AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009 | ISSUE 11
?
you are
important!
Rest insured
www.santam.co.za
SANT001292 It AllAdds Up275x210 8/13/09 4:02 PM Page 1
Composite
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009 | ISSUE 11
?
“If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.” - Aristotle Onassis
important!
Rest insured
VIVA WO + MEN!
www.santam.co.za
COVER: ‘It all adds up’ is Santam’s new campaign to save costs and streamline our business.
Did you know? There are currently 508 000 women in South Africa who each hold a university degree – 38 500 of them are housewives. (AMPS 2008A) 45% Of South African men and 42% women agree with the statement:“The man's place is at work, the woman's place is at home”. (AMPS 2008RA) Divorced women use lipstick more regularly (66%) than single women (38%) do. (AMPS 2008) Only 9% of females living in South Africa have short-term insurance; 12% of men do. Over half (64%) of South African males never visit a hair salon, while only 38% of women never visit a hair salon. (AMPS 2008RA)
Y
ou could say I come from a family of females, because for every male, there are about five females! I really felt sorry for my poor dad, who - at one stage - was totally outnumbered by women. You see, apart from my mom, two sisters, the domestic worker and I, even the dog turned out to be of the fairer sex! Over the years things didn’t change much; in fact, the survival of our family name currently lies in the hands of one poor guy, my second cousin. If he doesn’t start having babies soon (and baby boys at that!), our family name will be gone forever. The same thing can be said of Santam these days. If you happen to be in a Santam office today, the chances are pretty good that you may run into a female employee. Right now, women are in the majority at Santam, accounting for 57.86% of Santam’s employee base. I recently interviewed nine of them and was pleasantly surprised to learn that not a single one fit the stereotyped image of ‘women without a voice’. They are all strong and independent, driven and creative, confident, but not arrogant. Most importantly they are all happy and proud to be females, and have no chips on their shoulders about competing with their male counterparts or forcing themselves through the proverbial glass ceiling. Although men and women are obviously different from a physical point of view, I believe that in the end we are all the same. It doesn’t matter whether you’re
male or female: we have the same emotions, the same worries, the same fears. Although men and women excel at different things, in the end, it’s about freedom. We are fortunate that we work for a company that believes in providing equal opportunities, where you can do any job, regardless of your gender. In the past, it would have been frowned upon for women to be carrying out some of the jobs that they do in Santam today. We have women heading up departments, women in agriculture, women in facilities and even women working as panelbeaters. We are also fortunate to live in a country where we are free to be who and what we want to be, free to love who we want to and free to practise whatever religion we want to. As we celebrate all women on National Women’s day on 9 August, we also celebrate the great men who support women in pursuing their dreams. Because, in the end, we are all equal.
ESSENCE | 1 |
you are
“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”
CONTENTS
- Timothy Leary
p. 14
Santammers say...
what’s inside
“A good mentor must be a good listener.” - André Joseph
01 | Editorial
all our efforts are added up, they can make a big
Viva WO + MEN!
difference. Santam recently launched the ‘It all adds up’ campaign to help save costs and streamline our
02 | Contents
operations.
04 | Calendar
14 | Santam Agriculture looks forward to the
Why not …read, spoil, see, visit, watch and laugh this month and September?
next 80 years of crop insurance There is great excitement at Santam Agriculture, because this year marks the 80th anniversary of
05 | Message from Ian Kirk
successful crop insurance in South Africa.
Santam needs you. 16 | Santam backs BBBEE 06 | Letters
For many years Santam has had a strategy in place
What’s on your mind? Share your thoughts, ideas
to support transformation to meet the demands of
and brain waves with us. Who knows, you could win
the business. See how we measure up.
a great prize! 18 | Protectors of our clients’ cargo 07 | In short
For the past 35 years the experts at Santam Marine
Keeping a good credit profile, Santam acquires
Insurance have been advising clients on insuring their
Emerald Insurance Company, South African women
cargo and protecting themselves against the age-old
making headlines, Santam is the first SA insurer to
phenomenon of piracy.
join ClimateWise. 20 | Santam grooms future assessors Santam’s Technical Claim Training Academy is making
THINK BIG 12 | It all adds up Our individual efforts may seem trivial, but when
qualified assessors out of more and more Santam staff members.
CALENDAR
start...
plant...
spoil...
Eating healthier foods and start exercising in celebration of World Heart Day on 24 September.
An indigenous tree during Arbor Week, 1-7 September 2009. Santam will be planting an indigenous tree in every province during Arbor Week.
Your PA or Secretary on National Secretaries’ Day on 2 September 2009.
recycle...
laugh...
attend...
My wife's jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was.
Ian Kirk’s annual road show in a city near you, from 15-18 September 2009. Watch the intranet for more details.
Old magazines as gift wrap. Your gifts will look amazing, you will save lots of money and you will do your bit to save the environment!
Santam’s first Green Conference will take place during September 2009 at Head Office. Watch the intranet for confirmation of the finalised dates.
treat... The woman and women in your life to a nice lunch, a big bunch of flowers or a bottle of her favourite perfume this August in celebration of Women's Day.
why not?
a word from Ian
Santam needs you A critical issue that all corporate leaders face today is that of successfully engaging their employees. While this is nothing new, it is especially important in trying times such as the current global economic recession, which creates concerns about job security and business continuity. All companies need to stay in touch with their employees. The one positive aspect for us regarding
opportunities?
communicate
this picture is our 91 years’ experience in
How are we dealing with fraud?
too much.
the field of risk management. Our people,
Are we delivering value to all our lines
technical expertise, knowledge, experience
of policyholders, from personal to niche?
informed about the
and entrenched risk management culture,
How accurately do we determine and
real issues at hand,
as well as key strategic business decisions,
price risks given the current market
and, more importantly,
have made us an industry leader over the
conditions, and how do we ensure that
about what is
past 91 years.
the correct price for the risk is the
This means staying
expected of each one
So, what do we do to weather this
of us to see us through
storm? I have said it many a time before:
right price? How can we minimise the incidence and
we need to manage our business tightly, in
impact of claims?
In many respects the
order to capitalise on all the opportunities
Do we have additional procedures in
poor state of the
that present themselves in these times. It is
place to ensure proper risk management
difficult times.
economy has been
a simple case of it all adding up.
a big equaliser
In our efforts to live our values, we
– companies
now need to start thinking big about any
and good corporate governance? Are there projects that we should not be working on? I am looking forward to engaging with all
worldwide
wastefulness on our part. We need to
are feeling its
embrace new initiatives to conduct our
of you in the upcoming month when I do
effects. Closer
business more efficiently, and we need to
my annual staff road show in all the regions.
to home, the
inspire each other to become more cost-
I want to encourage you to start thinking of
South African
conscious. In doing so, we need to hold
questions you have on your mind about the
economy is
each other accountable for our actions.
business and how you can make a difference.
under pressure,
In the same way that you and your team
I want to know your concerns and the issues
particularly
work with your leaders every day to find
about which you need more clarity. I regard
in the manufacturing and mining sectors,
answers on how to improve yourselves,
my engagement with each of you as a key
and commercial and individual consumers
the senior leaders also recently listed a few
component of our plan to face the economic
are battling. Our industry is also under big
things that we need to address as a team. I
storm.
pressure. CEOs of South African companies
would like to share some of these with you,
consider their ability to obtain equity or
because I think there is a match to your
solution. While the “it all adds up” campaign
debt funding as moderately worse than
daily issues, and I want to assure you that
will go some way to getting across the
it was six months ago. This could be
these are the things that should drive our
message of staying prudent, each one of
attributed to ever-tightening credit facilities
business: How are we planning to cut our
you needs to support each other, give
in South Africa, as well as investors exiting
Santam needs all of us to be part of the
guidance where it’s needed to succeed, and,
risky investments. There has never been a
management expenses?
more importantly, ensure you engage each
greater need to be able to manage one’s
What are we doing to increase our
of your leaders on unique ideas that will
risk than right now.
market share and develop new market
ensure our future.
ESSENCE | 5 |
W
e can never
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
just as old, I’m going to be "One day when I’m Mini." am Sant the as t smar
Vash’s Mini, waiting to be repaired.
LETTERS
(albeit an older model), which is currently standing at her
Proud ambassador of the Santam Mini
house, because it's not in driveable condition. We know
This message is actually a plea. We Santammers here in
will soon be moving to new premises, it would be great
Welkom are a very close-knit team. Although there are only
if the Santam Mini Cooper could be parked in Welkom’s
six people in our office, our team leader, Pravashnee (Vash)
main road every day for three months. Your kind consid-
Naidoo, ensures that we get together at least once a month.
eration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
Vash joined Santam at the beginning of the year and
that Vash would do the Santam brand proud if she could have an opportunity to drive the Santam Mini. We thought that since the Welkom branch’s offices
Welkom Santammers
accepted the Santam brand with pride and honour. She is a real asset to Santam – especially for the Welkom branch. Her co-workers are very fond of her, as are our clients and brokers. Nothing is ever too much for Vash – she is always willing to help anyone, whether it’s her job or not. She takes ownership of each thing she tackles. Our small little team at Welkom heard that Vash is very fond of the Santam Mini Cooper. She even bought one
*Thank you for the great suggestion! It’s great to know that Santammers are proud of our yellow brand and of the Mini. Unfortunately, the Mini promotion ended last year and the two Minis are now being used full-time to service the Yell-for-Yellow desks at Head Office and Illovo. Ed.
Hear! Hear! for honest clients One of our clients, Mrs Price, an old lady from Pretoria recently lost her hearing aid. Knowing she had lost it in her home, she was reluctant to submit a claim. After a month of searching, she finally gave up and submitted a claim. We received her claim and she was subsequently paid out R15 000, less the R500 excess. A couple of days later her part-time domestic assistant discovered the hearing aid in the back crease of one of the dining room chairs. In the attempt
Selven Govender, Heindricght Plaatjies, Karen Muuren, Mrs Price, Mosidi Shomang (front), Dutch van Eck (behind Mosidi), Lourens Joubert (front), and Roy McGrath (behind Lourens).
to recover the aid, it unfortunately fell and broke. Mrs Price phoned us to return the money we paid her, and submitted the broken aid to be fixed instead. An agency repaired the aid for a fee of R3 800. She later phoned us to pay the difference - R11 000 – by cheque. We decided to host a function in Mrs Price’s aid for her honesty at our offices. Dutch van Eck, Manager, Insurance Services Pretoria
Client-service suggestion I’ve read the latest edition of Essence; what a great magazine it is! It really was a pleasure reading it. I have one suggestion: why don’t you do a story on Santam’s client service reception area in Claims and Assessment Services? For 11 years I’ve worked at the service point reception area where I’ve witnessed many clients walking through the doors. I think it would make a great story, since Santam is moving towards client-service and centricity. Petra de Swardt, Cape Town Claims Administration and Assessment Services *Thank you for the compliment Petra! It really is great knowing that staff read Essence and that you have great ideas to make the magazine even better. We will most certainly follow up on your suggestion. Look out for future editions! Ed.
