Zuma’s wifes’ uninsured jewellery a lesson to SA consumers
The recent incident where President Jacob Zuma’s fifth wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, lost R500 000 worth of uninsured jewellery following a flight from Nelspruit to Johannesburg, highlights the importance for all South Africans to ensure their insurance cove
According to Christelle Fourie, Managing Director of MUA Insurance Acceptances, people often forget to check with their insurer that the valuable items they travel with are covered against theft, loss or damage whilst out of the home. “In many cases, the most expensive items consumers can travel with is likely to be their jewellery.”
It is especially important for those planning an international trip to check that their insurance covers them outside of South African borders and is not limited to domestic coverage, says Fourie.
She says when packing bags, consumers should keep their jewellery in carry-on luggage rather than storing it with checked-in luggage. “Some international airports have strict security measures and your bag may be checked by security personnel. If this is the case then you should request a private room so that other people cannot see your valuables. In a worst case scenario, checked-in luggage may be lost and the reality is that liability cover is often very limited.”
“When you reach your hotel room it is also important to immediately locate the safe and familiarise yourself with how it operates. Never leave your jewellery lying around in the open if you are not in your room.”
She says it is also important, for those in a new environment, to be aware of those people surrounding you. “Criminals are naturally drawn to tourists as they assume they are wealthy. They will watch and wait for a moment when the traveller lets their guard down to grab their bag or pickpocket without anyone noticing.”
“Theft and loss, however, are not the only risks while travelling. The relaxed environment often results in people relaxing their usually strict habits that protect their precious jewellery against damage. Sand or concrete can scratch precious metals and gemstones, which are not as hard as diamonds, and chlorine can cause weakening and discolouration in precious metals.”
Dex Kotze, Chief Executive Officer of Jenna Clifford, also provides some valuable hints on protecting your jewellery while travelling:
• Visit a reputable jeweller to obtain an updated valuation before embarking on your trip if you have not done so recently.
• Plan your jewellery wardrobe well. My motto is “less is more”.
• Take care of your jewellery, for instance do not bath or swim with your pearls.
• Never clump your jewellery together, always wrap each item separately when it is being moved around.
• Always lock your jewellery in a safe when not wearing it, hiding it a cupboard is simply not good enough.
• Never leave your jewellery unattended.
• Be vigilant aware of your surrounding when wearing expensive jewellery.
“Most often, the point of travelling is to relax so sometimes the best advice is to take as little expensive jewellery with you as possible so you do not have to worry about it all the time. However, if you do need to wear some impressive pieces ensuring you adhere to the above mentioned advice and have a good insurance policy in place is the best protection you can have,” concludes Fourie.
Comments