Santam posts strong 2025 results as profits and premiums climb

Stephen Grootes speaks to Santam CFO, Wikus Olivier, about Santam’s 2025 performance, the momentum generated through its FutureFit 2030 strategy, and how the establishment of Santam Syndicate 1918 positions the group for broader international growth.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

South Africa’s largest short-term insurer, Santam, has reported strong financial results for 2025, with higher premiums, improved profitability and a bigger dividend for shareholders.

The company said its performance was driven by steady growth in its core insurance business and the continued rollout of its long-term strategy aimed at expanding both locally and internationally.

One of the key indicators of growth for an insurance company is the amount of premiums it earns from customers.

Santam reported that net earned premiums, the portion of premiums the company recognises as income during the year, increased by 14.7%.

Another measure, gross written premiums, which reflects the total value of policies sold before adjustments, rose 6.4%.

Much of this growth came from Santam’s traditional insurance business in South Africa, where the company continues to dominate the broker market. 

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Santam CFO Wikus Olivier says they've recorded impressive customer growth over the last year.

In Miway, which is one of our direct businesses, we've seen growth of more than 10,000 in their policy count.."

- Wikus Olivier, CFO - Santam

"We've also implemented a number of new strategies, for example the tied agency channel within Miway that's focused on business insurance in particular, that's also been very successful in increasing market share."

- Wikus Olivier, CFO - Santam

"A lot of it's also about the trust in the brand. Santam is a more than 100 year old business, with a strong trust from clients that we will pay their claims, and that also plays quite a strong role in clients deciding where they're going to place their insurance business."

- Wikus Olivier, CFO - Santam

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.