CONGRATULATIONS!
CLIENT CENTRICITY FIA AWARDS AWARD AW WARDS GOOD CORPORAT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Santam is
king!
Rest insured
Congrats on a wonderful issue of Essence (June/ July). It’s funky, informative, fun and just a bit different. I really enjoyed the read, and will keep paging through it in the next few weeks. Neil Slabbert, Audit & Forensic Services
WRITE AND WIN
ta notkee !
Anything to say? Write to us! You can e-mail, fax, mail or hand-deliver your letters to Essence. Letters will be treated as confidential and your name will not be revealed if you request that, however Essence must have your real name and address. Letters of 250 words and less will receive preference. Please note: Essence reserves the right to edit letters.
SANTAM ACQUIRES EMERALD INSURANCE COMPANY
It’s official – Santam is the first South African and African insurance company to join ClimateWise – a network formed by leading insurers worldwide to influence debate and decisionmaking on climate change.
society we need to reduce the risk of environmental catastrophes occurring in the longer term. At Santam we are serious about our journey. We believe every small act is impor tant, as it all adds up. Therefore, we are keen to learn from like-minded peers in the ClimateWise group. We also want
Santam’s decision to join ClimateWise
to work with them to address the
is based on its pro-active stance on
risks, and then share with our clients
addressing climate change. Through
oppor tunities to make a positive
ClimateWise, Santam will have a
impact,” says Hendri Nigrini, Executive
voice at the United Nations climate
Head of Risk Services at Santam.
change negotiations in Copenhagen in December this year. ClimateWise currently has 40 members
Andréw Torrance, ClimateWise Chairman, said he is delighted to welcome Santam: “Climate
around the world and is represented
change demands an urgent and
on three continents: Europe, North
transformational change in the way we
America and Africa. Its members all
manage our global economy. There is
strive to deliver actions that are guided
a climate crisis, which poses a systemic
by the ClimateWise Principles, namely to:
risk to the global economy, which must be tackled now. ClimateWise’s
• Lead in risk analysis
members - leading insurance industry
• Inform public policy-making
par ticipants drawn from right across
• Support climate awareness
the globe - understand the need for
• Incorporate climate change in
action and will continue to influence
investment strategies • Reduce the environmental impact • Report and be accountable
the debate to achieve this.” ClimateWise is facilitated by the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and
“Climate change cannot be ignored
operates as a sectoral initiative of The
or avoided and there are limits to how
Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders
much climate-risk can be transferred
Group on Climate Change, driven by
to the insurance industry. As a
the insurance industry.
SA warned on duty to women and children Besides maintaining peace and fighting crime during next year’s Fifa Soccer World Cup, the South African Police Service will have the added challenge of detecting whether women and children are exploited for sex or labour. Luis CdeBaca, Director of the United States (US) Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, has warned South Africa not to allow the problems of human trafficking to eclipse the excitement of the World Cup. According to the US State Department’s 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, South Africa was taken off the watch list of countries doing little to combat human trafficking.
ESSENCE | 7 |
Santam SA’s first insurer to join ClimateWise
Despite the short-term insurance industry currently facing challenging conditions, Santam is continuing to Think Big. Its latest acquisition is local property and haulage specialist, the Emerald Insurance Group’s insurance (Emerald Insurance Company) and underwriting business (Emerald Underwriting Managers), subject to, inter alia, the approval of the Competition Tribunal and the Financial Services Board. Growing from its origins within the Super Group business as a local property and haulage specialist, the Emerald Insurance Group has offered insurance to a large number of corporate property and engineering clients in Africa since 2000. Through the successful acquisition of Emerald, Santam will now achieve even greater innovation and flexibility in addressing the needs of the Corporate and Specialist business environment and diversify its insurance book.
Are you FAIS fit? Time is running out for FAIS representatives who were appointed before 1 January 2008 and who do not yet fulfil the necessary National Qualifications Framework (NQF) requirements. The deadline is 31 December 2009.
you are a FAIS representative who joined
courses or gained qualifications that are
Santam before 1 January 2008, the FAIS
not reflected. You need to provide HR
Act requires that Santam (as an authorised
with a certified copy of your qualifica-
financial service provider), remove you from its register of representatives. This will affect
related qualifications, please click on
your ability to perform the tasks for which
the EVP icon on the intranet homepage,
you were employed.
then click on study assistance and next on service providers. Have a look at the
Intermediary Services Act (FAIS), FAIS repre-
If you are in a FAIS-related position,
IN SHORT
sentatives have to hold certain qualifications. please ensure that you: Check how many credits you have FAIS representatives who render advice in by going to mylife>destiny self-
terms of short-term personal lines business who render advice in respect of short-term
Contact Michael Brand of Santam’s
commercial lines business require 60 NQF
Human Resources Department via
level-4 credits.
e-mail (Michael.brand@santam.co.za)
If you don’t meet these requirements and
programmes offered through PSG and/ or Imfundo.
COMPLY
ta notkee !
service>education/fais history
need to have 30 NQF level-4 credits. Those
if you have completed any FAIS-related
South African
Reserve Bank gets its first female governor
World-first for sublime South African soprano
Gill Marcus is the first South African woman
Pretty Yende, a 24-year old graduate of
to be appointed as governor of the South
the University of Cape Town’s School of
African Reserve Bank (SARB). She will
Music has achieved a world first by taking
replace governor Tito Mboweni from 9 November this year. The ANC said the
home the main prizes in the prestigious International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing
appointment of Marcus as the first female
Competition held in Vienna,
governor of the SARB demonstrated the
Austria, recently. It is the
Government’s commitment to gender
first time in the 25-year
equality.
history of the competition that one singer has won
to the Bank financial systems towards
all first prizes in the main
ensuring the achievement of economic
categories.
growth,” the party said in a statement.
tions. If you have not completed any FAIS-
your ability to render advice and, ultimately,
In terms of the Financial Advisory and
“A progressive thinker, she will be bringing
Pretty is a sublime soprano who won the first prize awards in the opera and operetta categories and took home the Audience Prize, as well as the International Media-Jury Prize.
Please help Santam comply with the FAIS Act by making sure you have the necessary FAIS credits.
w doneell !
Santam’s claims paying ability highly rated
Young rising star
experienced management team. Santam has maintained comfortable solvency measures, particularly in view of the high degree of diversification in the business. The R1bn in subordinated debt, which is recognised as secondary capital, enhances solvency and policyholder security. At the end of the 2008 financial year, the gross gearing ratio amounted to 21%, while the company was ungeared on a net basis. Santam reflected sound debt serviceability ratios from a profit-after-tax and operating cash flow perspective. *Source: FA News
Victory for Muslim first wives
township, but is headed for the red carpet
Charlize reaches out to underprivileged children in SA
as the star of a new South African film, My
Award-winning South African actress
husband’s estate if he dies without a will,
Secret Sky. It tells the story of a brother and
Charlize Theron has teamed up with
the Constitutional Court ruled recently.
sister whose mother dies, prompting them
the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)
Previously, the Intestate Succession Act
to leave their village in rural KZN for the
Chelsea to bring soccer opportunities to
recognised only one spouse, making it
bright lights of Durban. Fighting to survive on
underprivileged children in South Africa.
difficult for all the widows in a polygamous
the streets, the young girl, played by Sobahle,
The three-year commitment between
marriage to make a claim.
meets an adult she believes will be her
Theron’s Africa Outreach Project and
benefactor, but who turns out to be a pimp.
LAFC Chelsea will see the development
Gabie Hassam was told by the executor
She only narrowly escapes being raped.
of a community-wide soccer programme
of her late husband Ebrahim’s estate
for schools in the uMkhanyakude District
that the intestate law only recognised “a
of KZN.
spouse” relating to the marriage she had
Eleven-year-old Sobahle Mkhabase lives in a
In the same way as the character she plays, Sobahle, has no contact with her father. She lives with her mother in a modest home in the Durban township of Chesterville. Her performance won the best actress award at Spain’s Tarifa festival, where the film also picked up the Audience Award. My Secret
Theron, a United Nations Messenger for Peace, hopes that, ultimately, the Project
All the widows of a polygamous Muslim marriage will be entitled to claim from their
The ruling came after widow Fatima
with her late husband Ebrahim. He had been married to both Fatima and Mariam
will create safer, healthier lives
Hassam, but when he died in 2001 his
for impoverished children
death certificate showed that he was
and their families in South
Sky is currently showing in cinemas
Africa, especially those
countrywide.
suffering from HIV/Aids.
never married. The court ordered this change be made retroactive to 27 April 1994.
ESSENCE | 9 |
Global Credit Rating Company (GCR) has accorded Santam a domestic ZAR currency claims paying ability rating of AAA (triple A). This is the highest rating that can be attained by an insurance company. Furthermore, a domestic ZAR currency long-term subordinated debt rating of AA(double A minus) was assigned to Santam’s R1bn subordinated debt issue. This is indicative of very high credit quality and strong protection factors. The ratings were underpinned by Santam’s leading position in the South African short-term insurance market, complemented by its strong brand and highly
GETTING MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK It has been 18 months since the co-operation programme between Sanlam and Santam, Programme Helix, began to promote growth and unlock value for the Group through revenue and cost synergies. Group Sourcing is one of the
initiatives launched in Phase 1 of
limited to the bottom-line,”
may arise, the two groups need
new initiatives that evolved from
Strategic Sourcing, involving Travel,
says André Lotz. “IT Shared
to work together. It’s great to
it; and to date it has delivered
Facilities Management and Human
Services (ITSS) is a case in
see how people now look for
benefits worth R30,1 million.
