News

IEC scrambling to address the problem of addresses

The Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) readiness for the municipal elections was called into question when the Electoral Court instructed it to postpone by-elections in Tlokwe, North West, due to problems with addresses on the voters’ roll. The IEC then postponed by-elections around the country, suggesting the problems might be more extensive. The Electoral Court decision came months after the Constitutional Court last year also found problems with the voters’ roll in the area.[1] Several irate South Africans have since taken to social media to complain about the fact that after living at the same address for over 20 years, they are suddenly receiving an SMS from the IEC informing them that the IEC does not have their address. Lance Mitchell DFS, @sempir (2016, 11 April): “How could my home address change from one election to the next if I haven’t moved for the last 10 years? #IEC.” René, @runawayrene (2016, 12 April): “Registered at voting station at Umhlanga. Not asked for proof of address. How can IEC be sure I am legitimate?” Magasela, @NtokozoMagasela (2016, 13 April): “Registered #IEC I’ve always been a voter based in Diepkloof but as to how my address ended up being in Zola I have no idea!” The IEC has been sending the text messages in an effort to get voters to register their addresses ahead of the 3 August 2016 Municipal Elections.The messages are being sent to 5.3 million (whose cellphone numbers the IEC has sourced) of the 6.92 million voters for whom the IEC says they do not have addresses. Efforts to reach the remaining 1.6 million voters include radio adverts and... read more

Data tracing sees billions back in the hands of beneficiaries, ASISA now extends to Collective Investment Schemes

The Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA) was formed in 2008 with the mandate of playing a significant role in promoting a culture of savings and investment in South Africa by working as a united body towards making financial services more relevant to the consumer.[1] ASISA represents the majority of the country’s asset managers, collective investment scheme management companies, linked investment service providers, multi-managers and life insurancecompanies.[2] ASISA issued a Standard on Unclaimed Assets that came into effect on 1 June 2013 and set out the tracing process that should be followed by life companies. It also stipulated what should happen to assets when beneficiaries cannot be traced. Since the implementation of the Standard on Unclaimed Assets, Life Insurers have reunited 431 364 policyholders and beneficiaries with their unclaimed benefits.[3] More than three million South Africans are owed more than R45 billion in unpaid benefits from retirement funds they have left already.[4] As of January 2016, the same Standard was extended to include Collective Investment Scheme assets. ASISA is engaging with the Financial Services Board on extending the principles contained in the Standard to cover unclaimed pension fund benefits. The main elements of the standard on Unclaimed Assets: Member companies have to report to ASISA once a year on efforts to trace policyholders or beneficiaries, and cases that have not been settled within three years.  These statistics will be made available to the Financial Services Board Prescription will not apply. Therefore, an unpaid benefit is a debt of a respective company to a policyholder, but does not have to be paid after a period three years[5] A... read more

IDATA attends 4th Annual Southern Africa Postal Operations Association (SAPOA) Conference in Durban

Examining how post offices are embracing modernisation and transforming their business models, highlighting which posts are experiencing challenges and discovering opportunities for growth are the topics of the 4th Annual SAPOA Postal Forum Conference. As an appointed service provider to the South African Post Office (SAPO) since 2004, IDATA have built and maintained the Postal Delivery Database (PDD) and are excited to be part of discussion on the evolution of competition and necessary measures post must take to establish a strong competitive position. The conference taking place in Durban over 8 till 11 March will be held in much anticipation at this critical time for the postal industry.  The conference organisers are JMAT Business Advisory... read more

New SA Post Office CEO Mark Barnes talks data

In 2004 IDATA built and managed South Africa’s largest and most accurate client database for the South African Post Office.  Twelve years on and IDATA is excited about being a part of SAPO’s new growth strategy and is encouraged by its renewed commitment to customer acquisition. “We [SA Post Office] have de facto the biggest client database in South Africa” – Mark Barnes, CEO SAPO. See link: See Carte Blanche Interview on Mark Barnes, CEO SAPO  ... read more

Intimate Score Launched

Intimate Data has launched it’s next innovative product in the SA Market. Intimate Score will analyse any Customer Base, PER Product, and build a Response Score Card. This allows a company to select true prospects based on the desired Response Percentages. Intimate Score can be utilized for Cross Sell, Up Sell, as well as true Prospect Targeting for Direct Mail... read more

Intimate Match Launched

Intimate Data has launched another innovative product in the SA Market. Intimate Match will take any number of disparate name and address data files, and match and merge them, creating a Single View of an individual, allowing them to be selected for Direct Mail... read more

SAPO PDD Street Initiative in 3rd phase

SAPO has started the 3rd phase of its Postal Delivery Database (PDD) Street initiative. This is the stage where dedicated personal at each region are now visually verifying that the spelling of street names, and the type associated with the street are correct. Once completed this will be the most up to date Street Dictionary in South... read more

SAPO PDD Hits 35 Million mark

Intimate Data has helped The South African Post Office grow its Postal Delivery Database (PDD) to 35 million. These are all SAPO customers at their points of contact and delivery. This is in line with their requirement, by law, to know who and where their customers are. Intimate Data is proud to continue to help SAPO going forward with their PDD... read more
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