What's Happening?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NEED HELP? QUESTIONS@FIA.ORG.ZA

become A FIA member TODAY
member login

Santam cautions Gauteng and KZN residents to take necessary precautions in anticipation of summer hailstorm season

ARTICLE BY

  • Santam

SHARE THIS POST

Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, has advised residents in the hailstorm ‘hot spots’ of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to take the necessary precautions and exercise extreme vigilance in anticipation of the predicted hail season for these regions over summer.

A 2021 research report on the characteristics of hail hazard in South Africa based on satellite detection of convective storms, found that hail events concentrate mainly in the southeast of the country, along the Highveld and the eastern slopes. The research found hail events are most frequent from around mid-November through February and peak in the afternoon, between 13:00 and 17:00.

Philippa Wild, Santam’s head of Commercial Lines Underwriting, says these severe hailstorms can cause costly damage to cars and infrastructure. “Varying from marble-sized to full-sized golf balls, hailstones can measure up to 7 cm in diameter, so it is easy to see why they do so much irreparable damage to vehicles and property. Windscreens are shattered, vehicles dented, roofs damaged, and house and business windows broken.”

Wild explains the cost to repair and replace vehicles varies according to the severity of the storm and damage done to the paintwork, windows, etc. “Not only can the costs be crippling, but clients might also experience delays in the repair of damaged motor vehicles due to a global shortage of parts caused, among others, by COVID-19 and other supply-chain challenges related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the flood damage to vehicle-manufacturing plants and the harbour in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year, as well as international lockdowns in China and Taiwan.

“Furthermore, load shedding causes significant disruptions at the premises of our motor service providers through possible delays, which negatively impact our delivering a consistent service experience that is aligned with our clients’ needs and expectations.”

So, how can South Africans in these regions prepare for hailstorms? Wild offers some tips to help Northerners activate disaster preparedness:

In the event of hail:

  • Drive slowly – slower driving minimises the damage of hail and combats slippery roads.
  • Locate a safe, covered area immediately or pull over under an overpass, provided it is safe to do so.
  1. Undercover parking at malls and petrol stations is a good temporary solution to protect your car during a hailstorm.
  • Stay inside the vehicle. Large hail stones pose a genuine injury threat.
  • Keep fleecy blankets in your boot so you can cover your car to minimise the impact of hail.

If you do have damage:

  1. Take careful note of the extent of the damage to your car; look for damage to all glass items, including side mirrors, taillights, and head lights. Take pictures as they may be useful when it comes time to claim.
  • If you are affected by hail, immediately report the incident to your insurer.

When you are at home or at your business:

  1. Keep your gutters clean. It is important to clear gutters regularly of leaves, twigs, and any other debris. Clear the hail from your roof/gutters as soon as it is safe to do so. Hail takes a while to melt, and an overflowing gutter could lead to a leaking roof and further damage. Hail build-up is also heavy, so make sure the guttering is sound and in good order.
  2. Trimming trees close to your house and business helps get rid of branches that can cause severe damage during a storm.
  3. Keep your blinds down. Make sure you close all curtains, blinds or shutters to prevent broken window glass and hailstones from entering your home and injuring you or your family.
  4. Park your car in the garage or in a sheltered undercover area.
  5. Ensure you are adequately covered against hail damage in your personal and commercial insurance policy so that you have cover when you need it.

“Now is not the time to compromise on your insurance cover. It is very important to know exactly what you are covered for and for what amount. Consumers should make sure their policies are up to date and take note of the insurer’s available emergency services. Choose an insurer that assists you in protecting your assets in severe weather situations by sending out weather alerts,” concludes Wild.

Subscriber Terms and Conditions

  1. APPLICATION OF TERMS
    • These terms and conditions (“Subscriber Terms”) apply to the subscription by any qualifying member of the South African Underwriting Managers Association NPC (“SAUMA”) to the services and benefits offered by FIA Services (Pty) Ltd (“FIA Services”) under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement (“Subscription”).