Resources.
point. Although the ITSS was a
opportunities to collaborate and
IN SHORT
Group Sourcing is headed by
Most of these were implemented separate initiative in the Helix
to share opportunities as well as
Ebrahim Asmal, supported by a
with a number of contracts
stable, the reality is that IT buys
expertise. We are already seeing
management team comprising
firmly in place and have delivered
both goods and services. To
a strong positive shift in attitudes
Robert ter Borg, Letitia Jentel and
great benefits to our business. In
fully utilise opportunities that
and behaviour,” concludes André.
André Lotz. “The focus of the
phase 2, we’re adding initiatives
team is to drive synergies within
in the Professional Services and
the Sanlam Group by getting the
Marketing categories. The goals
best possible value-for-money on
for the phase 2 initiatives, across
our combined spend on goods
all categories, are as ambitious as
and services procured externally.
always and we are looking forward
The key in all sourcing activities is
to adding a further benefit to the
to obtain improved service levels
Group,” adds Ebrahim.
at better value – essentially it amounts to us getting more bang for our buck,” says Ebrahim. “In previous editions of Essence we gave you an overview of
One Group – several businesses working together “The benefits of a strategic sourcing capability are not only FROM LEFT: Ebrahim Asmal, Letitia Jentel, Robert ter Borg and André Lotz
Keep a good credit profile When you apply for insurance, the first thing an insurance company will do is to determine your risk profile. One way of doing it is to look at your credit profile and claims history. The better your credit and claims history,
total claims as a percentage of the
the better your position to negotiate better
total premiums paid), you will be able
because something is insured does
premiums is.
to negotiate a good premium when
not mean that you may treat it with
It has been proven that those
you need to renew your policy, or when
consumers who tend to default on
you consider moving your insurance to
payments with other credit institutions
another company.
default. If you have taken out insurance, it is
disrespect Keep small high-value items such as rings and watches locked away in a safe, away from prying eyes
are at greater risk of having higher claims ratios, than those who do not
Take pride in your assets. Just
Some useful tips to manage your claims ratio: Do not claim for small items where the
If you have an excessively high claims ratio, or if you claim frequently, you run the risk of having your policy screened
important to make sure you manage
loss is slightly higher than your excess
(corrective underwriting procedure)
your insurance claims in the same way
payable
or even cancelled. This would also
Do not lend your car to friends or
make it extremely difficult to get new
family, especially if the driver is known
insurance or negotiate good premiums
to be reckless
with your insurance company.
in which you manage your credit and risk profile with credit institutions. By managing your claims ratio (your
SERVICES
conta ct
Santam Direct offers excellent rates and unrivalled service to all Santam employees. Please contact 0860 110 728 for more information.
DRAFTFCB CAPE TOWN SANT001285/2/E
Our business
It all adds up Have you ever packed your bags for a holiday, only to discover at the airport that you are way over your baggage weight limit? Only when you start unpacking your bags do you realise how much all of the lightweight items weigh together. Likewise, at Santam, our individual efforts may seem trivial, but when all our efforts are added up, they can make a big difference. This is the key message of our new “It all adds up” campaign.
“T
here is potential for great
rating that can be attained by an insurance
Shared responsibility
brands on the other side
company. Then there’s our strong market
“We want everyone to get more involved.
of the current economic
share that gives us a high degree of diversifica-
Santam has the knowledge, experience and
turmoil. Among the things
tion and greater flexibility to price for risk,
the right people to ride out the challenges
that count in Santam’s favour is the fact that
while we can reap the benefits from sustain-
presented by the economic slump. We need
we have weathered such storms in the past
able cost efficiencies.
their feedback and pledges to save costs and
90 years, grown stronger and now have a bag
“The aim of the “It all adds up” campaign is
ensure Santam remains sustainable. A pledge
of tricks that worked in the past. As is the
to make Santammers aware of their ability and
can be something small, such as promising
case elsewhere in our industry, we are also
responsibility to help the company save costs,
only to print when it’s absolutely necessary
experiencing an increase in the number of
and to show that sometimes we already have
and to make duplex instead of single-page
short-term insurance claims. Although the
the answers, and need not look for them in
printouts. You can pledge to have telecon-
result is that our underwriting margin is under
expensive textbooks. We need to start Think-
ference meetings, instead of flying from one
pressure, one thing remains constant: people’s
ing Big about any waste as we do business, we
meeting to the next,” adds Adriaan.
ability to grow from adversity,” says Adriaan.
need to Embrace new initiatives to conduct
The campaign talks about bigger issues,
our business more efficiently and we need
such as our culture and the role each
Rating Company (GCR) recently accorded
to Inspire each other to become more cost
Santammer has to play to combat industry-
Santam a domestic ZAR currency claims pay-
conscious and by doing so keep each other
specific and socio-economic challenges.
ing ability rating of AAA, which is the highest
accountable for our actions,” adds Adriaan.
“The campaign has been developed to
There is a silver lining though. Global Credit
Essence spoke to newly-appointed Head of Communication, ADRIAAN BESTER, who is the driving force behind this campaign to help Santam save costs and streamline its operations.
essenCe | 13 |
LOOK OUT FOR IAN’S ROAD SHOW IN AN AREA NEAR YOU IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. take into consideration those issues that
ers on issues that are pertinent to their
affect the delivery of our corporate strat-
specific areas. The golden thread that
egy, while allowing us to talk about our
will run through all presentations will be
vision and values in every-day words,”
the fact that it all adds up and that every
adds Adriaan.
Santammer has a critical part to play in
HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS OF PLEDGES YOU CAN MAKE TO SAVE COSTS:
1
our company’s success.
Part of the solution
Our CE reminds us regularly that Santam
“We are also acknowledging that Santam
is a unique business in terms of the quality
does not operate in isolation, but that it is
of our relationships with our intermediar-
part of the South African fibre. We want
ies, our diversity, our technical skills and
staff to be part of the solution. The only
our ability to attract, retain and develop
way we are going to achieve this is to suc-
top talent in the industry. The flight to
cessfully match staff members’ expecta-
quality that comes with tough economic
tions with pressing business needs,” adds
times should benefit Santam in terms
Adriaan.
of business flow and people. If we can
“It all adds up” will also be the theme of
successfully instill a culture of “It all adds
Ian Kirk’s next series of road shows when
up” in Santam, we should reap generous
he will interact with internal stakehold-
dividends,” concludes Adriaan.
2 3 4 5
Don’t print e-mails unnecessarily. If you do have to print, make sure you do so on both sides of the page Avoid flying by rather having teleconferences Request more than one quotation from suppliers Rather drink tap water than bottled water Use scrap paper to fill cubes on desks
6 7
Rather use couriers than using overnight post
8
Become active in reporting misuse or suspected fraud by contacting one of the following:
Make flight bookings long in advance to get discounts
forensicservices@santam.co.za Fraudline: (SA) 0860 600 767 (Nam): 0800 002 020 SACIB: 0860 00 2526 Fax: 021 915 8197
AGRICULTURE
Many a farmer knows the only certainty in agriculture is that nothing is certain. The next crop may be successful or it may not; similarly, a farmer’s risks are as unpredictable as the weather. With 91 years’ experience in the insurance industry and specialist knowledge of crop and asset insurance, Santam Agriculture is leading the way with the latest products and services in the field of agricultural insurance.
SANTAM AGRICULTURE
looks forward to the next 80 years of crop insurance
TOBIAS DOYER Head of Santam Agriculture
necessary insurance was as risky
recently underwent a
as jumping from a plane without a complex science. Aspects such as effective soil depth, soil compacparachute.
transformation, inspired
farmer’s crop is an extensive and
for labour disputes, and crop and asset insurance.
by the natural elements of sun,
Farmers soon required an eco-
tion, moisture content, most
A bright future
water and earth. Tobias Doyer,
nomic agricultural organisation in
suitable planting dates and dif-
The success of the past
head of Santam Agriculture, takes
which producers and consum-
ferent cultivars are only a few of
80 years can accordingy to
a nostalgic look at the history of
ers could work together to the
the many aspects that need to be
Tobias largely be ascribed to the
agricultural insurance in South
benefit of all parties.
Africa.
The year 1929 will always be one of the most important dates
support of loyal clients. “We
“Today, Santam Agriculture is the only short-term insurer in South Africa with an experimental farm”
are at the start of a new season and, as with the global economy,
Insurance and farming go hand in hand
in the history of crop insur-
When Santam’s short-term insur-
Mutual Hail Insurance Society
ance book was consolidated with
was established that year as the
the long-established crop insur-
first hail insurance organisation.
taken into consideration. Pioneer-
measures in place to meet chal-
ance business of ARS (previously
In those days, reinsurance was
ing work was done, notably in the
lenges successfully.
Sentraoes), it heralded an exciting
out of the question and farmers
field of hail insurance.
new era in agricultural insurance
gradually realised that they had
at Santam Agriculture.
to insure their crops against hail
only short-term insurer in South
We also have the necessary
and other natural disasters. In
Africa with an experimental farm
energy and passion to provide
Today, there is great excitement
1951, the “Boere Hael Assuran-
where tests are carried out on
our crop and asset insurance
at Santam Agriculture, because
sie” and Sentrakas managed to
various crops to determine cor-
clients with prompt and correct
this year marks the 80th anniver-
secure some reinsurance through
rect underwriting methods, to
advice and assistance for the next
sary of successful crop insurance
Santam –offering their members
enable farmers to select the right
80 years!”
in South Africa.
guaranteed insurance. Sentraoes
insurance for their needs.
That was some years ago.
ance. The Conquered Territory
was established in 1970 by
challenging year. It is in times such as these that our experience enables us to put the necessary
Today, Santam Agriculture is the
Despite our age, we are young and innovative in our thinking.
Santam Agriculture’s new client-
Growing needs
consolidating the hail portfolios of
centric approach to short-term
In the 250-odd years before
the afore-mentioned businesses.
insurance, including new risk-
farmers in South Africa had
In 2000, Sentraoes and CUAS
management initiatives and an im-
access to crop insurance, they
merged to form ARS.
proved claims service, means that
were vulnerable to experiencing
must prepare ourselves for a
clients in agriculture are offered
disappointments and losses due
A complex science
more flexible and transparent op-
to fires and hailstorms, not to
It was in the late 60s in particu-
tions. Santam Agriculture’s new
mention wars and battles.
lar that a revolutionary form of
team of experts and products
By the 1920s farmers realised
crop insurance was introduced.
support all the needs of the mod-
that farming without having the
Insurers realised that insuring a
ern farmer, including liability cover
DID YOU KNOW? Santam is finalising a special commemorative book on 80 years of crop insurance in South Africa. Please contact Hannes du Plessis on 082 900 9409 for further information.
