Santam and SA Weather Service join forces to strengthen South Africa’s early warning systems:
South Africa’s intensifying cycle of floods, wildfires and severe storms is forcing both government and business to rethink how the country prepares for climate-related disasters, with insurers increasingly positioning early warning systems as a frontline defence against mounting economic losses.
On Thursday, Santam and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) announced a partnership aimed at strengthening the country’s weather forecasting and early warning capabilities through the installation of nine new automatic weather stations.
The initiative comes as the country grapples with increasingly destructive weather events, including the devastating 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods, as well as more recent deadly flooding in Mthata in the Eastern Cape last year and in Limpopo and Mpumalanga earlier this year.
By expanding SAWS’s observation network, the partnership seeks to close critical forecasting gaps in regions vulnerable to floods, storms and extreme rainfall, particularly along the eastern seaboard where repeated extreme weather has exposed structural weaknesses in monitoring capacity.
Santam group chief executive Tavaziva Madzinga said the collaboration reflected growing recognition that climate-related disasters were no longer isolated events but an escalating economic and social risk.
The SAWS was the only entity mandated to issue severe weather-related warnings over South Africa, he said.
“By strengthening its observation and forecasting capabilities, we are helping to ensure that early warnings are accessible, credible and localised, so that South Africans can act before weather hazards escalate into disasters.”
Madzinga noted that early warning systems should be understood as economic infrastructure rather than optional public services, arguing that earlier alerts could significantly reduce both human and financial losses.
“Simply put, early warning enables early action,” Madzinga said. “If people delay travel, secure property, move vehicles or protect agricultural assets based on credible early warnings, exposure is reduced and losses are minimised.”
The partnership also highlights how climate change is reshaping the insurance industry. As weather disasters become more frequent and more costly, insurers face rising claims linked to flooding, fires and storm damage, while governments are left grappling with ballooning reconstruction costs.
For South Africa, the pressure is particularly acute. Repeated flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and parts of Limpopo has exposed weaknesses in disaster preparedness systems, while fires and severe storms continue to threaten infrastructure, agriculture and households.
SAWS acting chief executive Jonas Mphepya described the partnership as a practical example of how public-private collaboration could strengthen national resilience.
“Our network boasts 276 automatic weather stations, 211 automatic rainfall stations, 26 lightning detection network sensors, 25 climate stations and 12 meteorological radar systems,” Mphepya said.
“In a time of frequent and intensifying severe weather events, the importance of reinforcing our observational infrastructure, which is the bedrock of our weather and climate services, cannot be overemphasised.”
Rudzani Malala, the SAWS head of disaster risk reduction, said South Africa’s early warning infrastructure was both technically critical and increasingly urgent.
“This observational infrastructure is the backbone of the weather and climate services that the SAWS renders day in and day out,” he said.
The system underpinned the country’s ability to protect lives through timely alerts. “It is this infrastructure on which the country relies to ensure that every person in our communities is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through lifesaving early warning systems by the end of 2027 in line with the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative,” Malala said.
The newly commissioned stations are operational and integrated into the SAWS network. Four pilot stations were installed in Limpopo and Mpumalanga between 2021 and 2022, while five additional stations have recently been commissioned in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Gauteng.
The SAWS said the sites were selected based on areas with known observational gaps and heightened exposure to disruptive weather systems.
An automatic weather station electronically records and transmits data on wind speed, rainfall, temperature, humidity and air pressure at intervals ranging from five minutes to hourly, feeding directly into forecasting systems used for severe weather warnings.
Each station costs about R250 000 and forms part of the infrastructure underpinning the country’s broader disaster preparedness system.
SAWS technical services manager Nomvuso Busizi said significant gaps remained in parts of the country that were highly vulnerable to extreme weather.
She pointed to the recent flooding in Mthatha as an example of the consequences of insufficient coverage. “Through the Santam project, we managed to install one station there but during the installation we identified areas where there are gaps. We need one or two stations to fully cover that area.”
The partnership also forms part of South Africa’s commitments under the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, led by the World Meteorological Organisation, which requires that “every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems” by 2027.
