South African Social & Economic Development Forum

09/03/2026

A Cape Town woman faces a prolonged battle with Standard Bank over an insurance claim for storm damage to her 130-year-old heritage home. After securing a ruling in her favour, the bank has decided to appeal.

03/11/2025

889 likes, 59 comments. “ 🇿🇦 ”

08/04/2025

This well deserved rain is unfortunately causing flooding in certain areas in the Western Cape. May all stay safe. But also good luck to all those Absa South Africa insurance clients whose leaking roof claims causing resultant damage will most probably not be paid. Shame on you Absa Insurance Company. The Competition Commission South Africa FSCA South Africa South African Insurance Association (SAIA) The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition South Africa South African Social & Economic Development Forum

25/03/2025

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
25 March 2025

SASEDF vs Absa South Africa

Absa Bank and its Insurance company is terrible. It refuse to transform and change into a true new South African bank.

Our experience and view of Absa Insurance Bank is that coloured and african clients and service providers are still treated in the oldways of the old "Volkskas Bank" and how they treated us during Apartheid. They still continue in its old ways and trends. They never changed a bit.

That is why we do continuously highlight our frustrations with this bank on all social media platforms and networks?

*black small and medium size business are sidelined, do not get sustainable rates, work and payments whilst big business procured by monopoly companies

*Big Sponsorship given to elitist sporting codes and clubs whilst locally based coloured and black community based, amateur rugby, netball, soccer, athletic clubs are ignored and sidelined by Absa.

For example the Cape Epic Cycling Tournament was given millions last week whilst our high school athletes and their parents are left without sponsorships, our rugby and soccer clubs are left bankrupt without any support in our communities.

*Insurance and banking fees is a ripp off, too high and in many cases our communities are red flagged in a racial, racist system

*No investment and development in poor working class communities, organisations, clubs and social institutions

*Interest Rates, banking and administration fees is a scam

Sammy Claassen
South African Social and Economic Development Forum
Media

24/03/2025

Congratulations Dr Jonathan Butler on this outstanding achievement

14/03/2025

"Fury over R5 000 bail for former Absa Executive charged with murder"

Public outrage erupts as former Absa executive Jacques Pretorius is granted R5 000 bail for the alleged murder of his wife, Sheri-Ann, raising questions about justice in South Africa.

14/03/2025

South African Social and Economic Development (SASEDF
Capetown

Thank you Cape Argus

We the South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF) have raised serious concerns about a founding Managing Director of Absa idirect, Absa South Africa who received an absurd R5000 bail on allegations of murder.

The State alledged that this man murdered his wife. This is a serious offence, charges and the court should have considered the high crime rate, especially violence against women and the brutal killings of women at the hands of their partners.

To set bail at R5000 for a multi millionaire charged with murder was absolutely ridiculous and insensitive. The courts should stop being lenient and biased to the rich and powerful men, especially in cases of violent crimes, murder and gender based violence against women and children. We condemn this unjust practice in the strongest form. This was absolutely absurd and morally wrong.

We remain concerned about Absa South Africa and its Insurance arm's silence on the matter. The bank has faced serious scandals over the past couple of years at Executive and Board level. Absa Bank reputation at Executive Level is questionable and its silence is of no surprise.

At least main stream media has reported on the serious case. The SASEDF are thankful that Cape Argus covered our concerns in its latest paper. The SASEDF is a bussiness and community based non profit organisation that is task to raise socio economic and social issues of national importance.

The SASEDF questions the judicial judgement in terms of them setting bail at R5000. Furthermore we question the magistrates decision of giving bail to an alledged murderer.

Why did he or she not considered that the alledged perpetrator might be a flight risk and why was the interest of the public not considered at all.

Why was gender based violence not an issue during the bail hearing as this is a national crisis in our country. By setting and giving a mere R5000 bail to the alledged perpetrator the court failed to protect the interest and rights of the victim.

The court has send out the wrong message. A message that says that if you are rich, you are untouchable and that the courts will always favour the wealthy. It is time that the courts should change its "hand om die blaas" relationship with the rich, the wealthy and the powerful and starts acting in the interest of justice.

We will escalate our concerns to the Minister of Justice as well as to the Standing Committee of Justice.

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
Media
Sammy Claassen

12/03/2025

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
11 March 2025

Breaking News - Absa South Africa

Founding Managing Director of Absa iDirect/Absa Insurance Arrested on Allegations of murdering his wife.

Jacques Pretorius is the founding Managing Director of Absa idirect, a key player in the South African Direct Short Term Insurance industry.

He also serves on the joint Executive Committee of Absa Insurance Company & Absa idirect and holds key responsibilities in both Insurance Companies.

He was released on bail for only R5000. How cheap has ones life become in South Africa. A wealthy banker, businessman gets R5000 bail on murder charges. How ridiculous is that.

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
Media
Sammy Claassen

11/03/2025

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
11 March 2025

The Truth always comes out.

This former Absa Insurance founding member, an executive arrested on allegations of murdering his wife.
We sincerely hope its not connected to insurance fraud.

Die waarheid kom byt jou. Sien julle wat vang die voormalige base van Absa South Africa Insurance na beweringe aan. Nou as hulle in sulke ernstige misdrywe uitgevang word, dan wil ek nie weet wat hulle nog aanvang nie.

Maar die gereg het n lang hand het my ma altyd gese.

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
Media
Sammy Claassen

11/03/2025

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
11 March 2025

Why did he get bail of R5000

The criminal justice system seemed to be very lenient and soft on alledged killers and murderers.

Why is it the case, especially those who have big money are treated with soft gloves in court. This former Absa South Africa Bank Manager should have not been granted bail at all.

South Africa have a serious abnormal high crime rate and murder remains a big problem. Gender based violence should have been curbed long time ago by our courts, yet alledged offenders are treated softly and gently during bail hearings.

This is unacceptable and morally wrong and the courts should act strongly to violent crimes and murder.

South African Social and Economic Development Forum (SASEDF)
Sammy Claassen
Media

08/03/2025

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMB8fcDjw/

These banks like Absa and Nedbank are ruthless in their discrimination against blacks.

Absa South Africa Nedbank The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ & CD) when will you stop being racist and treat all your clients equally whether they are white or black. Away with racism away. Yes to equality.

748 followers, 2739 likes, 408 comments