ESSENCE | 15 |
S
antam Agriculture
OUR BUSINESS
SANTAM BACKS BBBEE Everybody gets a piece of the pie Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) legislation was introduced post-1994 to ensure that black South Africans are enabled to participate fully in the economy. While much has been achieved since then, there is still much to be done, especially on the economic front. Santam’s Company Secretary, SANA-ULLAH BRAY spoke to Essence about Santam’s BBBEE status and initiatives.
Meeting the demands of the business environment
Seven areas are measured: wnership of the company (shares O owned by black people) Composition of the executive and of the board (representation of black people and black women on the board and on exco) Employment Equity (representivity of black staff at all levels throughout the business) Skills development (the extent to which development spend is spent on black staff) Preferential Procurement (purchases from black-owned business) Enterprise Development (assistance given to developing black business) Social Development (CSI) “The higher companies are rated in terms of these seven measures, the better their prospects of government choosing to do business with them are,” adds Sana-Ullah. “We also need to position ourselves as a company that people from diverse backgrounds want to work for, and as a brand that diverse clients want to be associated with. Our transformation efforts are therefore actually aimed at securing the future of all Santammers,” says Sana-Ullah. In February 2007, Santam formally announced its intention to facilitate a BEE acquisition of an effective 10% ownership in Santam. In terms of this scheme, Santam shareholders
These shares would be held by three trusts: 26% by the Emthunzini Staff Trust to ensure that a meaningful portion of Santam’s equity is owned by black staff and that they have a worthwhile role in Santam’s operations, management and development 25% by the Emthunzini Community Trust to allow Santam to be truly broad based to uplift black people in the broader community 49% by the Emthunzini Business Partners Trust to benefit strategic business partners of Santam and enable them to participate (at ownership level) in the future growth of Santam. Sanlam funded the acquisition of the shares. Dividends received by Central Plaza from the Santam scheme shares would be used to service the debt. The Santam scheme shares held by Central Plaza would be “locked-in” until 28 February 2015. After the “lock-in” period: A major portion of the Santam shares will be sold to settle all outstanding debt. Central Plaza will distribute all remaining Santam shares proportionately to the three Emthunzini trusts. The three Emthunzini trusts will distribute the remaining Santam shares to participants in accordance with the rules of each trust.
Emthunzini Staff Trust Santam successfully made the first allocations from the Trust to staff during the first week of December 2007. Allocations were made in the form of units in the Staff Trust. The appointed independent and staff trustees are: Dr Namane Magau (Chairman) Raisibe Morathi Jerry Chetty Dumisani Ndlovu Temba Mvusi (to be appointed)
The objectives are twofold: Firstly, to spread the ownership of Santam. Secondly, it is a benefit which should help attract talented black staff to Santam.
Emthunzini Community Trust The trustees of the Emthunzini Community Trust are to identify specific community projects as recipients of Community Trust distributions. Although it was originally envisaged that this Trust would benefit from interim advances based on dividend income, the income has been used primarily to service the debt, given the current economic environment. The Trustees who have been appointed are: Amelia Jones (Chairman) Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana Prof. Thandabantu Nhlapo Dr Namane Magau Themba Gamedze
Emthunzini Business Partners Trust Beneficiaries of the Business Partners Trust are to include qualifying black short-term insurance brokers and Santam’s qualifying strategic business partners in terms of required criteria. The appointed Trustees are: Dr Eltie Links (Chairman) Dines Gihwala Bunguza Peter Vundla Alwyn Reginald Martin All Trustees meet as required and the requisite Trustee training has taken place. It is important to note that all trustees operate in the best interests of the trusts and separate to Santam; the governance of the Emthunzini Trusts is of utmost importance. The trust deeds governing the trusts make provision for protector services to ensure the correct checks and balances are in place. “We concluded this BBBEE deal because we believe that it will be good for Santam. Successful transformation will make for a much stronger, more competitive Santam and that will be good for all Santammers. It will also enable us to participate in, and contribute to, the South African economy sustainably,” concludes Sana-Ullah.
ESSENCE | 17 |
“For many years Santam has had a strategy in place to support transformation - it makes good business sense to transform in order to meet the demands of the business environment. Although legal compliance is ensured by the strategy, it is not what drives it primarily. If you consider the environment we are part of and our future client base, then for the longterm growth, profitability and sustainability of Santam, it is very important that we focus on transformation,” says Sana-Ullah. The passing of the BBBEE Act in 2003 has allowed for the development of Codes of Good Practice that provide a framework against which companies can measure their BBBEE progress.
sold 10% of their Santam shares, held by them as at 21 May 2007, to a dedicated BEE company for a cash consideration of R82 per share. The BEE company (Central Plaza Investments 112 (Pty) Ltd (“Central Plaza”)) became the registered holder of approximately 10% of the issued shares of Santam.
MARINE INSURANCE
PROTECTORS of our clients’ cargo
Pirates have been around for as long as people have used the oceans as trade routes since about the 13th century B.C. Modern-day piracy is no laughing matter and is wholly devoid of any romanticism. In the first nine months of 2008, pirates world-wide boarded 115 vessels, hijacked 31, fired on a further 23, took 581 crew members hostage and killed nine of them.
PETRA FORDYCE Manager of Associated Marine at Santam
F
or the past 35 years the
insuring cargo and not so much
ance claims for physical loss or
experts at Santam Marine
big ocean-going vessels. We
damage arising from piracy under
Insurance have been
cover the loss or damage of cargo
relevant Institute Hull and War
advising clients on insuring their
between the points of origin and
clauses,” adds Petra.
cargo and protecting themselves
final destination in terms of the
against the age-old phenomenon
relevant Institute Cargo Clauses,”
Business interruption
of piracy. Essence spoke to Petra
says Petra.
Until recently there was no
Fordyce, Manager of Associated Marine at Santam.
The unit operates from offices
cover for the financial impact
in Johannesburg, Cape Town
of business interruption or loss
(with a sub-division in Port
of earnings due to piracy. The
Insurance risk
Elizabeth) and Durban. The
average vessel is held for 60 days
“Piracy has been an insurance
40 full-time staff members service
and, during that time, charterers
risk for marine underwriters
about 5 000 clients, with a rough
must meet the charter-hire costs,
for as long as there has been
book value of about R270m.
even if they have lost control of
traditional hull and cargo policies
“Many of Santam Associated
the ship and are haemorrhag-
have covered maritime trade,”
Marine’s staff members are FAIS-
ing income. They also risk losing
says Petra. “Modern-day pirates
accredited and trade in all major
contracts because of the delay.
are increasingly sophisticated.
currencies (such as the rand,
They are better organised, have
United States’ dollar, pound ster-
does not cover losses due to
better equipment and are better
ling and euro). Imports are usually
business interruption caused
informed than ever before,” says
insured and claims paid in rand,
by piracy. We only cover cargo
Petra.
in view of the Reserve Bank’s
against normal damages and/or
foreign exchange restrictions.
physical loss of cargo as a result
“At Santam Associated Marine, we concentrate mainly on
Ship owners can lodge insur-
“Santam Associated Marine
of piracy. As part of our pro-ac-
tive risk management philosophy,
a Marine General Average Claim,
let piracy sink the vessel, which
we advise our clients to ensure
whereas the other argument is
means a total loss.
their cargo is booked on vessels
that you cannot pay ransom as it
with good risk management and
is illegal.
with security controls in place.
In accordance with the Associa-
Little legal recourse The problem with piracy is that
tion of Marine Underwriters of
with millions of dollars at stake,
value or potentially attractive
South Africa (AMUSA), the pay-
pirates have no incentive to stop.
to pirates, we advise our clients
ment of ransom would constitute
Added to that are the legal barri-
to rather book their cargo on
a General Average act. A General
ers to prosecuting individuals cap-
a vessel which goes around the
Average is defined by English Law
tured in international waters. Most
tip of Africa, as opposed to the
as a loss incurred, towards which
countries are struggling to apply
alternative, shorter, but more
the whole concern is bound to
existing maritime law, international
risky route via the Gulf of Aden,”
contribute pro rata, because it
law and their own laws, which
adds Petra.
was undergone for the general
limit them to having jurisdiction
benefit and preservation of the
over their own citizens. At most,
whole.
pirates are detained, interrogated,
Ransom In November last year, Somali pirates gained the world’s attention when they boarded the Sirius Star, the largest oil tanker ever captured. It was carrying two million barrels of oil worth $100m. The ship was finally released in January this year, but only after the owners had paid a £1.95m ransom.
“We advise our clients to ensure their cargo is booked on vessels with good risk management and with security controls in place”
disarmed and then released. Security consultants BGN Risk warn that the dramatic rise in piracy could cost businesses worldwide an extra £267m a year in insurance costs on top of ransom demands, and possibly much more. It says the special risk insurance levy for crossing the
The term ‘loss incurred’ begs the
world’s most dangerous piracy
The difference between the pi-
question whether a ransom paid
hotspot has skyrocketed to an
rates of yesteryear and modern-
is in fact a loss incurred? Accord-
average of $20 000 per vessel per
day buccaneers is that, typically,
ing to the York-Antwerp rule,
voyage compared to only $500
the cargo alone is not targeted,
a General Average act is when,
last year.
but the crew as well, with the lat-
and only when, any extraordinary
ter being held for ransom. Pirates
sacrifice or expenditure is inten-
seas, shipping firms should take
often demand ransoms of up to
tionally and reasonably made or
steps to reduce the possibility of
$50m, although this can fall to
incurred for the common safety
danger, including employing private
around $3m per vessel.
- for the purpose of preserving
security personnel, carrying out
from a peril – of the property
regular risk assessments, liaising
are two schools of thought on
involved in a common maritime
with the International Maritime
ransom payments. One view is
adventure.
Bureau’s piracy reporting centre,
According to Petra, there
that the ransom should be paid as
Petra believes that it’s best
an ‘extraordinary expense’ under
rather to pay the ransom than
“As long as pirates sail the open
and taking out appropriate insurance cover,” concludes Petra.
The recent increase in pirate activity off the Somali coast has necessitated the rerouting of Seacom’s undersea cable installations from Mumbai to Africa to avoid troublesome waters.