  2. NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION
    • A Subscription under this arrangement:
      • does not constitute membership of FIA NPC;
      • does not confer any voting rights or governance participation in FIA NPC; and
      • is governed solely by the contractual relationship between the Subscriber and FIA Services.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    • To qualify for the Subscription, the applicant must, at the time of application, be a current paid-up member of SAUMA.
    • FIA Services will verify the applicant’s SAUMA membership status with SAUMA prior to activation, and may re-verify such status periodically.
    • If a Subscriber ceases to be a paid-up member of SAUMA, the Subscription will correspondingly be terminated.
    • Applicants are required to authorise FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA as part of the application process.

  1. SERVICES
    • The Subscription entitles the Subscriber to the following benefits:
      • Complimentary access to the FIA CPD Platform;
      • Complimentary access to the FIA Insight Magazine (digital edition);
      • Advertising opportunities on FIA platforms at a discounted rate of 15% (fifteen percent) off the prevailing published rates; and
      • Invitations to attend FIA Technical Webinars annually.
    • FIA Services reserves the right to update, vary or substitute the Services from time to time, provided that the overall value and nature of the benefits remain materially the same.

  1. FEES AND PAYMENT
    • The monthly subscription fee is R260.00 (two hundred and sixty rand) for up to seven registered individuals (Key Individuals and Representatives), and R36.00 (thirty-six rand) per additional registered individual thereafter, excluding VAT.
    • The Subscriber shall provide FIA Services with the required details of each individual to be registered under the Subscription for the purposes of activation and billing.
    • All fees are exclusive of VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing statutory rate.
    • Subscription fees are reviewed annually in March and may be adjusted with effect from 1 April.
    • Any changes to the Subscription, including but not limited to the number of Representatives and Key Individuals registered under the Subscription, may only be effected once annually during the annual review period in March of each year, with such changes taking effect from 1 April.
    • Subscription fees shall be billed monthly in arrears, unless the Subscriber elects an annual billing cycle at the time of application.
    • The Subscriber shall ensure that all billing information (including contact details, authorised signatories and bank account details) is kept accurate and up to date.
    • Non-payment of subscription fees may result in suspension of access to the Services until such fees are brought up to date.
    • The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that all subscription fees payable under these Subscriber Terms may be collected by way of debit order, which shall be processed by the holding company, FIA NPC (The Financial Intermediary Association of South Africa), on behalf of FIA Services. Payment to FIA NPC shall be deemed to constitute valid and sufficient discharge of the Subscriber’s payment obligations to FIA Services under these Subscriber Terms.

  1. ONBOARDING
    • Onboarding will be conducted as a Subscription with FIA Services under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement.
    • Onboarding will not confer FIA NPC membership status or any associated rights.
    • Onboarding is conditional on confirmation of the Subscriber’s current SAUMA membership at the time of application

  1. DATA PROTECTION
    • FIA Services will process all personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) as set out in our POPIA policies.
    • By subscribing, the Subscriber authorises FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA and to process personal information for the purposes of fulfilling the Subscription.

  1. TERMINATION
    • The Subscriber may terminate the Subscription by giving FIA Services one calendar month’s written notice.
    • FIA Services may terminate the Subscription on one calendar month’s written notice, or immediately if the Subscriber breaches these Subscriber Terms and fails to remedy such breach within 14 (fourteen) days of receiving written notice.
    • Termination of the SAUMA–FIA Services affiliation agreement shall not automatically terminate these Subscriber Terms.
    • Termination by the Subscriber shall not relieve the Subscriber of liability for any subscription fees accrued up to the effective date of termination.
    • FIA Services may suspend or terminate the Subscription with immediate effect in the event of non-payment of fees by the Subscriber.

  1. GENERAL
    • These Subscriber Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Any disputes arising under these Subscriber Terms shall be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in the FIA NPC membership terms and conditions, as modified to reflect that the contractual relationship is with FIA Services.
    • Any notices required under these Subscriber Terms may be validly delivered by email to the addresses provided in the Subscriber’s application form, and such notices shall be deemed received on the day of transmission if sent during business hours.
    • The Subscriber may not assign, cede or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Subscriber Terms without the prior written consent of FIA Services.
    • No variation of these Subscriber Terms shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by both FIA Services and the Subscriber.