If you are legally liable to pay damages as a result of any negligent act, error or omission, misrepresentation, or
misstatement committed by you in the provision of your services and the claim for damages was first made against you
and notified to us during the period of Insurance.
The maximum we will pay any claimant or any number of claimants, inclusive of legal costs, for any one event or series
of events with one original cause or source, or during any one annual period of insurance, will not exceed the sum
insured as stated in the policy schedule.
Any one annual period means 12 consecutive months from the inception date of your policy.
DEFENCE COSTS
WE WILL INDEMNIFY YOU FOR:
- any payments you make, with our prior written approval, in an effort to mitigate the financial impact of a claim
or to prevent a claim;
- any expenses that you incur, with our prior written approval, in the investigation, defence or settlement of any
claim made against you;
- all costs, fees and expenses that we incur in the investigation, defence or settlement of any claim made against
you.
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this policy:
- "You" or "Your/s" includes:
- the company, partnership, close corporation, association or person named in the policy schedule;
- any of your past, present or future directors, partners, members, principals or “In-house” consultants ;
- any of your present or former employees whose activities are conducted within the course and scope of
their employment with you;
- any of your predecessors but only if liability attaches to you;
- in the event of the death, incapacity, insolvency or bankruptcy of any person (cited in clauses a, b, c
and d above), their estate, legal representatives and/or heirs.
- "Services" - the activities which fall within the normal scope of work performed by a suitably-qualified person
in the field of business, stated in your policy schedule.
- "Documents" - any words, numbers, still or moving images or graphics, maintained in or on any medium
whether physical, electronic, broadcast or any other form but excluding computer operating and
software programmes.
- "Excess" means the amount stated in your policy schedule which you are liable to pay for the first part of any
claim. The excess is applicable per claim or series of claims arising from one originating cause or source.
- "Employee" :
- any person you employ under a contract of service or apprenticeship;
- any person engaged by or seconded to you (including volunteer worker) whilst performing any function
for or on your behalf;
- any person provided to you by an employment contractor, agency or labour broker to perform
employee duties under your supervision;
- any person who you remunerate on a commission basis but only whilst they act on your behalf;
- any work experience student or trainee.
- "Environmental Impairment / Pollution" – the emission, discharge, release, dispersal, disposal, seepage or
escape of solid, liquid, gaseous or thermal contaminants or irritants, including vapours, smells, odours,
humidity, fumes; smoke, soot or other airborne particulates; acids, alkalis, chemicals and waste;
electromagnetic waves, noise, vibrations; other emission of effluent or noxious substances into or upon the soil,
the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water which changes the natural state or condition of the soil,
the atmosphere or any watercourse or body of water other than by a sudden, accidental and identifiable event;
the depositing or storing of effluent, noxious substances, nuclear material or nuclear waste and the breach of
any legislation relating to any of the above.
- "Product" – any property, after it is out of your custody or control, which has been designed, specified,
formulated, manufactured, constructed, installed, sold, supplied, distributed, treated, serviced, altered or
repaired by you or on your behalf, excluding food and drink supplied primarily to your employees as a staff
benefit.
- "Retroactive Date" – is the date stated on the policy schedule after which claims may occur and be covered
under this policy. However, you are still obligated to disclose all material facts, details of claims made or
outstanding claims or events likely to give rise to a claim. In the event of an increase of the sum insured, the
retroactive date applicable to the increase will be the effective date of the increase.
- "Claim" – each separate act, error or omission contained in a written demand received by you or contained in
any legal or arbitration proceedings served on you claiming compensation against you.
- "Bodily Injury" – bodily injury to any person and shall include death, illness and disease, mental injury,
anguish or nervous shock sustained by any person as a result of actual or threat of bodily injury, death, illness
or disease.
COVER AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED TO ASSIST YOU
FREE RECOVERY
We will indemnify you up to the maximum limit stated in the policy schedule, for legal expenses you incur for the
recovery of professional fees due to you. You must either inform us prior to you instituting any proceedings or your
legal advisors need to convince us:
- that the legal merits of the claim and the prospects of a meaningful recovery are such that the envisaged
proceedings would be feasible; and
- there is reasonable probability that a counterclaim cannot be instituted, in terms of the Insuring Clause of the
policy, by the party against whom you are instituting such legal proceedings, arising from work undertaken
by you.
BREACH OF TRUST
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated in the policy schedule, for any unintentional breach of
confidentiality, trust, authority or privacy committed by you and for which you are legally responsible.
INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated in the policy schedule, for any unintentional infringement of
intellectual rights, names, titles, marks, secrets, patents, ideas or possession of a third party’s confidential information,
committed by you and for which you are legally responsible.
SUB-CONTRACTED DUTIES
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated in the policy schedule in respect of the services, activities and
duties necessary to carry out the business stated on the schedule or which you sub-contract and/or sub-let, provided
that:
- such activities and duties are only sub-contracted and/or sub-let to suitably-qualified firms, persons
or parties;
- at all times, you retain all rights of recourse against such firms, persons or parties and assist us in
upholding such rights.
LIABILITY RESULTING FROM EMPLOYEE DISHONESTY
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated on the policy schedule, for any dishonest, fraudulent,
malicious or criminal act or omission committed by an employee, as defined, provided that no indemnity is afforded to
anyone committing or condoning such dishonest, fraudulent, malicious or criminal act or omission.
LOSS OF DOCUMENTS
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated on the policy schedule, for any accidental destruction, loss,
mislaying or damage to, theft of or unintentional failure by you to prevent unauthorised access to third party documents
or property in your care, custody and control.
DEFAMATION
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated on the policy schedule, for any unintentional defamation
committed by you.
JOINT VENTURE AND/OR CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS
We will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated on the policy schedule, for any and all liability arising out of
any Joint Venture Agreements and/or Consortium Agreements you may enter into with any other party/s or any entity
formed as a result of such Joint Venture Agreements and/or Consortium Agreements, provided that no separate
indemnity, other than that provided for under this policy, has been arranged for your benefit under the Joint Venture
Agreements and/or Consortium Agreements and provided that such indemnity is in respect of your liability only.
AUTOMATIC EXTENDED REPORTING PERIOD
If either party to the contract cancels or chooses not to renew your policy, you have the right, following the effective
date of the cancellation or non-renewal, to a period of sixty (60) days (herein referred to “automatic extended reporting
period”) in which to give us written notice of claims first made against you during the automatic extended reporting
period, for any wrongful acts that occurred prior to the end of the policy period and otherwise covered by this policy.
The automatic extended reporting period does not apply to claims that are covered under any subsequent insurance
you purchase.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
If any contract which you have entered into with your clients contains a provision for Arbitration and/or Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR), and this provision is also in the contract with the party lodging a claim against you, then we
will indemnify you, as part of the sum insured stated on the policy schedule, for any expenses that you incur, with our
prior written approval, in the Arbitration and/or ADR proceedings.
CLAIMS PREPARATION COSTS
You may incur expenses while preparing the details we require in order to process your claim. We will indemnify you
for these costs up to the maximum amount stated on the policy schedule.
ERRORS & OMISSIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS
WHAT MAKES UP YOUR POLICY OF INSURANCE
Your schedule, terms and conditions, together with any correspondence sent to you, as well as any verbal agreements
we make, form the policy of insurance between you and us. Please ensure that you are familiar with the contents of all
the documents and that all the details noted on your schedule are correct in every respect.
HOW WE INDEMNIFY YOU
Subject to the terms of your policy, we have the option to pay out, or defend you through a service provider of our
choice.
POLICY CHANGES AND CANCELLATION
We may change or cancel your policy by giving you 30 days’ notice. We may give notice verbally, by fax, e-mail, SMS
or post to your last-known address. Any change or cancellation that you make will be effective from the time and date
agreed to. Please note that if you cancel your policy during the course of an insured month, the premium paid for the
rest of that month will not be refunded to you.
If you cancel your policy because you also have cover for the same risk with another insurer, then your premium refund
will be limited to premiums actually paid in the 12 months prior to cancellation.
PAYMENTS
Your policy is an annual policy payable monthly and you must make the monthly payments in advance on the
deduction date stated on the schedule. If your deduction date falls on a weekend or public holiday, your debit order
may be lodged for an earlier date.
PAYMENTS NOT RECEIVED
If we do not receive the payment for your policy on the deduction date as stated on the schedule, you will not have any
cover for the period for which you did not pay. From the second month’s due payment, if payment is not made, we will
allow a 15-day period of grace for payment. We will then also charge a non-refundable deduction fee.
If your premium is not received on your preferred deduction date, an attempt to collect your premium on a more
suitable deduction date may be made in an effort to keep you covered. If we do not receive your payment for two
consecutive months, the policy will be cancelled immediately.