A GREATER NEED FOR AFRICAN PORTS The African continent is likely to play a greater role in global container trade, as Somali pirates are threatening traffic in the Suez Canal. Speaking at the African Ports and Harbours congress in Sandton recently, Nosipho Damasane, GM of Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), said that more ships might opt to go past Cape Town, rather than face piracy in Somali waters. South Africa was spending an estimated R2.8 billion in port investment during the 2009/10 financial year. Among these projects was the Port of Ngqura, located outside Port Elizabeth, which should be operational by October this year. The port has a berth draught of 16.5m and is well suited to handle large container vessels.
ESSENCE | 19 |
If their cargo is considered high
Undersea cables rerouted due to piracy
Santam grooms OUR BUSINESS
future assessors
To overcome the difficulty in fi nding qualified and technically skilled motor and non-motor assessors, Santam’s Technical Claim Training Academy is making qualified assessors out of more and more Santam staff members.
R
ecently Santammers from the digital hub in Bedfordview and the Immediate Resolution Agents in Multi SOS all successfully completed the Accelerated Training Programme (ATP).
Igniting human capital “The ATP is a development programme for internal and external staff members that gives them training as motor or non-motor assessors. Because there is such a lack of assessors, especially on the motor side, we are quite adamant about continuing to develop these
skills to ensure we are adequately staffed for the future,” says Theo Schalkwyk, Manager: Technical and Operational Training at Santam’s Technical Claim Training Academy in Pretoria. “The training programme covers all the competencies a person needs to become a qualified assessor. This includes an induction session and training in insurance products, systems, processes, soft skills, business acumen, and policy interpretation, as well as technical, theoretical and practical training. The duration of the training varies between three and six months,
depending on the type of assessor we’re training. For instance, when we train digital assessors, the training period is usually shorter than it is for a normal roaming assessor, whereas training for motor assessors usually takes longer than it does for nonmotor assessors,” says Theo. Theo is very proud that 82% of this year’s intake comprised all Employment Equity candidates. “We focus on diversity and we make sure that we upskill our current workforce to ignite our human capital. We believe that a better trained person will ultimately deliver a better quality service,” concludes Theo.
INSURANCE MOTOR ASSESSORS AND MBR JOIN FORCES TO UP STAFF’S SKILLS In the beginning of the year a couple of Santammers signed up at Santam’s Technical Claim Training Academy for the intensive five-month Motor Adjustment Development Programme. The theoretical training covered insurance and product knowledge, soft skills, as well as technical training. For the first time ever the practical component of the technical training was done in collaboration with the Motor Body Repair (MBR) Industry. Bosch and Son Training Academy provided the facilities for the practical training.
l llll
l ll ll
llllll On 9 A August 1 1956, 956, 20 000 women proved oved ttoo the world ov d that it tak takes courage to inspire change. They marched on the Union Buildings to protest amendments to the 1950 Urban Areas Act. They marched to inspire change. And they succeeded. This month we celebrate rate tthose ra hose women, who fought f with actions and words, to motivate us all to newer new newer,, better heights. It is this inspiration that we cherish most.
salutes
OUR PEOPLE
SANTAM
If you happen to be in a Santam office these days, the chances are pretty good that you may run into a female employee. Right now, women are in the majority at Santam, accounting for 57.86% of Santam’s employee base. Impressive as it may be, only 2.35% of these women hold job grade 6 or higherranking positions, which means the proverbial glass ceiling is pretty much intact.
Essence spoke to a few of Santam’s many extraordinary women. Most of these women head up departments or run projects worth millions of rand, and succeed in maintaining a work-life balance. They live exciting lives and have big aspirations. These are their stories.
LIZET
INGRID JULIA
women ESSENCE | 23 |
KAREN SONJA
RAY-ANN
SHEHNAZ VANESSA
LOUISE
OUR PEOPLE
When she is not taking her horse, Charlies’ Rock, for a ride, she is advising Ian Kirk on strategic issues that affect our future business. Meet Vanessa OttoMentz, Head of Santam’s Strategy Unit. At Santam most of my days are spent in discussions about strategic issues that affect our business and coming up with solutions on the future way forward. Where and what did you study? I first attended Rhodes University and did a BCom part-time, then spent one year at the University of Johannesburg pursuing my honours full-time. Next, I wrote the Board exam to be admitted as a CA (SA). Later, I completed my MBA through the University of Edinburgh.
“Diversity in the workplace is key, which is why I believe it is important to have both men and women in the workplace.”
VANESSA OTO -MENTZ
IAN’S RIGHT-HAND (WO)MAN
I am very passionate about my job and the opportunity it gives me to constantly learn new things and be challenged, while simultaneously seeing how Santam and her people are developing. How do you manage the work/life balancing act at Santam? I try to keep perspective and prioritise. I have accepted that the “to do”-list will never be cleared, which is why I usually have a huge “In-box”! I usually don’t take lunch and having a Blackberry is also great. I have an excellent support system at the office and at home. I trust my team and colleagues and believe many hands make light work. Other than that, my horse Charlies’ Rock makes sure I get enough exercise and fresh air! If one looks at our policies and the increasing number of females in senior positions across the
organisation, I think Santam strives to give equal opportunities to females. Santam exists within a larger system, which is dominated by patriarchal values, of which most are unaware. These hidden values do affect opportunities for females, but in a subtle, often quite unintentional, way. Critics often say women lose their femininity in the workplace because they have to compete with the ‘boys’. It all depends on how you define femininity. If it means taking a back seat, acting weak, being self-effacing and overly emotional, then yes, you would have to lose that, as it is not a mature way to behave in business. If it means having a high EQ, being caring, considerate, able to empathise and understand the bigger issues, then no.
NIGHT Y B Y M M O M , Y A MANAGER BY D RAY-ANN SEDRES Like most career women, Ray-Ann juggles the act of managing a challenging job (as Head of Integrated Sustainability at Santam), and that of being a wife and mother. Although from time to time her juggling act sends her on a guilt-trip, feedback from her peers affirms that she brings a humanistic, caring, nurturing quality to the business.
My day usually starts with getting the children to school on time. It’s not an easy task, considering that three girls share a bathroom! I attend at least four meetings a day with various people to persuade or influence, or get their input on sustainability issues affecting the organisation.
Women are very different, just as men are different. Each individual contributes different qualities. Generally, women are more attuned to the feelings of people, which is important for group dynamics. Diversity in the workplace is key, which is why I believe it is important to have both men and women in the workplace.
DID YOU KNOW? Vanessa’s … Favourite perfume? Vera Wang Always has white wine in her fridge Second career choice would have been that of psychologist The proud ‘owner’ of a tattoo Pet peeve is people who are half asleep and rude
I love the diversity of my job, which touches on all aspects of the business. I always feel that I’m privileged to have this access. Where did you study and what? I obtained a BCom through Unisa. How do you manage the work/life balancing act at Santam? I dedicate my hours in the office to Santam and when I get home I believe that family comes first. I also have an amaz-
THE WORLD IS HER OYSTER SHEHNAZ SOMERS She was born in the Seychelles as one of nine children, speaks French, German and Italian, and has studied in three countries. For her, 2009 will undoubtedly mark one of the highlights of her career, as she is about to take up a very challenging and exciting position as the new Head of Personal Lines Underwriting. This is just one of many exciting things happening in Shehnaz Somers’s life.
Where did you study and what? I did my O-levels in the Seychelles. After that I came to South Africa for a year. I then went to India to do my A-levels at a British missionary school. Next, I enrolled at the University College London (UCL) to read French. In 1985, the Mixed Mar-
“I don’t believe that any female needs to give up her femininity when stepping into the corporate world.” ing support structure at home, which helps. I believe Santam gives equal opportunities to women. The issue of level-
riages Act was repealed in South Africa and my partner came over to England, where we got married. A year later we relocated to Cape Town where I continued my studies at the University of Cape Town, majoring in English, French and Italian. Next, I did my honours and a post-graduate degree in education, followed by a master’s in French Literature. Do you think Santam gives equal opportunities to females? The traditional role of women is changing, as recent research indicates that women are better at multi-tasking than men are and have just as much potential to reach the highest levels in organisations and bring with them much-needed diversity. Historically, women have not been as supportive of each
ling the playing field in terms of gender is continuously on Santam’s agenda. This is evident from the National Employment Equity Forum (NEEF) forum and Employment Equity (EE) plans. Parenting is definitely a dual responsibility, but I must admit all kids would prefer mom at their bedside when they’re ill. God provided us with the innate ability to be nurturing. As a working mom I do go through a guilt trip every
Critics often say women lose their femininity in the workplace because they have to compete with the ‘boys’. I have known a couple of women in leadership positions who tried to prove that they were tougher than their male counterparts. I don’t know whether this was just a survival mechanism, but I knew very early on that this style wasn’t suited to me as I believe in being a natural leader. Besides having grace and style, in general, women are more sensitive and comfortable with expressing, and dealing with, emotions in the workplace. I believe women are better listeners and are therefore able to empathise with staff. My father is my role model and the person who has had the greatest influence over who I am today. He gave me the wings to fly and opened my world by enabling me to study in South Africa, India and London, and to travel widely during holidays. He walked the talk and effortlessly combined compassion
now and then, especially when I see my husband (who works from home) is able to interact with the kids on issues I have little part in at home. I really try hard to balance my commitment at Santam and at home. My mother is my role model. She has faced so many challenges in her life. Her resilience and tenacity, which had a huge effect on me and my siblings, is now influencing my two girls as well.
“I believe women are better listeners and are therefore able to empathise with staff.” with business, influenced by the Eastern philosophy with which he was brought up. He also taught us never to mix politics with business and never to cheat as we would ultimately only be cheating ourselves. I come from a family of eight daughters. I am the seventh child out of nine, so my elder sisters were an influential factor in my life – all of them are successful career women and have leadership positions in their chosen fields. How could I not follow suit?
DID YOU KNOW? Shehnaz’s … Favourite perfume? Mademoiselle Cannot do without French perfume Second career choice would be to be an opera singer Guiltiest pleasure Persian carpets
DID YOU KNOW? Ray-Ann’s … Pet peeve is people who hear, but don’t listen Favourite perfume? Viva la Juicy Favourite TV programme? BBC Lifestyle Hobby is painting and restoring houses Favourite pastime is dancing
ESSENCE | 25 |
Since January this year my biggest challenge has been to try to balance the demands of two jobs and because I don’t cope well with failure, I was always trying to keep on top of things to meet all the deadlines. One of my challenges as the new Head of Personal Lines Underwriting is to influence the necessary changes required for Santam to move away from broker discounts towards a client-centric underwriting and rating approach.
other as men are, but, hopefully, this too is changing.
