Banking & Insurance

The recent Constitutional Court ruling on South Africa's Certificate of Need (CONS) provisions marks an important inflection point in the country's healthcare debate. The court found that the provisions failed the constitutional rationality test. While the objective of improving equitable access to healthcare and addressing historical imbalances cannot be faulted, the court concluded that the chosen mechanism had no rational connection to the outcome it sought to achieve.

South Africa’s next wave of credit growth will come from a generation that is digitally fluent, economically active, and increasingly reliant on credit to navigate rising living costs. Yet, this generation remains largely invisible to traditional credit systems. According to TransUnion, only 28% of South African Gen Z consumers over the age of 18 are credit active. This highlights the challenge lenders face when assessing first-time borrowers.

For buyers and sellers, closing a Merger and Acquisition (M&A) transaction can feel like the finish line. However, when Representations and Warranties (W&I) insurance forms part of the transaction, the real test of that protection may only come after the deal has closed. Our 2026 Transaction Solutions Global Claims Study points to a significant evolution in the W&I claims environment.

Most of us insure our cars against accidents, theft and damage. But what about when something simply stops working? An electrical fault, gearbox failure, or major mechanical problem can quickly become an expensive surprise. This is why some drivers choose to obtain an extended motor warranty.

With El Niño conditions now established, the latest climate risk assessments suggest Southern African agriculture is better prepared for the period ahead. El Niño conditions have now formed in the Pacific Ocean. Climate forecasters indicate a high probability that the event could strengthen significantly over the coming months. Moreover, the existing fragile environment and market conditions make this El Niño event even more worrying.

South Africa’s agricultural sector is under growing pressure to produce more food with fewer resources. Rising input costs, infrastructure strain, and climate volatility are reshaping the risk commercial farming landscape. Margins continue to tighten. As operational buffers shrink, farming businesses are becoming increasingly exposed to production, financial and market vulnerabilities.

Most climate change conversations focus on shifting rain patterns, agricultural yields, or environmental damage. Yet one of its most immediate consequences often goes overlooked: the direct and measurable impact extreme weather events can have on household finances. A Super El Niño is one such event.

South Africa's payments ecosystem has evolved rapidly over the past few years. At the point of sale, a consumer can tap or insert a card, open a banking app and make a PayShap transfer, scan a QR code, or split the purchase across three interest-free instalments using PayJustNow or Payfex. They can also tap their phone to pay via digital wallet.

We have launched our inaugural State of Medical Schemes Report (SOMS). The report brings together the views of medical scheme leaders, new data illustrating the scale of protection provided by medical schemes, and modelling of reforms that could strengthen the sector’s long-term sustainability.

A patient in an underserved community may begin their care at a local clinic. They may then receive a referral to a district hospital, have tests processed elsewhere, and later need specialist treatment or follow-up in another province. At every handover, the next care team needs enough context to understand what has already happened and what should happen next.