REINSTATEMENT OF INTERRUPTED COVER
When cover is interrupted because we did not receive your payment, we have the right to debit your account to
reinstate your cover. We will then charge a reinstatement fee and debit your account as soon as possible. In addition to
the reinstatement fee, you must also make a normal monthly payment for the cover to recommence.
YOUR OBLIGATIONS
If you do not fulfil any of the following obligations, cover may be cancelled.
Your obligations are to:
- give us true and complete information;
- comply with all our reasonable requests;
- assist us in any way possible in recovering indemnification from any other person who caused the loss for
which you claim;
- use all reasonable care and take all reasonable precautions to prevent or minimise loss, damage, death, injury
or liability;
- not admit any fault, nor make any offer to settle or make settlement, without our written agreement;
- inform us if any of the policy details or declarations are incorrect or if any of these details or declarations
change;
- tell us about anything you have not yet disclosed, but that may be important for us to know in order to accept
the policy, or about anything that changes that may be important for us to continue accepting the policy;
- allow us to enter your premises and carry out an audit of your records; and
- allow us to use your name in any legal action against any other person to recover any amounts settled, or that
we agree to settle, in respect of a claim under this policy.
IMPORTANT TIME LIMITS
We will only indemnify you for a claim if you:
- inform us and give us full details of anything that has happened that you may claim for, within 60 days from the
date of the incident giving rise to the claim;
- give us any documents that you receive in connection with any claim, within 30 days; and
- give us all the information and documentation that we may ask for, within 30 days.
GENERAL CLAUSES
OTHER PARTIES’ RIGHTS
No other party except for you, the policyholder, may claim against this policy.
NON-ADHERENCE TO THE POLICY
If you do not adhere to the terms and conditions of this policy, we have the right to not indemnify you for any claim.
DISPUTED CLAIMS
After we inform you of our decision on a claim, we will allow you 90 days to make representations to us about our
decision. If you do not comply with this time limit, we will not reconsider the disputed claim. If we do receive
representations, the decision will then be reviewed and the outcome communicated to you.
If, after review, we do not indemnify you for a claim or any part of it and you wish to challenge our decision, you must
serve legal process on us within six months calculated from the expiry of the 90-day period referred to above. If you do
not comply with this time limit, you will be prevented from proceeding with legal process.
CONTRIBUTION
If a claim is also covered by another policy, we will only indemnify you for our portion.
THE RIGHT TO OFFSET
We have the right to deduct and offset any and all amounts owed by you under this policy, from any payment under a
payable claim. In the event of a claim or series of claims having reached the maximum sum insured stated in the policy
schedule, we will deduct the remaining unpaid premium for the entire period of insurance, even if such payment was
not yet due, from any amount payable to you.
OTHER PROVISIONS AFFECTING COVER
- We will not defend you if you refuse to consent to a settlement that we recommend and the claimant will
accept. In this case, you must then defend the claim at your own expense. As a consequence of your refusal,
our liability shall not exceed the amount for which we could have settled such a claim (had you consented) plus
claim expenses incurred prior to the date of such refusal.
- We will not try to recover any amounts we have paid, from any person, unless the claim was brought about or
contributed to by a dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious act or omission of such person, and in such
event any amounts recovered from this person or from their estate or legal representatives, shall be applied in
the first instance in reduction of what we paid you.
- If the limit of indemnity is increased during the period of insurance, our liability in respect of claims made
against you or for circumstances of which we were notified, or should have been notified, prior to the increase,
shall not exceed the limit of indemnity applicable prior to such increase.
- The date of any claim first made in writing against you as a result of a defined event shall be treated as the
date of loss under this policy.
If we say that a claim is not covered because of any of the above, then you must prove the contrary.