According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, early warning systems are among the most cost-effective tools available for reducing disaster losses, yet remain underfunded globally despite rapidly escalating climate risks
In October, South Africa became the first G20 country to launch its national Early Warnings for All roadmap, a framework designed to coordinate investments across the government and improve disaster preparedness from national to local level.
But officials acknowledge the scale of the challenge.
“Here is the kicker,” Malala said. “South Africa needs R1 billion to fully implement the Early Warnings for All roadmap,” he said.
“Put differently, the country needs R1bn to ensure that its people are protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through lifesaving early warning systems by 2027.”
The money went towards bolstering observational infrastructure including automatic weather stations, capacity building, public awareness and coordination of the roadmap rollout, he said.
While some might question affordability, he argued the economic logic was clear. “Some might say R1bn is too steep. The painful truth is that we stand to lose far more if we do not invest,” Malala said. “Already we lose billions every year rebuilding what is destroyed during severe weather events.”
The government would not be able to fund the programme on its own, he said, calling for stronger private sector participation and praising Santam’s involvement as an example of effective public-private collaboration.
Malala added that climate impacts extended far beyond infrastructure damage. “Severe weather affects human life, livelihoods, property, public health, economic stability, infrastructure, energy systems, food security and environmental systems.”
DA leadership contest in KZN pits Ngema against Billy before 2026 polls:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) heads into its KwaZulu-Natal provincial congress this weekend with the party facing mounting pressure to consolidate its position before the upcoming local government elections.
Delegates will elect a new provincial leadership team in a contest expected to shape the DA’s electoral strategy in a province where coalition politics, shifting voter loyalties and the rise of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) have dramatically altered the political landscape.
Whoever emerges victorious will inherit the task of defending the DA’s recent gains while attempting to expand the party’s support beyond its traditional urban and suburban voter base.
The DA has not had a black provincial leader in KwaZulu-Natal since 2015, when Zwakele Mncwango took the helm before later defecting to ActionSA. He had succeeded Sizwe Mchunu, who later joined the ANC.
The front-runners for the provincial leadership are understood to be Sithembiso Ngema and Mzamo Billy.
Ngema, who served as provincial deputy leader under outgoing leader Francois Rodgers, said the DA must deepen its presence in townships and rural communities if it wanted to grow meaningfully in the province.
“For me, leadership is about growing the DA by growing our communities, especially townships and rural communities. That is where the heart of leadership lies,” Ngema said.
Having joined the DA in 2006, Ngema said the party must position itself as a credible alternative to both the ANC and MK Party in communities where it had historically struggled to gain traction.
Billy said the next provincial leader would need to navigate an increasingly competitive political environment shaped by coalition politics and voter volatility.
“A strong DA starts with strong people. We must support our councillors and empower our activists — they are the backbone of our movement,” Billy said.
“KwaZulu-Natal is entering a new political era defined by coalition government and increased competition. We must rise to the occasion.”
Billy stressed the importance of preserving the government of national unity, in which the DA holds key cabinet positions, including finance and public works and infrastructure.
“I commend the work being done by our DA MECs and fully support the continuation of this government,” he said.
The DA heads into the congress buoyed by its growing foothold in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
In the 2021 local government elections, the party secured control of uMngeni Local Municipality centred on Howick, a breakthrough widely credited to mayor Chris Pappas, whose administration has received national attention for improving governance and service delivery.
Pappas was widely viewed as a potential contender for provincial leader but declined nomination.
The DA has since signalled ambitions to expand its municipal footprint in the province, particularly in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality. But the rise of the MK Party under former president Jacob Zuma has complicated the political terrain.
Dean Macpherson, the DA provincial chairperson and a candidate for re-election to the position, remained confident the party would play a decisive role in coalition formations across the province after the local government elections.
Why the HFM-Arsenal partnership counts for you if you follow Arsenal in South Africa:
If you follow Arsenal from South Africa, the HFM Arsenal partnership is relevant because it is built around things you can see and engage with directly.
