Elite Risk Acceptances (Pty) Ltd

As summer holidays approach, many of us are looking forward to well-deserved breaks, with some gearing up for thrilling 4x4 adventures. Exploring the unknown is part of the excitement, but tackling rough terrain in a 4x4 requires preparation and research to ensure safety and enjoyment while embracing the great outdoors. Our MD, Tarina Vlok (FIISA), advises knowing the grading of your trail and ensuring your vehicle is comprehensively insured for the terrain. #DidYouKnow that trails graded 4 or 5 (very difficult to extreme) demand advanced driving skills and specialised insurance? Make sure to inform your insurer about any vehicle modifications and consult your broker to confirm your cover. Stay safe, plan wisely, and make every trail an unforgettable adventure! Here’s a quick guide to trail gradings: • Grade 1 (Easy): Ideal for beginners, with flat gravel or sand roads. Any vehicle with good ground clearance can navigate these trails. • Grade 2 (Moderate): Requires basic off-road skills, with uneven terrain and some inclines or declines. • Grade 3 (Challenging): A 4x4 vehicle with a low-range gearbox and technical skills are needed to navigate rocky sections, steep inclines, and obstacles. • Grade 4 (Very Difficult): For advanced drivers, with steep slopes, rough terrain, and narrow passages that demand specialised skills and equipment. • Grade 5 (Extreme): Reserved for experts, featuring highly technical routes that often require modified 4x4s and winches.

The Elite Risk Acceptances (Pty) Ltd offices will be closed for the festive season from 23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025. While our team enjoys some well-deserved rest, skeleton staff will be on standby to assist with any emergencies. We appreciate your continued support throughout this year and wish you a joyful and restful holiday period with your loved ones. If you're travelling, please stay safe on the roads. We look forward to reconnecting in 2025 and continuing to provide you with exceptional service! #SeasonsGreetings #ThankYou #SafeTravels

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news from the Old Mutual Insure’s Most Valued Person (MVP) Awards, which took place last Friday, honouring the business's greatest asset – its people.   Two of our own at Elite Risk Acceptances (Pty) Ltd have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the business, with Tandiwe Cimela, our COO, being honoured with Leader of the Year, and Tshilidzi Radzilani from our Claims team earning the title of Employee of the Year in the Retail category. These achievements not only reflect their individual excellence but also the incredible teamwork and dedication of our entire Elite Risk team. As the African proverb reminds us: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”   Congratulations to Tandiwe, Tshilidzi, and the entire Elite team   #Teamwork #Leadership #AwardWinners #OMICares #MVPAwards #TrophyTuesday  

South Africa continues to lead the African luxury market. The country now boasts the largest number of luxury stores on the continent, cementing its status as a hotspot for individuals who seek exclusive, timeless brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Rolex. Despite sub-Saharan Africa’s economic challenges, South Africa’s luxury market continues to thrive. According to recent reports, this growth is driven by strong consumer demand and the rapid expansion of the pre-owned luxury segment. The pre-owned market is also expected to grow rapidly, aided by anticipated price adjustments from designers and stronger local currencies, enabling more Africans to participate. This will see the continent’s luxury market share rise, positioning it as an increasingly attractive opportunity for luxury investors. But can you #insure your pre-owned branded designer apparel? Yes, you can, says Tarina Vlok (FIISA), our MD. “Remember that insurance pays out the replacement value, not the value that you bought it for. For example, if you purchase a pre-owned Louis Vuitton bag for R10 000, but the replacement costs R30 000, then that is what your insurer will pay you if you suffer a loss or damage. It is also crucial to ensure that the authenticity of your pre-owned luxury item is validated.” explains Tarina.

In an unexpected and provoking twist in the art world, Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial artwork, Comedian - a banana duct-taped to a wall - has sold for a staggering $6.2 million (R112.3 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. This sale exceeded pre-sale estimates by four times and reignited debates on the value of contemporary art. While the banana itself cost just $0.35 earlier in the day, its $6.2 million price tag raises important questions about valuing art and managing high-value possessions. Our MD Tarina Vlok (FIISA) stresses the importance of accurate valuation when it comes to art. Knowing the true value of your artwork ensures proper insurance cover and avoids common mistakes like underinsuring. Art collectors, investors, and enthusiasts should have their artworks professionally appraised and reassessed annually to protect their investment. #ArtValuation #InsuranceForArt #ContemporaryArt #LuxuryAssets #WealthManagement https://lnkd.in/e5mAu65f

It's #MeetTheTeamTuesday 👥 Meet Jack Makapa, who began his insurance career in 2013 as a Sales Consultant for personal lines at Iwyze. His passion for the industry grew over the years, and he gained experience in departments such as Customer Care, Retention, and Senior Quality Assurance. In 2018, Jack transitioned to OMI Sales & Service, working as an underwriter for Commercial Lines, where he honed his expertise in mitigating risks across various occupations. He also pursued industry-related certifications, including the Risk Survey Certificate and RE. In 2020, Jack joined Elite during the COVID pandemic, driven by his passion for Personal Lines. As a Specialist Underwriter, his primary focus is ensuring clients are adequately insured, helping to reduce costs and stress when claims arise. Jack excels at resolving valuation queries, coordinating workflows with colleagues, meeting daily targets, and providing exceptional service to stakeholders. His motivation stems from achieving goals, which led him to complete a Project Management course at Wits University. Outside of work, Jack is a devoted husband to Malethabo. Together, they love exploring the coastal regions of South Africa and traveling abroad. Jack is a sports enthusiast, particularly enjoying road running, hiking, soccer, and supporting Orlando Pirates Football Club. A lifelong learner, he reads multiple books at once, including The Art of War, Audacity to Dream, Battlefield of the Mind, and Emotional Intelligence. Jack is also currently working toward completing his Higher Certificate in Insurance with Milpark. With a positive outlook on life and the future of South Africa, Jack firmly believes that "God is great all the time!"

