Let's talk: Navigating South Africa’s savings landscape
At Sanlam Investments, we confidently invest in the future we need, creating financial security for generations of South Africans. We are dedicated to helping people thrive by creating sustainable solutions with proven impact.
“As stewards of capital, we have a duty to manage the money that is entrusted to us in a responsible manner. Our duty extends beyond our mandate to deliver positive investment outcomes – it also requires us to make a real, sustainable difference to people, communities and the planet. ”
Carl Roothman, CEO: Sanlam Investment Group
Join us for our upcoming Critical Conversations event, where we dive into the pressing challenges shaping South Africa’s savings landscape. Despite the recognised importance of high savings rates for economic growth, South Africans struggle with pervasive high rates of unemployment and poverty.
Together, let’s explore why savings levels remain at their lowest in decades – and chart a possible path forward. Let’s imagine a future where every saved rand drives economic prosperity, creates jobs and fosters inclusive growth in key sectors.
Innovative, courageous conversations start here!
We’ve created Critical Conversations to tackle the dynamics of sustainability and impact investing. It highlights the need for educated and authentic conversations that explore the right ideas, with the right people, to continue to move the best solutions forward.
If you missed the last Critical Conversations event and would like to be invited to the next episode, CLICK HERE.
Meet our panel.
MC: Lerato Mbele
Business and News Presenter
Lerato is a business and news presenter well known for raising Africa’s profile in world news and current affairs. Lerato has spoken at and moderated televised debates for the World Economic Forum on Africa, the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, African Development Bank summits, the UN Climate Change Summit COP-17 and has hosted the televised presidential debates for the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Lerato is a previous business presenter for BBC World Television and was the host of Africa Business Report. Before that, Lerato was a senior business anchor for CNBC and SA’s national public broadcaster. She is a recipient of the Charlotte Maxeke Women in Media Award in recognition of her achievements on the African Continent.
Manka Sebastian
Portfolio Manager: Sanlam Properties, Sanlam Investments
Growing up in a large family, Manka was fortunate to have learned from parents who value education – and long-term assets. Now, she aims to extend that privilege by leveraging her expertise in property investment to help people across sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently pursuing her Master of Commerce in Development Finance at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, her research focuses on finding innovative property solutions for Africa. With a keen interest in blended finance and other innovative finance instruments, Manka aims to direct institutional investment towards unlocking human potential through sustainable property provision, thereby enabling individuals to reach their full potential.
As a property portfolio manager, Manka divides her attention between managing commercial portfolios and leading the Sanlam Investment Group Property Impact Fund.
She holds qualifications as a Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst and Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst.
Matthew Parks
Parliamentary Coordinator: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
As COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, Matthew engages with parliament, government and the ANC on various legislative matters such as bills, policies, regulations and taxes. He also participates in discussions at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) and conducts bilateral engagements with businesses and industry bodies.
With two decades of experience in the parliamentary sector, Matthew has served in both the South African Parliament and the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, as well as NGOs.
Having played important roles in the formation and structure of the ANC, he served as the Deputy Regional Secretary for Cape Town and as a member of the regional executive committee.
Matthew prioritises worker rights and protections, advocating strongly for the two-pot retirement system.
He holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Diploma in Governance from the University of the Western Cape.
Anne Cabot-Alletzhauser
Co-Founder: Responsible Finance Initiative, Gordon Institute of Business Science
Anne serves as Adjunct Faculty and Practice Director of the Responsible Finance Initiative at the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria. With 40 years of experience in asset management and finance, complemented by academic training in Developmental Anthropology, her primary focus over the past decade has been rethinking finance for meaningful outcomes in developing economies.
Previously, Anne headed up the Alexander Forbes Research Institute – an initiative that looks at the full spectrum of savings, investment and wellness issues in South African and Africa. With 32 years of global pension fund asset management experience, she pioneered multi-manager approaches in South Africa. Anne is a member of local and global professional groups including the CFA Institute, ASISA Social Security Standing Committee, the FTSE/JSE Index Advisory Council, the CFA South Africa Advisory Committee and the INSETA Research and Learning Committee.
Dr Mavis Mazhura
Adult Development and Leadership Psychologist
Dr Mazhura is a practicing Adult Development and Leadership Psychologist, specialising in International Behavioural Science and Performance. She has 15 years of experience in transforming behaviour in the workplace and in society; at individual, teams and organisational levels.
Her passion lies in equipping and empowering individuals to expand human awareness to reach their full potential. Her scope of work includes coaching, facilitating and speaking on the psychology of money. She helps people understand the emotional, and cognitive behavioural factors influencing their financial decisions.
According to Dr Mazhura, “How we handle money and personal finance can lead to a happy retirement, a robust emergency fund, financial freedom, sustainable investment strategies, healthy boundaries and living within a budget. Or, it can lead to living pay cheque-to-pay cheque, competition instead of strategy, emotional debt instead of financial principles, desperation when investing, anxiety, inability to set boundaries, and inability to pay the bills.”
