Santam says it plans to appeal COVID-19 decision

Company asserts its business interruption policy should not cover national lockdowns

Santam says it plans to appeal COVID-19 decision

Insurance News

By Ryan Smith

South Africa’s largest non-life insurer says it will appeal a court ruling that found it liable for a client’s claim related to a COVID-19 lockdown.

South African insurer Santam said Friday that it would appeal the ruling, according to a Reuters report. Like many insurers worldwide, Santam has been facing pushback for rejecting claims made under business interruption policies after clients were forced to close.

South African insurers argue that their policies did not cover national lockdowns. However, a court ruled on Tuesday that Santam was liable for a business interruption claim made by hotel company Ma-Afrika, Reuters reported.

Santam said that after discussing the ruling with its lead reinsurers, it decided to appeal.

“Santam believes that the high court erred in its judgement,” the insurer said in a statement.

Ma-Afrika and Insurance Claims Africa, an organisation representing insured parties, said that Santam’s appeal would further delay claims by businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Reuters.

The appeal will “postpone payment of our claims until March/April 2021 at the earliest,” Elna du Toit, chief operating officer of Ma-Afrika Hotels, said in a statement. Du Toit added that the delay would further harm the already suffering South African hospitality industry.

Santam said in a separate statement that following the court’s ruling – which found it liable for the full indemnity period of 18 months – it had increased its provision for claims under the relevant policy by 1.7 billion rand (about US$111 million), Reuters reported.

The insurer has already paid 1 billion rand in interim relief, Reuters reported. That amount will be deducted from any further payments.

Related Stories

Keep up with the latest news and events

Join our mailing list, it’s free!