NO STOPPING THIS GO-GETTER LOUISE PHARO
OUR PEOPLE
When she is not heading up Santam’s Commercial Business unit, she hits the road with her Harley-Davidson. Last year she won the South African Council for Businesswomen (SACBW) Award in the Corporate Category. Meet Louise Pharo, businesswoman, wife, mother and go-getter. I simply love what I do at Santam. I am very fortunate that I am in a position where I can influence and co-implement the strategy. I enjoy all the opportunities that I get to interact with staff in the Commercial Business unit and my personal favourite is people development. I believe in assisting people to unlock their potential. I have a wonderful support structure at home to help me juggle the work/life balance. My family has grown with me through the years and they fully understand my challenges. At work I have surrounded myself with an independent and competent work team that enjoys shared success. Like me, the members of the team are each on a personal journey of growth and development and together we respect that in each other. I also never negotiate about time with my family or time at work. In my career I have never experienced the so-called glass ceiling. In my team I am valued for my contributions, feminine touch, and the value I add. After all, what counts is the bottom-line. My view on parenting is to do whatever the situation requires! My husband, best friend and partner in life, Arthur, knows exactly when to step in when I need to step back. Tradition? Not a chance
– parenthood requires teamwork at its best! Critics often say women lose their femininity in the workplace because they have to compete with the ‘boys’. Being assertive, driving for results or engaging in healthy debate will never make me wish I was a boy or take away my love of being a woman. In fact, femininity gives us the edge over the boys!
“Femininity gives us the edge over the boys!” Women naturally understand the dynamics of emotional intelligence and the value it brings to the workplace. Their unique approach to tasks and their absolute knack for seeing things through to the end makes them great team players.
DID YOU KNOW? Louise’s … Aspiring to play the saxophone Favourite hobby is restoring small pieces of antique furniture Secretly mad about Italian restaurants Guiltiest pleasure is ”Bokdrolletjies” (chocolatecoated peanuts) Pet peeve is laziness and procrastination
OOD AGRICULTURE IS IN HER BL INGRID ORROCK
She has just bought an off-road motorcycle and plans to do the Paris-to-Dakar race one day. She has completed the Cape Argus nine times and still wants to dive all the top dive sites of the world. This feisty woman also has a master’s degree in computer science and an MBA. Meet Ingrid Orrock, Business Support Manager for Santam Agriculture in Bloemfontein. A typical day in my shoes at Santam starts in the Bloemfontein office of Santam Agriculture. My task is to manage the various administrative support functions and processes of crop insurance and to determine which of these could be more effectively aligned with the asset insurance processes within Santam. The people I work with, who are all passionate about agriculture, make going to work each day a pleasure. My father worked for Sentraoes (a predecessor of Santam Agriculture) for many years, which means that I have actually been involved in the industry for a large part of my life. I love seeing the changes and development that have taken place over the years. Women are usually more persuasive and flexible and have more empathy. They also tend to learn from their mistakes and get things done – these are all great qualities that women bring to the workplace. Women are also more finely attuned to undercurrents and will quickly identify discontentment and in acting upon it prevent future problems.
Critics often say women lose their femininity in the workplace because they have to compete with the ‘boys’. I have never noticed this. The different genders do have an influence on each other, but mostly for the better, since the groups absorb characteristics from one another, to their benefit. My role model would be Prof. Helena van Zyl, Director of the School of Management at the University of the Free State. The accreditation of the MBA programme and establishment of the Centre for Business Dynamics is a testament to her determination and vigour. She is someone who leads by example, and who is not afraid to make unpopular decisions, but who focuses rather on what is best for the situation or the issue at hand.
DID YOU KNOW? Ingrid’s … Favourite TV programme? The Amazing Race, Top gear, Two and a half men. Favourite perfume? Michael Kors Second career choice would be that of scuba diving instructor Guiltiest pleasure? Ice-cream Divorced and has no kids
NG A PASSION FOR EVERYTHI SHE DOES AT SANTAM SONJA SANDERS
She is tall, blonde and skinny and could quite easily fit the spec for a Calvin Klein skinny-jeans model. With a Master’s degree in marketing and a passion for everything she does at Santam, this 32-year old Santammer is ready to open any door where opportunity knocks. Meet Sonja Sanders, Santam’s Innovation Hub Manager and mother of a brand-new baby boy.
It’s easy to be passionate about my job; in fact, everything about my job is exciting. I get to
represent the needs of insurance clients and influence the business to keep meeting the clients’ needs in new and innovative ways. Where did you study and what? I studied for a BCom at the University of Pretoria and did my honours and master’s degrees in marketing. I also played a little at the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg before starting my first job at an advertising agency.
If I were CE of Santam for one day I would give everyone the day off on their birthday. I don’t believe you can be truly successful at anything, unless you are true to your character. I believe femininity is a strength rather than a weakness in the workplace. It helps us to be in tune with the people we work with. The odd tear has never done any harm and it confirms the fact that we’re not robots after all. Women are extremely hard working, they are passionate about what they do and take enormous pride in the quality of
E PIANO LEARNING TO PLAY TH IST IS NEXT ON HER TO-DO-L
LIZET MURRAY
There are no half measures when it comes to Lizet Murray. She has just completed her first Comrades marathon, and finished her MBA cum laude. She wants to write a book, complete a triathlon and learn to play the piano. Her latest challenge is to set up a new business unit in Santam, namely Business Change. At the moment I am setting up a new unit in Santam, called Business Change, that will help Santam to become even better at implementing costsaving and growth strategies by using world-class project and programme methodologies. It is a very exciting and creative process that challenges my thinking.
Where did you study and what? While I was gaining practical experience (articles), I studied part-time towards my Chartered Accountant qualification through Unisa; I completed it in 1995. I completed my MBA (cum laude) through Wits Business School earlier this year.
the work they put on the table. I have great respect for the many women I work with who are rock stars at work, cook healthy meals night after night, deal with homework, are at sports matches early on Saturdays and still manage to maintain a sense of humour and have beautifully manicured nails. I have worked for wonderful, strong and inspirational females for most of my working life.
DID YOU KNOW? Sonja’s … Can’t live without perfume, beautiful clothes and chocolate Guiltiest pleasure is chocolate, cake and expensive shoes Favourite TV programme? Grey’s Anatomy Still aspiring to win the Lotto Second career choice would be a cocktail waitress on a remote island
“You do not have to act like a man or make excuses for your femininity to be accepted in the workplace.”
How do you manage the work/life balancing act at Santam? I have a wonderful and supportive husband, Hilton, who picks up a lot of the pieces. There is nothing more inspiring than someone who does something well, such as: Bono of U2 for his passion to alleviate poverty; Helen Zille for her guts and integrity; Patricia de Lille for sticking to her guns; Pam Golding for building a business empire from scratch; Kobus Neethling for his work on creativity and the human brain; Bruce Fordyce for his record-
breaking long-distance-running career; Natalie du Toit for being inspirational in every way, and Jack Welch, Richard Branson and Tom Peters for their significant impact on the way people think about business.
DID YOU KNOW? Lizet’s … Guiltiest pleasure is Sally Williams nougat Favourite perfume? Chanel Allure Second career choice would be to own a sanctuary for injured wildlife Always laughs at British humour Cannot live without learning new things every day
ESSENCE | 27 |
I am the Programme and Project Manager for the Client Centricity project at Santam, which requires that I interact with all the different business divisions at Santam. It keeps my day filled with loads of interesting topics and people. I don’t think I’ve had one dull day at Santam.
I believe Santam gives opportunities to anyone who is up for the challenge. If you are passionate about your job and believe in what you do, male or female, there will be opportunities knocking on your door.
with and I am no exception.
E PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPL JULIA DYSSELL
OUR PEOPLE
Most Human Resources (HR) practitioners would tell you that if you work in HR you need a good dose of diplomacy, patience and, most of all, people skills – you are dealing with human beings, after all. If ever there was a right fit for the job, it’s our Head of HR, Julia Dyssell. Julia has all those qualities and more – she was only 16 when she wrote Matric. HR is essentially about transformation and this is what drives me. Also, on a micro-level, I believe passionately in individual potential. Most of us can be more than we are. If we can do things in HR to help cultivate true potential, it makes me happy. Where did you study and what? I studied at UCT (undergraduate degree in Social Science) and then went
to the Wits Business School for a final honours year to study Human Resources Management. How do you manage the work/life balancing act at Santam? Very badly! My three children Matthew (17), Bryony (14) and Emily (12) battle to recognise me in the evenings and my husband Jeremy prefers the au pair! More seriously, though, it is a struggle that many women battle
I believe Santam gives equal opportunities to females. Women are able to compete equally as evidenced by the fact that many of our senior positions are held by women. If you were CE of Santam for one day, what would you do? I would go under cover at the coalface. Parenting is definitely a partnership and I rely heavily on my husband. He is a paediatrician, so he fortunately loves children. Our three children are now, however, all teenagers or tweenies and he is less keen on them than he used to be, so I am the one dealing with the adolescent tantrums, especially the female ones! What ‘sacrifices’ are you currently making to be a working mom? I just do not see enough of my children and my
friends. I have a quiet fear that I will wake up one day and realise I have lost touch. How do you tell is there is a successful work/life balance? If my kids seem vaguely normal and my husband still likes me. Bill and Melinda Gates are fairly impressive role models – their foundation does exceptional work and they get involved – its not arm-length.
DID YOU KNOW? Julia’s … Guiltiest pleasure is chocolate – in fact, it’s a must every day Favourite TV programme? Dexter Favourite perfume? Chanel Chance At the moment, reading Ways of staying by Kevin Bloom Aspiring to travel to America; do a wine course and go back to her Xhosa lessons
LEGAL EAGLE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR THIS KAREN MUUREN Her job as regional manager at Santam can take her from Johannesburg to Daniëlskuil in one week. Some days start at 03:00 and others end as late as 23:00. This is all part of life in the fast lane at Santam for Karen Muuren. Describe a typical day in your shoes at Santam. My role as regional manager of the central region is to ensure we grow the business and produce a profit. This involves developing and fostering excellent broker relationships, communicating our core offering, facilitating cross-selling and ensuring we deliver to broker and
client expectations. My role is very challanging. Strategy is a key, which places my team and I at the forefront of the business.
roles and challenges. Afterwards
Where did you study and what? University of Johannesburg (former RAU), Unisa and Wits Business School. BCom Law; LLB; CPFA (Certificate Programme in Finance and Accounting).
colleague or business unit does ex-
My work/life balance act at Santam requires that I consciously focus, prioritise and plan. If you were CE of Santam for one day, what would you do? Declare an “in-their-shoes-day”. I would rotate key individuals across different business units so they can experience their colleagues’
they would have to report back on two things: firstly, they would have to acknowledge one thing their ceptionally, and, secondly, propose one improvement the colleague’s division should make with the
I have many role models and mentors. It is about a combination of their different strengths and qualities. To name a few: Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Brand Pretorius, Richard Branson, Cynthia Caroll, Maria Ramos, Santie Botha and Warren Buffet.
support of the rotated colleague’s reduce costs, introduce more
DID YOU KNOW? Karen’s …
efficient processes, deliver greater
Aspiration is to learn French
service and achieve a bottom-line
Guiltiest pleasure is the Tiramisu cupcakes from “Ilovecupcake” in Parkhurst
own unit. The improvement must
increase in profits. I believe women’s intuitive leadership and ability to collaborate are two positive and unique qualities that women bring to the workplace.
