge in EBITDA, and resilient drybulk throughput across SA terminals. We explore safety improvements, logistics challenges, locomotive redeployment, and major strategic projects like the Matola expansion and…
27 Aug 12PM 14 min

Real Salaries Lift — But Households Still Under Pressure

July brought rare relief as nominal net salaries edged up to R21,642 and real salaries improved for the first time in nine months. But with year‑to‑date salary growth at just 1.6% and real earnings still 2.2% below last year, households remain stretched. Elize Kruger breaks down wage trends, inflation dynamics,…
26 Aug 1PM 10 min

Inside Absa’s Tech Leap: AI, Speed & 99.97% Reliability

Absa’s digital transformation is delivering real‑world outcomes: SME account‑opening times have collapsed from two days to under 30 minutes, credit decisioning now takes just four hours, and AI is reshaping customer service, debt review and employee productivity. Johnson Idesoh unpacks how Absa achieved 99.97% availability, boosted Rewards membership by 430,000,…
26 Aug 12PM 15 min