WE DO NOT INDEMNIFY YOU FOR CLAIMS:
- arising out of the death, or bodily injury of, or illness or disease suffered by any Employee or person under a
contract of employment or apprenticeship with you where such death, injury, illness or disease arises out of the
execution of such contract;
- arising out of actual or alleged wrongful employment practices, harassment or discrimination;
- arising from a breach of contract unless it is a breach or alleged breach of services provided by you;
- arising out of any Product;
- arising out of any deliberate, willful, dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious act or omission committed by
you or on your behalf;
- made against you by any associated, parent or subsidiary company or by any person or entity having a
financial interest in you unless emanating directly from an independent third party;
- where you are entitled to indemnity under any other contract of insurance or indemnity;
- arising from circumstances which were known or should have been known to you at the inception or
renewal date of this policy,
- arising from any circumstances under any other policy prior the inception date of this policy even if you
had disclosed them to us;
- arising out of taxes, fines, penalties, punitive, vindictive or exemplary damages;
- arising out of your insolvency;
- arising out of any act, error or omission, or such cause of any other risk indemnified under this policy,
committed or occurring prior to the retroactive date stated in the policy schedule;
- as a result of or failure to effect or maintain insurance;
- arising out of:
- any actual or alleged threatened presence, discharge, release, migration or escape of pollutants;
- any direction, request or effort to test for, monitor, clean up, remove, contain, treat, detoxify or
neutralise pollutants;
- respond to or assess the effects of pollutants;
- delays in projects requiring official regulatory environmental approval.
- in respect of any third party claim arising from or contributed to by depreciation (or failure to appreciate) in
value of any investments, including securities, commodities, currencies, options and futures transactions, or as
a result of any actual or alleged representation, guarantee or warranty provided by you or on your behalf as to
the performance of any such investments;
- arising out of you giving any express warranty or guarantee which increases your measure of liability;
- arising out of the insolvency, liquidation or judicial management of any party who enters into any agreement
with you;
- liability assumed by agreement, unless liability would have attached to you in the absence of such an
agreement;
- arising out of business activities conducted outside the borders of South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia,
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi;
- any claim not held in South African courts under the legal system of South Africa;
- arising from bodily injury, sickness, disease or death sustained by any person or any loss, damage or
destruction of property unless such claim emanates from negligent advice, design, specification, formula or a
breach of duty owed in a professional, semi-professional or service provider capacity by you.
- made against you arising out of your duties as a director or officer.
- any claim for loss, damage, death, injury or liability that is caused by or results from:
- any riot, strike or public disorder (including civil commotion, labour disturbances or lock-out) or any act
or activity resulting in or calculated to bring about riot, strike or such disorder;
- war, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities or warlike operations (whether war be declared or not) or
civil war;
- mutiny, military uprising, military or usurped power, martial law, state of siege or any other event or
cause that determines the proclamation or maintenance of martial law or state of siege, insurrection,
rebellion or revolution;
- any act or threat of any act (whether on behalf of any organisation, body, person or group of persons)
calculated or directed to overthrow or influence any state or government or any provincial, local or tribal
authority with force or by means of fear, terrorism or violence;
- any act that is calculated or directed to bring about loss or damage in order to further any political aim,
objective or cause or to bring about any social or economic change or in protest against any state,
government or any provincial, local or tribal authority or for the purpose of inspiring fear in the public or
any section thereof;
- any attempt to perform any act referred to in clause (d) or (e) above; or
- the act of any lawfully established authority in controlling, preventing, suppressing or in any other way
dealing with any occurrence referred to in any of clauses (a) to (f ) above.
- Any occurrence for which a fund has been established in terms of the War Damage Insurance and
Compensation Act 1976 (Act No. 85 of 1976) of the Republic of South Africa or any similar act operative in any
of the territories to which your policy applies.
- Nuclear material, fission, fusion, weapons, explosives, waste, ionising, radiations or contamination by
radioactivity from any nuclear fuel, or from any nuclear waste, or from the combustion of nuclear fuel that
includes any self-sustaining process of nuclear fission.
- Nationalisation, confiscation, commandeering or requisition by any lawfully constituted authority.
- The improper or faulty functioning of any computer or computer-related equipment; for example, the inability or
prevention of any computer, data processing equipment, microchip, circuits, software, tools, operating systems,
hardware or any other related item using any data recognising, manipulating, interpreting, processing, storing,
receiving, responding, saving, retaining or using any command or instruction. We will not indemnify you should
any computer equipment suffer a virus, Trojan horse, time or logic bomb or worm, or other destructive or
disruptive code, media or program or interference.
- Death, injury, illness, costs, or expenses of whatsoever type related to asbestos.
UNDERTAKING IN RESPECT OF THE OMBUDSMAN
We subscribe to the principles and rules of the company of the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance (incorporated
under Section 21 of the Companies Act) and we will always abide by his/her rulings in respect of any matter referred to
him/her by a client.
The Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance can be contacted on 011 726 8900 or at PO Box 32334, Braamfontein,
2017.
