FROM THE
CEO ’ S DESK outh Africa has just
S emerged from another ( third ) wave of the COVID-19 pandemic . I mentioned in the previous edition of The Professional that we expected 2021 to be a very tough life and sickness claims year .
Unfortunately , that expectation has become reality and our claims staff are still working under huge strain , although numbers have started to drop lately . In a financial services business like ours where it is our mission to assist professionals in times of need , protecting them during a pandemic such as this has a huge impact .
But then we remind ourselves that it is exactly for times like these that this very special society of professionals was created 80 years ago . In the fulness of time , this extraordinary COVID-19-era might just count among our finest hours and proudest moments . Yes , claims do take away operating profit for our members . But our first duty is to assist members by honouring valid claims .
In our unique mutual model , all premiums are eventually returned to members , either as a claim or as Profit-Share . The only “ leakage ” is the expenses to run the business , something that our board monitors carefully .
We are fortunate that this society has grown over 80 years to be financially robust , able to assist our members even during pandemics , demonstrating the strength of mutuality .
In our business , we are quite aware of the challenges and trauma that society has to deal with in times like these . The pandemic has not only created a physical health crisis , but it also had a major impact on mental health . We reflect on this on page 16 .
The physical and mental worlds are of course closely connected . It has often been said that there are two remarkable discoveries when you vest a good exercise regime .
The first is that , although it might at first be uncomfortable and require discipline to vest good training habits , it later becomes fun . The second is that the long-term benefits of physical exercise are actually much more mental than physical . The excellent article on walking by long-time PPS member and friend , Dr Jonathan Moch , talks about this ( page 13 ).
But physical health is also connected to financial wealth , as Sanet Moolman deliberates
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