We love it when our service makes clients happy. Today, we share Ian's positive story following a devastating windstorm that compromised his Stellenbosch home and risked damaging his possessions. Throughout the process we provided tailored solutions and worked with him every step of the way. We also assisted in moving his Ferrari, one of only 2,000 in the world, to a destination in Cape Town for safekeeping. His experience highlights why a little empathy and commitment to personalised service – cornerstones of our work ethic at Elite Risk – can go a long way. According to Ian, “It has and still is a great pleasure to deal with the MD of a company who is willing to listen. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Elite Risk to my friends as a first-class choice when facing traumatic events like I experienced.” Ian’s story begins on 7 April 2024 when a violent windstorm struck Stellenbosch and the surrounding areas, starting as a South Easter on the afternoon and escalating to what some described as hurricane-force winds by the early hours. “I was awakened several times that morning by the extreme gusts. By 7:15 AM, I noticed debris being carried away by the wind. Suddenly, a loud bang came from my double-pitched roof, and the roofing sheets flew off, landing in the dam. It was such a shock that I didn’t know what to do as the wind sucked up the ceilings and insulation! I called my daughter, who urged me to leave the house immediately. After struggling to open the garage door against the wind, I finally drove out, closed the door, and left my home. The wind calmed down around midday, allowing my family and me to return and assess the situation. People I didn’t even know, along with neighbours and friends, came to help move my belongings into a safer area. A team from Old Mutual Insure's Emergency Assist partners (a service offered by Elite) arrived to assist in moving furniture and to cover the roof, but the wind made it impossible to secure anything. We did what we could to secure the house before returning to my daughter’s home. On Monday I asked for help from Tarina Vlok (FIISA), MD of Elite Risk Acceptances (Pty) Ltd, who took charge. I had specific preferences, which Tarina obliged. After some initial back and forth, the restoration of my home went smoothly. As the weather changes and severe storms, floods and other natural phenomena continue to wreak havoc with our lives, Elite is a company that can minimise this impact and give peace of mind in times of stress.” We take pride in the support we provide our clients during difficult times. Thank you, Ian, for trusting us to assist you through this experience!

#ThrowbackThursday   What a great night! Last Friday, our Elite Risk team joined industry peers at the Insurance Institute of the Western Cape Gala Dinner, a hallmark event in the Western Cape insurance industry. The gala dinner provided a wonderful opportunity for networking, celebrating industry service, and recognising the impactful work of the IIWC council. It was a pleasure to have our team attend and represent our commitment to customer-centric service and operational excellence. Our team dressed for the occasion and celebrated the positive, proactive contributions they bring to the industry.   #IIWCgaladinner #networking #iiwesterncape #insurance #strongalone #togetherunstopable

It's #MeetTheTeamTuesday 👥 Meet Nokwanda Khanyile, Elite’s Non-Motor Claims Team Leader. Nokwanda began her insurance journey in 2016 as a Claims Procurement Administrator for Old Mutual Insure through a learnership, managing supplier-related tasks such as BEE certification and data accuracy. In 2017, she moved to the FNOL claims department as a Contact Centre Agent, where she excelled in customer service, earning recognition as a Top Performer that same year and later being honoured as the Emerald Employee of the Year for Claims in 2018. Nokwanda then advanced to a Quality Assurance role, where she implemented processes, assessed staff, and trained new FNOL team members, gaining expertise in both personal and commercial insurance. From April 2023 to May 2024, she served as a Claims Subject Matter Expert on a secondment basis, and in June 2024, she stepped into her current role as Team Leader for Elite Risk Acceptances (Pty) Ltd. She finds great satisfaction in guiding her team, driving claims accuracy, and delivering excellent service. Outside of work, Nox (as we call her) loves spending time with family, exploring new adventures, hiking, and even bungee jumping!

Recent reports have highlighted the inspiring reunion of South African violinist Petrus De Beer with his cherished 1896 Léon Fischesser violin, which was stolen from his car in July 2022. Thanks to the vigilance of two alert Capetonians, the violin has been recovered. This heartwarming story highlights the importance of insuring valuable items to protect against unexpected loss and damage. De Beer, who unfortunately did not have insurance, noted that his violin is valued at €17,000 (over R325,000). “While sentimental value cannot be replaced, insurance can ensure that musicians and collectors are not financially out of pocket if the worst happens,” says our MD Tarina Vlok (FIISA) Top tips for insuring precious items: • Rare instruments, like De Beer’s violin, need insurance that covers a wide range of risks such as theft and damage. Make sure your policy considers both the market value and the historical significance of the instrument. • When travelling, keep the valuable instrument with you during transit to avoid damages in the cargo hold. • In the event you’re playing on a loan instrument, inform your broker or insurer so that they can do the necessary underwriting.    • Maintain detailed records, including photographs and appraisals, to simplify the insurance claims process for valuable items. #Insurance #ValuableItems #Musicians #Protection