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FSRA CEO PLEADS FOR INSURERS TO PAY CLAIMS WITHIN A DAY

09/01/2021 00:56:00 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE

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MANZINI - Pay burial claims within a day! This is a plea from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to insurance companies and this follows the pronouncement by the Acting Prime Minister (PM), Themba Masuku, that those who have passed on should be buried as soon possible; preferably within three days.

The acting PM further said burials that would be done three days after death would require a permit, which would be acquired from regional offices in the Ministry of Home Affairs, where the officers responsible for the issuance of the permits had been urged to be extremely sensitive and act on the requests promptly.

FSRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ncamiso Ntshalintshali said as a government organisation regulating insurance companies among other financial institutions, following the pronouncement by the acting PM; they worked on a circular to encourage insurers to align themselves with the announcement.

encouraging

“In the circular, which will be issued later today (yesterday), we are encouraging insurers to settle burial claims within a day or even less,” the CEO said.

However, he mentioned that they had found that most of the insurers in the sector were already adhering to the one-day turnaround time to settle burial claims. He added that when they engaged the insurers, they mentioned that they also hoped that government would support them in terms of issuing marriage and dead certificates on time.

This publication gathered that some insurers had been paying burial claims within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Mlandvo Dlamini the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the ministry was ready in assisting those who have lost their loved ones to bury them within three days.

He said the ministry had already arranged that those who wanted death certificates, did not have to queue and if they have all the necessary documents, they would get it instantly.

occurred

Dlamini further said for death that occurred at a health facility, people should bring certification detailing cause of death (BMD 10), deceased’s birth certificate, identity card of the deceased and identity card of the person registering the death.

On top of that, he said the person registering the death, should also bring a document; like a birth certificate that would link the deceased with the informant.

On the other hand, he said for a death that occurred at home, the informant should bring a letter from umphakatsi (royal kraal) with official stamp of where deceased was residing, deceased’s birth certificate, identity card of the deceased and identity card of the person registering the death. Once more, he said a document, like a birth certificate that would link the deceased with the informant, would also be required.

acknowledging

Furthermore, the communications officer said for a death that had not occurred either at home or hospital, a police report, letter from the umphakatsi acknowledging the death was required.

He said a death certificate could be registered without post-mortem results.

On the other hand, he said for external death registration, a certification of cause of death issued by a doctor in the country where the deceased passed away would be required to register a death certificate.

He said the deceased should be a liSwati in terms of the Constitution.

Other things which he said were required in order to register a death certificate for an external death were birth certificate and identity card of deceased, identity card of the person registering the death together with a document, a birth certificate for example that would link the deceased with the informant.

He said they also need to produce the deceased’s certified copy of his/her passport.

Dlamini said the page should be with the deceased’s particulars, photo and entry stamp.

On another note, the communications officer said as a ministry, they appeal to all emaSwati to cooperate with government and follow all COVID-19 safety precautions when coming to their service centres, as they were facing a war.

shortage

It is worth noting that as the Covid-19 deaths mount, undertakers are facing a shortage of coffins.

For example, Themba Makhanya of Santa Lucia Funeral Services (Pty) Ltd stated in a previous interview with the publication that a number of products were hard to source of late.

Again, B3 Group’s Director Dan Zikalala was quoted saying the shortage was looming as there was a backlog with suppliers and the turnaround time for receiving stock would be prolonged.

Meanwhile, Dups Funeral Home and Crematorium General Manager Kyle De Souza said they had stock pile, but had placed an order with their suppliers.

However, he mentioned that they were informed that they would get their orders at a later date as there was a backlog in the orders.