News

Etana hosts successful SAMIA seminar

27 August, 2010

Sixty insurance industry representatives from across the country recently attended a two-day annual construction all-risks and engineering (CAR/Engineering) insurance course hosted by the South African Machinery Insurers’ Association (SAMIA) at Etana House in Johannesburg.

Nationwide underwriters and brokers joined a large Etana contingent as Francois Engels of Firedart and Kobus van Niekerk of Etana lectured delegates on relevant industry topics such as contract work, plant insurance and construction industry public liability. The duo focused heavily on the Consumer Protection Act and how it relates to construction and engineering insurance.

“Etana and SAMIA are hoping to assist the insurance industry by taking this course to Durban and Cape Town next year to give brokers and underwriters in other regions the opportunity to participate,” says Van Niekerk, who also chairs the training committee at SAMIA.

The CAR/Engineering course was organised in the wake of discussions between SAMIA and the Insurance Institute of Gauteng (IIG). Following the talks SAMIA made a commitment to train underwriters in the engineering insurance industry.

To achieve this stated objective, SAMIA offers lectures over and above its regional courses.

“SAMIA also offers quarterly lunchtime lectures that cover important CAR/Engineering topics such as bridge construction or the Gautrain project and its associated risks,” adds Van Niekerk. Although the lectures are held every three months, they are organised on an ad-hoc basis with dates finalised nearer the time.

An advanced underwriting course is being planned for the near future. For more information on this course, which will be offered in Johannesburg only, contact Kobus van Niekerk at Etana on 011 351 2505, or email him on kobusn@etana.co.za.