Timeline: 1918 - Current

Browse through this succinct chronological summary of Sanlam’s history, from its founding in 1918 to the current day.

1918 – JUNE   
Sanlam founded on 8 June.

1922 –
Sanlam introduces a first in SA: disability cover.

1924 –
The Receiver of Revenue acknowledges Sanlam as a mutual company. First disability payout made to a Mr Helsden, a railways worker.

1927 –
A pension fund for Sanlam office staff established.

1929 – SEPTEMBER
Sanlam establishes a pension scheme for municipalities.

1932 –
Sanlam moves into its own head office at 28 Wale Street, Cape Town.

1936 –
Premium income tops R1 million per annum for the first time.

1940 – MAY 

The establishment of Federale Volksbeleggings, after Sanlam had taken the lead to pave the way for Afrikaner investment in business enterprises.

1946 –
Establishment of Bonuskor, for reinvestment of policyholders’ bonuses, allowing Sanlam to mobilise capital for the development of Afrikaner businesses.

1953 –
Sanlam’s 800 or so staff members move into ‘Sanlamhof’, the current Head Office in Bellville.

1954 –
Sanlam officially declared a mutual company.

1967 –
First Sanlam unit trust launched.

1978 – MAY
Sanlam buys Metropolitan Life (MetLife) from Trustbank.

1988 – JUNE
Record premium income (over R5 billion) for a South African insurance company.

1989 – MARCH
Sanlam makes R2 000 million available to Sankorp to encourage job creation.

1993 – JUNE
In SA’s first BEE transaction, Sanlam sells Metropolitan Life (MetLife) to Methold, a company with an 85% black shareholding consortium. The MetLife transaction results in the formation of New Africa Investments Limited (NAIL).

1996 –
Sanlam launches Community Builder Fund and establishes the Sanlam Development Fund with start-up capital of R100 million, to fund development projects.
             
1998 –
Sanlam demutualises, listing on the Johannesburg and Namibian Stock exchanges, giving over 2,2 million South Africans a stake in the Group’s future by way of free shares.

2000 –
The start of Sanlam’s sponsorship of Takalani Sesame, a national educational children’s TV programme aimed at teaching literacy and numeracy through the edutainment medium.

2004 –
Sanlam shareholders approve a major BEE transaction with the broad-based empowerment consortium Ubuntu-Botho, wherein the latter acquires a 10% equity stake in Sanlam.

2006 –
Sanlam’s acquisition of African Life, Channel Life and Safrican boosts the provision of financial services to the previously underserviced entry-level market.

2007 -
Business inflows exceed R100 billion for the first time in the company’s history.


To see the transformation of our logo over the years, click here.