Would you pay R200 a month to protect your screen but nothing to protect your family if you’re gone?
Across South Africa, millions of people insure their gadgets, phones, tablets, and even headphones but skip the one thing that truly matters: life insurance. It’s a quiet crisis unfolding in homes, taxis, and WhatsApp groups.
People protect devices they can replace, but not the lives they can’t. In 2025, when financial uncertainty, rising costs, and economic anxiety are part of everyday life, the question needs to be asked: why are we so afraid to plan for what we can’t predict?
Life insurance isn’t about preparing for death; it’s about protecting life. It’s about making sure the people left behind won’t carry both grief and financial burden. Yet, in a country where over 60% of adults own smartphones, only a fraction hold active life insurance policies. That contradiction, experts say, comes down to one thing: perception. According to Sanlam, fewer than 25% of South Africans under 30 have life cover. Yet, that same group spends thousands on phone contracts, fitness apps, and sneakers. The gap is glaring. The risks? Bigger than battery damage
“They think it’s expensive, complicated, or for older people,” says Thuli Mahlangu, an independent financial advisor. “But it’s not. You can start small, even under R150 a month, and build over time.” Insurance companies are now building products that work for millennials and Gen Z. These aren’t the R1-million lump sum policies of your grandparents’ era. They’re micro-insurance plans, income protection bundles, and trauma coverage you can buy with a tap.
Here’s what they won’t tell you in all the finance-speak: life insurance is self-care. It’s love in advance. It says, “I see the future coming, and I’m going to meet it with something in my corner.” It gives your family a cushion when life hits hard. That flexibility is key. Modern life insurance is adapting to match modern lifestyles. Freelancers, gig workers, and creatives need plans that shift with their earning patterns. Some platforms even reward you with airtime, data, or gym discounts for staying covered.
The question is no longer “Can you afford life insurance?” but “can you afford not to?”
It also doesn’t have to be boring. Companies like Naked, OUTsurance, Sanlam, and Pineapple have taken the old-school image of insurance and flipped it. Their apps are sleek, their policies transparent, and their onboarding simple. Some let you get coverage in minutes. Others allow partial withdrawals for emergencies or let you tweak your plan as life changes.
Experts say starting young is smart because premiums are cheaper when you’re healthy. R100 a month now can mean financial peace for your family later. It also builds discipline. Covering yourself shows maturity and foresight – qualities that look good not just on paper, but in life. There’s also the uncomfortable truth: medical emergencies don’t wait until you have savings. And while your phone can be replaced, you can’t. Disability, illness, or death brings a financial storm. Life cover is your umbrella.
The truth? You insure your phone because you value it. But your life, your loved ones, your peace of mind? That’s worth far more. Insurance is the backup plan you never hope to use—but you’re glad it’s there. It buys time. It buys space. It buys dignity. And you don’t need to be a millionaire to get it. In fact, the earlier you start, the cheaper it is. R150 a month today could mean R1 million for your family later. That’s not fear-mongering. That’s facts.
So where do you start?
Start by asking, if I disappeared tomorrow, what would my people need? Would they have enough to cover groceries? Rent? School fees? A proper burial? Then, talk to someone. A certified advisor. A trusted company. Or even just a friend who’s done it before. Don’t fall for the myth that life insurance is for “other people.” It’s for you. For the people who love you. For the future, that doesn’t stop just because you’re gone.
In Closing
“Life cover isn’t about dying. It’s about leaving something behind that makes living easier for the people you love,” says SFI expert contributor.
And if that sounds like something worth protecting, maybe it’s time to talk.
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