On 19 March 2026, HFM and Arsenal announced a multi-year global partnership that includes matchday branding at Emirates Stadium, visibility across Arsenal’s digital platforms, and access to club assets and players for fan-focused content later in the season.
That lands in a country where TGM Research’s South Africa 2024 survey found that 81% of people are interested in football, 94% of football fans watch on TV and 55% follow the sport online.
The real question is how it shows up in the places where you already watch, scroll and keep up with your club.
Logos, Lights and What You’ll Notice First
The first reason this partnership feels close to home is simple: it is designed to be visible.
The announcement confirmed that supporters can expect HFM branding on Arsenal matchdays, visibility across the club’s digital channels, and fan-facing content linked to club assets and players as the season moves on. This is the kind of deal you are likely to notice while watching coverage, checking Arsenal content online, or following club updates between fixtures. That is worth saying plainly because a lot of sponsorship talk can feel distant. For you as a supporter, the practical side is what counts.
Here is where this partnership is most likely to touch your week as a fan:
- You may see HFM branding around Arsenal matchdays, especially in the wider presentation built around games at Emirates Stadium.
- You are likely to come across co-branded content on Arsenal’s digital platforms, which fits the way South African football fans already follow the game online.
- You may also see player-linked or club-led fan activations later in the season, which gives the partnership a more personal shape than a static sponsorship placement.
That last point goes beyond the commercial side. The Premier League’s 2024/25 annual report says the competition is focused on bringing the game closer to supporters in person, online and through broadcast and commercial partners. So if you already live with Arsenal across the week, on your phone, on your TV and in group chats, this kind of partnership fits the way modern football already reaches you.
More Than a Badge on the Board
The second reason this deal carries weight is Arsenal’s commercial strength.
According to The Athletic’s reporting on the club’s latest financial accounts, Arsenal’s commercial revenue rose from £218.3 million in 2023/24 to £263.2 million in 2024/25. That tells us Arsenal is growing its business side with real pace, which usually means more energy behind campaigns, more polished content and more incentive to keep global supporters engaged across the season.
This is not happening in isolation either.
According to Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance, Premier League clubs generated £6.3 billion in revenue in the 2023/24 season, up 4% year on year. When you place Arsenal inside that wider Premier League machine, it becomes easier to see why a partner like HFM wants in and why Arsenal can offer more than simple brand exposure.
As fans, we often look at the football first. That is how it should be. The commercial side, though, shapes how your club speaks to you between matches, how often new content appears and how much effort goes into making supporters everywhere feel included in the story.
So when you see this partnership, it helps to read it as part of the way Arsenal keeps building a year-round connection with supporters beyond North London.
From North London to Mzansi
This is where South African supporters come properly into focus.
You are part of a sports audience with strong viewing habits, strong online engagement and a genuine appetite for football content. The Media Online’s reporting on Nielsen data says 94.7% of South African respondents showed a top-2 level of interest in at least one sport in July 2024, up from 93% in 2023, among internet users aged 16 to 69.
That is broad sports data, but it shows why brands and clubs treat South Africa as a serious audience. There is also a local football benchmark: the PSL said the 2023/24 Betway Premiership season delivered an over 18% rise in average unique audience per game, citing Nielsen Sports SA data.
Then there is the digital angle.
TGM Research’s South Africa summary found that the 25 to 34 age group showed the strongest football interest at 88%. That makes this partnership easier to understand because it is aimed at the kind of supporter who does more than wait for kick-off, someone who follows clips, updates, reaction and club content all week long.
This is a global partnership. For South African supporters, it is also designed to feel relevant in a local, everyday way, meeting you where you already are.
When a Partnership Feels Personal
What gives this deal its appeal is the combination of timing, scale and audience fit.
Arsenal is growing commercially, the Premier League remains one of the biggest football businesses in the world and South African supporters continue to watch and follow football in large numbers. Put those pieces together, and you can see why this partnership feels like more than background sponsorship noise.
For you, the upside is straightforward. You get more touchpoints with the club through matchday presence, digital content and fan-led activations built for a global audience that already includes South Africa.
If Arsenal is already part of your weekend, your screen time and your football conversations, that connection can feel a little more built around you.
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