Cannot live without her biweekly Skype ‘video visit’ with her family in Canada Not married and adores her godchild, nephews and nieces
about Don’t be left in the lurch
your leave ESSENCE | 29 |
There’s no greater feeling in the world than taking time off from work to go on hard-earned leave. One of the great benefits of working for Santam is the number of days’ leave you are entitled to per year.
A
part from going on
to the number of times you can
holiday, as a Santam
take maternity leave while work-
employee you can also
ing for Santam, and you don’t
take leave if you are ill, when
have to work back any time you
you are an expecting mother or
booked as maternity leave,” says
father, when you relocate your
Elsabé.
home, or are studying part-time.
IN SHORT LEAVE POLICIES
However, Santammers are
“Legally, a pregnant staff member must stop work four
not always sure about how to
weeks before the expected date
interpret the company’s leave
of birth or planned Caesarean.
policies, which is why Essence
She may however work up to 10
consulted Elsabé van der Nest,
days before the expected date
Total Rewards Manager at
of birth or planned Caesarean,
Santam HR.
provided she can present a doctor’s letter confirming that she is
Annual leave In line with market practice, San-
The BCEA* stipulates that during every three-year sick leave cycle, a staff member must be entitled to an amount of paid sick leave... For full-time staff this would mean 30 working days.
miscarriage during the third trimester of pregnancy or bears
job levels and grades. Perma-
a stillborn child is entitled to
nently employed staff who work
maternity leave for six weeks
for Santam in South Africa for
after the miscarriage or stillbirth,
five days a week are entitled to
whether or not the employee
(per year):
had commenced maternity leave
• Grade 13-15
at the time of the miscarriage or
20 working days’ leave • Grade 7-10 23 working days’ leave • Grade 1-6
stillbirth. Annual leave is accumulated during the first four months of maternity leave, but not during to two months.
Sick leave Permanent staff who work five
“Sick leave enables staff who are
days per week for Santam
too sick to do their jobs to take
Namibia are entitled to:
time off to recover from their
• Grade 7-15
illness. This refers to their own
• Grade 1-6 27 working days’ leave
The BCEA only requires that an employer offer 15 working days’ annual leave per annum.
The value of a day’s annual leave is your monthly package divided by 21.67. This value is used when you cash in leave. Income tax is deducted from all leave payments.
the optional unpaid period of up
7 working days’ leave
24 working days’ leave
Employers are not legally obliged to allow accumulated leave to be cashed in, except when an employee leaves the company. Santam allows it, provided a minimum of 15 working days’ leave per annum has been taken.
An employee who has a
entitlement to their respective
• Grade 11-12
DID YOU KNOW?
fi t to work,” says Elsabé.
tam links staff members’ leave
18 working days’ leave
ta notkee !
Although the BCEA requires that only three working days per annum be granted to employees for any familyrelated crisis (“family responsibility leave”), Santam offers up to 10 days.
illness, and not that of a child or relative,” says Elsabé. The BCEA* stipulates that during every three-year sick
Maternity leave
leave cycle, a staff member
“Female Santammers who are
must be entitled to an amount
expecting a baby, babies or who
of paid sick leave, equal to the
are adopting a child younger
number of days he or she would
than two years, can reap many
normally work during a period of
benefi ts. There is also no limit
six weeks. For full-time staff this
* The Basic Conditions of Employment Act
would mean 30 working days. During the first six months of
manager suspects possible abuse
or hospitalisation)
of the sick leave system, you
• Death of a close family mem-
employment, a staff member is
may be required to provide a
ber (such as a grandparent,
LEAVE
DAYS
entitled to one day’s paid sick
medical certificate, even if you
parent, sibling, child, spouse,
ANNUAL
GRADE DEPENDENT
leave for every 26 days worked.
take sick leave for less than three
parent-in-law, sibling-in-law)
MATERNITY
UP TO 6 MONTHS
You must produce a medical
consecutive working days.
SICK
30 OVER 3 YEARS
OCCASIONAL
10 PER YEAR
SPORTS
10 PER YEAR
certificate if you are sick from
“I you are still sick after ex-
• Attendance of court cases if called as a witness
hausting all your sick leave and
consecutive days. If a pattern
annual leave, you may qualify for:
may take a maximum of four
STUDY
10 PER YEAR
of sick leave occurs, and your
temporary disablement benefi ts
days to visit the new location
UNPAID
10 PER YEAR
under the retirement fund.
to finalise personal arrange-
Santam’s maternity leave policy
These benefi ts will kick in after
Santam’s maternity leave policy allows you to:
During temporary disability,
Take six months’ maternity leave, of which four months will be partially paid (60% of your total remuneration package). Take annual leave taken before or after the maternity leave period to extend your leave, but only up to a total period of six months. Quit your job after you’ve given birth, but you must return to work to complete your 30 days’ notice period. Stop your retirement fund contributions, except the risk portion (funeral, group cover etc.) while you are on maternity leave. Santam’s maternity leave policy does not allow you to: Start working again within six weeks of giving birth. Take sick leave just before your maternity leave. If you fall ill within two weeks of the birth date or planned Caesarean, your maternity leave will be deemed to have started, even if you are declared medically unfit in this period.
three months from the start of the absence due to sickness.
• Staff who are transferred
10 working days’ sports leave
ments • Moving house (typically one
per calendar year.
day, on the day the actual move takes place)
Study leave
• Fathers may take a maximum
Though study leave is not a legal
ings will be paid (pensionable
of four days on the birth of a
requirement, Santam offers it in
earnings amount to 75% of total
child.
the interest of staff members’
75% of your pensionable earn-
ongoing career development.
package), provided Sanlam has It is not possible to regulate
You may take up to one day’s
occasional leave for every
study leave per enrolled subject,
Occasional leave
conceivable scenario. Manag-
plus all the days on which
Occasional leave at Santam is
ers therefore have discretion to
examinations are written (no
covered under the BCEA as
approve/refuse occasional leave
more than
Family Responsibility Leave. At
that does not exactly fi t the
10 working days per calendar
Santam, a maximum of
scenarios. Annual leave must be
year) for a course approved by
10 working days per calendar
used on religious days that are
Santam.
year are available at manage-
not public holidays.
approved the claim,” says Elsabé.
Unpaid leave
ment’s discretion, under the following circumstances:
Sports leave
In exceptional circumstances
• Serious illness of a close fam-
If you represent your province
a maximum of 10 days’ unpaid
ily member such as your child
or country in organised sport, or
leave per calendar year may
or spouse (serious enough to
if you coach a provincial or na-
be taken, at the discretion of
warrant isolation/quarantine
tional team, you may take up to
management.
SANTAM’S SICK LEAVE POLICY • All staff qualify for 22 working days’ sick leave per year, with full pay during the first 12 months of working for Santam. • A maximum period of 66 working days’ paid sick leave may be granted over a period of three years, which is 36 days more than legally required in terms of the BCEA. • At the end of the three-year cycle, up to 22 days’ sick leave left from the previous cycle will be
carried over to the next cycle. • If you are sick for longer than the available sick leave days, additional paid working days’ sick leave up to a maximum of 22 days may be granted at your manager’s discretion. • If your sick leave is insufficient after you have exhausted normal and discretionary sick leave, you can use your annual leave for this purpose, after which unpaid leave may be granted.
ESSENCE | 31 |
work for longer than three
DRAFTFCB CAPE TOWN SANT001285/1/E
BECAUSE
AT SANTAM WE CARE
we OcUaTre B
A TOMORROW
S
antam’s Environment Policy is a useful means of helping our staff, clients, suppliers and other stakeholders identify, assess and reduce their environmental impacts.
According to the Policy, Santam will strive to run its business activities and operations in a manner that: is caring and respectful towards people and the planet, while equally respecting the need for company profi tability balances our short-term needs against the long-term consequences of our actions recognises that the health and wellbeing of human beings depends on the healthy
Santam not only cares about you and our clients, but also about the environment. We recently launched our fi rst Environmental Policy that guides us on how we manage our properties, investments and procurement processes.
functioning of the earth’s eco-systems recognises that the long-term profi tability and efficiency of our business depends on and is enhanced by ensuring the healthy functioning of our society and the environment.
So, what impact do we at Santam have on the environment? We directly affect the environment through our: management of properties consumption of energy, water, paper and harmful substances management of waste. We have an indirect impact on the environ-
ment through the manner in which we: design and deliver our products provide advisory services to our clients direct and manage our investments procure goods and services. Santam’s Executive Head of Risk Services, Hendri Nigrini, is the custodian of the Policy.
For more information on our Environmental Policy, go to: embrace/ sustainability/environmental policy, or contact Santam’s Sustainability Department on 021 915 7289.
MEET OUR GREEN PARTNERS Next time you want more information on the environment, or if you are looking for creative ideas to get your fingers green, visit The Enviropaedia (www.enviropaedia.com). The Enviropaedia is considered one of the best environmental education and information resources in South Africa. This is why Santam has been one of the key sponsors of The Enviropaedia for the past two years. Ten lucky Essence readers can each win a copy of The Enviropaedia Networking Directory – ‘Be the change you want to see’ edition. Simply answer this easy question and e-mail it with your S-ID number and postal address to: sustainability@santam.co.za
Bernice Lemboe, Erica Wicomb, Shiralda Mitas and Ray Ann Sedres from Santam’s Integrated Sustainability Department.
QUESTION What is the name of the edition of The Enviropaedia Networking Directory that can be won?
