Sapphire Risk Transfer
African Risk Solutions
Best People, Best Data, Best Solution
Sapphire Risk Transfer (Pty) Ltd is an authorised FSP and is underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited, a licensed insurer and an authorised FSP.
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About Us
Sapphire Risk Transfer provides international risk solutions for Corporate Property Risks in Africa. We provide coverage for property and associated engineering risks, including resulting business interruption. Additionally, we offer complementary products and services addressing political violence.
Since January 2025 Sapphire Marine has offered risk solutions for the full spectrum of Marine covers. Our focus is the African continent but with a global approach to risk through our network of associated companies and business partners in the insurance and reinsurance intermediary space.
Sapphire provides alternative solutions with access to alternative capital. Our creativity is gained through experience and international trading relationships. We aim to bring our clients the global benefits of our international insurance and reinsurance risk transfer strategy.
Sapphire ensures contract certainty and provides full clarity in all our contractual dealings with our customers and partners alike. We align our principles to guidelines as set out in the Regulatory environment to ensure the fair treatment of our customers.
From January 2026 Sapphire can now offer new property insurance solutions to our preferred Sapphire intermediaries. Our new Sapphire Select product gives us the opportunity to underwrite all property risks where the target risk exceeds ZAR250 million.
Our Products
Sapphire is committed to offering international solutions for some of the largest African Property Risks through our Sapphire Corporate Property Product.
With access to global reinsurance and cell captive suppliers we can provide security and solutions for the most complex of risks.
We are a fully intermediated environment and our three pillars of Best People, Best Data, Best Solution illustrate our commitment to our preferred Sapphire customer base.
Sapphire Corporate Property solutions look at risks where the values of the target risk exceed ZAR750 Million.
A new property insurance solution available exclusively to our preferred Sapphire Intermediaries. Launched on 1 January 2026, the product is designed to fill the void immediately below what we deem to be Sapphire Corporate Property risks in the South African Market.
Through our valued partnerships, we’ve identified strong demand for tailored solutions in this space. Backed by extensive expertise, Sapphire Select Property delivers flexible, bespoke coverage for clients across multiple sectors, including industrial, retail, and manufacturing, but will only be available to our Preferred Sapphire Intermediaries.
The product will focus on risks where the total sum insured at the target location is between ZAR250 million and ZAR750 million, written on our Cobalt Blue Assets All Risks wording, and offering a broad level of cover subject to a policy loss limit. This launch leverages decades of combined underwriting experience alongside dedicated risk engineering services to provide exceptional value.
Azure is our Crisis Management solution designed specifically for all African clients. It includes the product and service offering most commonly referred to in our market as Riot Wrap around or Political Violence, which not only provides the traditional riot coverage that complements SASRIA protection and also offers trauma support for employees, customers, and visitors directly impacted by the insured event.
Sapphire Risk Transfer has broadened its product offering by adding the marine class of business to its portfolio. With effect from 1 January 2025, Sapphire underwrites the full spectrum of marine covers in relation to marine cargo, carrier’s cargo, watercraft hull, and associated stock.
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Origins
“The creation of Sapphire Risk Transfer has developed over a period of time with the guidance and assistance of two close friends, Dave Manual and Tom Rae.
Dave Manual was the co-founder at my first MGA environment in the late 1990’s, in South Africa, which was created on certain core underwriting strategies. Tom Rae helped me build our international reinsurance play.
I have for sometime now believed I could create further MGA platforms internationally, utilising a consistent approach to Capital, Reinsurance, Data and Central Services, whilst benefitting from the underwriting expertise unique to each geography and product space. Sapphire Risk Transfer in South Africa is the start of this vision”
Gary Corke
CEO and Founder
Our Board
Gary Corke (CEO)
Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Risk Insurer and ACII in the UK. Gary has over 40 years experience in the Risk Transfer environment. The founder or co founder of 11 companies, 7 of which have been sold. Gary is the former CEO of Globe Underwriting in London, Emerald and SHA in South Africa, and has sat on various boards and Risk committees in the UK, SA, Mauritius, Europe and Australia, and supervised underwriting products into the USA. He was awarded the Sanlam CEO award in 2012.
