“Know your ombud” episode 7 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by John Simpson, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers (FAIS Ombud). We chat about his office’s approach to handling disputes between financial...
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Money Bootcamp: How to ace your tax
Welcome to the second episode of the second season of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, where I tackle various financial topics together with my co-host, Mapalo Makhu. As we dive into July, many of us feel the familiar pang of anxiety...
Can a salaried employee claim home-office expenses?
Thokozile Kumalo, Tax Consultant at Tax Consulting South Africa, lays out the law when it comes to claiming home-office expenses. As the 2025 tax filing season kicks off, many South Africans working from home are wondering what home-office expenses...
Listen: Death and disability claims not adding up?
“Know your ombud” episode 6 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Sonya Marais, Senior Adjudicator for the Life Insurance Division of the National Financial Ombud (NFO), who helps us understand the complexities of...
How hackers used bitcoin to send a message
Wiehann Olivier, a Partner and FinTech & Digital Assets Lead for Forvis Mazars in South Africa, explains how a group of politically motivated hackers sent a message to Iran by essentially burning bitcoin worth $2 million. On 18 June 2025,...
Listen: General and personal insurance unravelled
“Know your ombud” episode 5 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Edite Teixeira-Mckinon, the lead ombud for non-life insurance at the National Financial Ombud. Have you ever felt overwhelmed or confused by one of your...
Money Bootcamp: Recognising financial trauma
Welcome to the second season of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, where I will tackle various financial topics together with my co-host, Mapalo Makhu. In this first episode, we investigate the complicated relationship between emotions...
How to avoid rental scams
Growing demand for rental properties – combined with limited availability – has made South Africa’s housing market a fertile hunting ground for fraudsters. Rental scams are on the rise, as prospective tenants scramble for accommodation. Rising...
Listen: When responsible credit goes wrong
“Know your ombud” episode 4 In the latest episode of our Know Your Ombud series, I am joined by Howard Gabriels, the head ombud for credit. Credit providers are required to treat customers fairly, but consumers also have a responsibility to repay...
Motivation and money
I recently had a conversation with a friend about the pros and cons of using diet pills and injections. She was arguing that people are using medication – that comes with serious side effects – instead of using self-discipline. It’s easy to talk...
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Listen: Big Banks – David and Goliath
“Know your ombud” episode 3 In the latest episode of our "Know Your Ombud" series, we dive into the world of financial services with Nerosha Maseti, the lead ombud for banking services. With an increasing number of complaints about banking practices, it’s crucial for...
Investing and fatherhood
Siyabulela Nomoyi, Quantitative Portfolio Manager at Satrix, explains how fatherhood has influenced his investing decisions. Fatherhood reshaped my perspective on investing. I have a toddler discovering the world, a nine-year-old full of questions, and a teenager...
Listen: What to do if your financial institution treats you unfairly
“Know your ombud” Episode 2 I’m joined by Reana Steyn, the head of the National Financial Ombud, to discuss the role of this ombud, and how it is a vital resource when you have a dispute with a financial institution. Reana shares insights into the recently streamlined...
2025 tax filing season opens on 7 July
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the official start of the 2025 tax filing season, effective from 7 July 2025. Filing season for non-provisional taxpayers will close on 20 October 2025, whereas provisional taxpayers have until 19 January 2026 to...
Listen: Know your ombud
“Know your Ombud” is a series of conversations aimed at helping consumers of financial services understand their rights and where to go if they are not treated fairly. The financial ombud schemes include the National Financial Ombud, the FAIS Ombud, the JSE Ombud, and...
Why are there delays in paying out GEPF benefits?
Recently, I’ve been receiving complaints from members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) who say they are experiencing delays in receiving their benefit payments. These relate to resignation, divorce and death benefits. These members claim that...
Is marriage outdated?
A few weeks ago, I posted some graphs about the declining marriage rates in South Africa from the Outlier.co.za newsletter. This set off a robust conversation about why marriage rates were declining. There was a strong feeling that because many more women are now...
SARS specialised crypto unit cracks down on non-compliance
SARS has unearthed a new source of tax revenue collection – cryptocurrency trading and investing! SARS has confirmed that it is able to receive information directly from local crypto asset exchanges, which means that non-compliance is both difficult and costly for...
Five financial conversations to have with your fiancé
Amidst the excitement of wedding planning, it’s easy to overlook a crucial aspect of marriage: financial planning. Metropolitan Gauteng’s General Manager, Queen Malobane, urges couples to have open, practical discussions about money before the big day. “This isn’t...
Common exchange control misconceptions
To avoid nasty surprises such as frozen bank accounts or getting stranded abroad, South African residents need to understand South Africa’s exchange control regulations. Well over 300 000 South Africans embarked on international trips during early 2024, according to a...