ONE TREE MAKES A DIFFERENCE Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Wangari Maathai, otherwise known as The Tree Woman, made her mark with a simple, but effective idea: Plant trees to stop erosion and to restore the ecology in Kenya. In 1977, she started the Green Belt Movement that planted 30 million trees. Now, she’s tackling global warming by planting even more trees! Why not do your bit this Arbor Week, by planting a ‘waterwise’ indigenous tree?
watch out!
Specialised courts to deal specifically with environmental crimes in South Africa will come into effect early in 2010, the ministry of water and environmental affairs, announced recently. “We have problems with mines that just dump their waste anywhere and get away with it. We also have an abalone poaching problem in our country, but the people involved often get away,” Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said. Included on the list of priorities of the ministry of water and environmental affairs are: coastal management and the conservation of marine resources, climate change, the greening of townships, environmental impact management, air quality, public education, women and the youth, and with sustainable job creation and skills development.
CLE D RECY onserves energy
L U SHOU WHY YO
turing C anufac duces m e R ng … Recycli s the waste costs r uce es litte d e R to Reduc g in o r g te m a a w e es str al Sav sites inform landfill educes R m s o b fr jo ing tes llution salvag ites. Crea uce po d s re ll s landfi Help ves natural ser Con ces resour
Reduce, reuse and recycle. If you apply these three concepts at work and at home, you could be saving a great deal of money and energy, creating jobs and doing your bit for the environment. This is just one of many messages that our Integrated Sustainability Department is sending to staff. The Integrated Sustainability Department recently hosted their second series of workshops for staff, following the successful water-wise workshops held earlier this year. The waste-wise workshops were hosted by Smart Living, in conjunction with the City of Cape Town, and focused on ways to reduce waste in the office and home environment. “The good news is that these workshops are now being rolled out to our regional offices too,” says Bernice Lemboe, of the Department. Santammers in Gauteng attended the water-wise and waste-wise
Did you kn ow?
Recyclin g paper uses 50 % less water th an what go es into m aking paper fr om woo d pulp.
workshops on 26 and 27 August this year. “In addition to the workshops, we are rolling out recycling initiatives throughout the company. We really have no choice but to start recycling, because we’re running out of room to ‘bury’ our rubbish,” says Bernice. Paper giant Mondi has agreed to join Santam by putting recycling bins on all floors at Head Office in the Admin Centre, and at our Illovo offices. The response has been overwhelming and we can’t keep up with the demand,” says Bernice. According to Bernice, they are now looking at sourcing more permanent containers to replace the cardboard boxes currently in use, and to roll out the recycling initiatives to all Santam offices. They are also in negotiations with the City of Cape Town to put up a glass recycling bin in the parking lot opposite the Head Office building in Tyger Valley.
Pre cycl ing Pr e c yclin
gi be t t er. ‘P s good, bu t r ecyc ing w ‘pre ling’ aste cycl i s by a latin ing’ t tem the pra g it is ev i c n e p tice cut the t i n g of re n out first t o a d a v p s u o l to th a cmuc id ac h pa ce. ‘Pre is en cum cycl ckag d , th ubu y e i r e ng a thin s po s’ tr y to gs lo y think con ahea ssibl ose, tain e an d a er s , sho nd t d, whe a p k e alo loca n th lly, ng t ey s heir hop . own
ESSENCE | 37 |
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINALS
Waste not,want not
Santammers
go green
1
Santam’s Integrated Sustainability Department recently hosted a Green Marketing Workshop for Santammers who work in the Brand, Strategy and Communications departments, as well as Santam’s advertising agency, DraftFCB, and its public relations agency, Atmosphere. Hugh Tyrrell from Green Edge Communications spoke about climate change, green washing, and how to leverage
SOCIAL SCENE
our green status as a unique selling point. 1: Kirstin Lapping and Nadja Srdic (DraftFCB), Ray-Ann Sedres (Santam’s Integrated Sustainability Department), Luanne Slingerland (Atmosphere) and Hugh Tyrrell. 2: Edmond Lee (Santam Strategy) and Alex Hetherington (Hetherington Media). 3: Rochelle Roman (Santam Marketing), Adriaan Bester (Santam Communications), Bernice Lemboe (Santam’s Integrated Sustainability Department) and Noorjehan Moosa (Santam Marketing).
2
3
READY FOR THE CORPORATE WORLD!
Top brokers treated Santam recently treated the top brokers in each region to a fun-filled week-
A couple of graduates from universities in the Western Cape recently completed Santam Corporate Legal Services’ Mentorship Programme. The graduates each received a certificate and celebrated their achievements with Santam mentors during a lunch at Santam’s Head Office.
end of leisure and sport at the luxurious Pezula Resort near Knysna.
Hendri Nigrini, Executive Head Risk Services at Santam enjoying a round of golf with brokers Louis Groenewald and James Young.
Mouton. s and Francel , Craig Barend Louise Swanepoel, ey rn La m oo , r Accom Front: Kulth ie, Neil Bester, Jahwye nd, Liezel Four Middle: Adriaan el, Sandra Ackla and Mpume Dludla. uv He de n va Jaga Liana Slabbert, Ravi rman Koen. n Wyk and He Back: Riaan va
4
Santammers on fraud alert Santammers in Cape Town and Johannesburg recently attended Forensic Services’ Fraud Awareness session to learn more about combating and preventing fraud and corruption. Advocate Derek Vogel, Senior State Advocate from the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit in Cape Town, was the guest speaker at the Cape Town session, while Charl Strydom, CFE from Legifer Consulting, spoke to staff
5
in Johannesburg.
ESSENCE | 39 |
6 4: Advocate Malini Govender, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, and Advocate Derek Vogel, Senior State Advocate. 5: Mike Barkhuysen, Anna Tuck and Franco Feris attended the Cape Town session. 6: Pieter Kruger, Deon van Wyk and Helen du Toit from Santam’s Head Office.
Ian Kirk delivers keynote at IISA Santam’s Chief Executive, Ian Kirk, delivered the keynote address at this year’s Insurance Institute of Southern Africa (IISA) Annual Conference at Sun City. The conference is an important event in the insurance industry’s calendar. This year’s event gave
delegates the opportunity to debate challenges facing the industry. Apart from the speaker programme, delegates enjoyed several networking opportunities, a top-class trade exhibition, exciting entertainment, and a great golf competition.
Ian Kirk, Peter Miller (President and CEO of the American Institute for CPCU and the Insurance Institute of America), David Harpur (CEO of IISA) and Alan Hutcheson (WesBank’s General Manager for Fleet) made a formidable team.
SUSTAINABILITY Congratulations to the lucky nine youngCOLOURING COMPETITION sters whose names were drawn in San-
Congratulations boys and girls!
0 - 4 years Karabo Moteane - 1st Place
tam’s Colouring Competition, that featured
Kara Maddock - 2nd Place
in the June/July edition of Essence. A big
Jack Jenbel - 3rd Place
thank you to all 65 of you who entered the
5 - 7 years
competition. It was clear that the young
Keanu Down - 1st Place
Santammers are indeed a talented bunch
Ghadijah Kippie - 2nd Place
– not to mention the little two year-olds
Kiara Seodutt - 3rd Place
who entered!
8-10 years
The lucky winners who each won an
Quinton Ochs - 1st Place
environmentally-friendly toy and Game
Jessie Booysen - 2nd Place
vouchers, are:
Nikita Thudwa - 3rd Place
Above: 4-year old Karabo Motene won the first prize in the 0-4 years category.
barely knew anyone at the time. One afternoon I returned to my desk and as I was about to plunk myself into my chair I heard an awful scream. I realised with horror I was the one
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
screaming! Henriette placed Women have a huge plastic spider on my certainly come a long way computer keyboard, unaware since the good old days when of my phobia. taking care of household chores Besides her mischief, and children were standard Henriette became a great practice. In recent years more source of inspiration in my life. and more young and aspiring We didn’t just become good women, especially young South colleagues, but great friends too. It’s Africans, are taking the business Henriette’s undying entrepreneurial world by storm – making spirit and determination that inspires headway as successful me. I’ve quickly learnt that once she entrepreneurs. sets her mind on a project, there is no
way she’s letting it go until it’s complete. She recently fulfilled another one of her
A dream
Women should
BIG
projects by opening a coffee-serving ccording to a study in 2008
area on their church grounds. Driven by
by the Global Entrepreneur-
her energetic entrepreneurial spirit, she
ship Monitor (that measures
plans to also open her very own coffee
entrepreneurship activities in over ranked among the top 23 countries in the world. We can really be proud of these courageous female decision makers in our communities. If you look closely you’ll even find them right here at Santam! I will never forget the first time I walked into the beautiful Santam buildago for my interview. I remember sitting
A strong character indeed – one that
in the waiting area, just staring at the
is determined to think smart and act
beautiful surroundings and staff passing.
instinctively at work and at home. I’m also speaking for myself when I say
member the professional and energetic
that each one of us has a yearning to
vibe – thinking I’d never fit in here.
be more – to reach the infinite, to think
Turns out I fitted in just perfectly! Three
big and make our dreams a reality. We
years later I’m still enjoying my job in the
have the potential, sometimes all that’s
Assessor support division in Pretoria.
left is to take the risk.
Over the years I have met extraordi-
Works in the Assessor Support division at Santam Pretoria.
“Each one of us has a yearning to be more – to reach the infinite, to think big and make our dreams a reality. We have the potential, sometimes all that’s left is to take the risk.”
ing in Cape Town nearly three years
Even as I write this article I can still re-
CARMEN JONAS
shop one day.
40 countries), South African women
It seems women have finally realised
nary women at Santam. One of them
their potential goes beyond just chang-
is a dear colleague of mine, Henriette
ing diapers and playing house. Women
Franke. I met Henriette shortly after
are more than capable to juggle tradi-
my relocation to the Pretoria branch.
tional female roles with demanding and
I was still finding my way around and
highly successful careers.
DRAFTFCB CAPE TOWN SANT001290/E
- Faith Whittlesey
There are extraordinary women in our business. Women who, almost effortlessly, balance the trials of life and work with intelligence, grace and beauty. At Santam we appreciate their consistent and valuable contribution. And this month we celebrate the women who have made Santam what it is today.
SANT001290_San_Essence Tactical Ad_210x275E.indd 1
7/24/09 9:20:06 AM
SANT001385 Markinor 210x275E 8/24/09 3:54 PM Page 1
Composite