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Lisa Du Plessis
Deputy CEO, PHD in strategic IT governance and financial systems, CA(SA), BComm specialising in Financial Accounting, Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting at UCT. Lisa has over 16 years’ insurance experience in South Africa. Prior to joining Sapphire, Lisa was a Director at Stalker Hutchison Admiral as well as Manager: Niche Finance Shared Services for Santam, where she was responsible for building the shared services function for Niche. Lisa has over the years been involved in the oversight of various functions including finance, risk management and internal audit.
JP Blignaut
Non Executive Director of Sapphire and Bryte’s Chief Executive Officer. Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, BCom (Hons) Cum Laude. JP has over 18 years’ insurance experience in South Africa, UK, India and Asia. Prior to joining Bryte in 2012, JP was the Chief Actuary for RSA Insurance Group Plc for the Asia and Middle East region, where he was responsible for building actuarial and pricing capabilities across eight countries. Prior to that, he worked for the Sanlam Group in several roles in South Africa and London.
Yulandi van Dyk
Yulandi joined the Bryte team from Aon Sub-Saharan Africa where she fulfilled the dual role of Regional Financial Controller for the Group, as well as Financial Director for Aon South Africa for over four years. Prior to this, she served as Group Financial Manager at WIPCapital from 2002 to 2009.
At Sapphire, we are fortunate to attract a high volume of applications for every role we advertise. When selecting new team members, our foremost consideration is always whether they will be the right fit for Sapphire’s unique culture. Our people are at the very heart of who we are and what we stand for. From the outset, we identified that our key strategic pillar would be to build and preserve a team of exceptional individuals. Maintaining this culture of best people, collaboration, and integrity remains central to our success. We are immensely proud of the dedicated and talented people who make up the Sapphire team.
Meet The Team
Gary Corke -CEO
Lisa Du Plessis – Deputy CEO
Valdene Jansen – Group Services Executive
Cheryl Page – Information Systems Executive
Johannes Engelbrecht – Marine Executive
Richard Lay – Corporate Property Executive Technical
Michaela Phillips – Corporate Property Executive Operations
Kirsten Cronin – Select Property Executive
Our Leadership Team
Partners
All Sapphire Risk Transfer’s products are underwritten via our intermediary and shareholder agreements with Bryte Insurance Company Limited’s operations in South Africa and Botswana, both recent additions to the Fairfax Financial Holdings portfolio.
Fairfax Financial Holdings is based in Toronto, Canada and through its subsidiaries is engaged in property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and investment management with extensive reach globally. Subsidiaries include Allied World Insurance Company (AWAC), Brit Insurance Company (Brit) and in Africa, Bryte Insurance Company (Bryte).
All Sapphire Risk Transfers products are underwritten via our intermediary and shareholder agreements with Bryte Insurance company .
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Community Outreach
Sapphire Risk Transfer is proud to support the FACE Foundation’s August Soup Drive in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
Our donation helped them exceed their goal of feeding 300 children - now reaching over 300 children and many elderly residents. Knowing that our contribution goes directly to putting food on plates, warmth in bellies, and smiles on faces reminds us of the power of community.
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Community Outreach
Sapphire Risk Transfer recently had the privilege of visiting the The Johannesburg Children's Home’s – a vibrant, nurturing space that provides care and support for 64 children aged 3 to 21.
Our team donated much needed clothing, spent the day connecting with the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to create a safe, creative, and enriching environment for the children. From playing Netball on the court, dancing ballet in the hall, crafting in the studio, and tending to vegetable gardens to exploring carpentry projects, the home is alive with opportunity and inspiration. The Johannesburg Children’s home is also a remarkable example of self-sustainability- running income generating initiatives to its broader community.
The experience reminded us of the power of community, and the importance of showing up, lending a hand, and giving back. We are inspired to deepen our involvement and continue supporting the incredible work being done at Johannesburg Children’s Home.
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Claims & Complaints
All claims made against any Sapphire policies should be directed to your Insurance Intermediary. Your details will then be sent on to our Portfolio Executive to process the claim
Any and all complaints may be directed to your Insurance Intermediary and/or be addressed to Mirna Fourie: mirna@sapphirerisks.com
Contact Us
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