ABOUT BONITAS

WHO WE ARE

We’ve been around for nearly 40 years – long enough to have developed a rich heritage and a solid understanding of the private healthcare industry in South Africa. So our team of experts is always looking at innovative ways to ensure our members get affordable, quality healthcare, whether it’s keeping our fingers on the pulse of technology, managing your care so lifestyle diseases are identified before they become chronic, or negotiating better rates for you. If you are one of our 730 000 beneficiaries, then you will know we are always on your side – negotiating for better rates and sourcing reputable service providers to help keep you healthy and limit rising healthcare costs.

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, so our wide range of plans ensure that you and your family will find a snug fit for your particular needs. We also believe there is beauty in simplicity and have made our plans easy-to-understand and use while helping to stretch your benefits as far as possible. Whether you are a go-getting entrepreneur, a CEO, newly-weds, a couple with a new family, facing retirement, or a minimum wage earner who needs peace of mind when it comes to healthcare, Bonitas is there for you.

And yes size does matter – we have financial stability, strong key indicators of fiscal health and reserves of over R6 billion. So you know we have you covered.

OUR AWARDS

One of the Bonitas strategic pillars is to connect with our customers to ensure we are always striving to deliver on their best interests and remain member-centric. Our team have all embraced this strategy and their hard work in supporting this strategy is paying off.

Bonitas Medical Fund has been highlighted as having a high level of service excellence and customer satisfaction across three different surveys.

Ask Afrika Orange Index

Voted the best medical aid in South Africa in the 2021/2022 Ask Afrika Orange Index for service excellence in the Medical Aid industry.
Voted the no. 1 medical aid in South Africa in the 2019/2020 Ask Afrika Orange Index for service excellence in the Medical Aid industry.
Voted industry winner as the top medical aid in South Africa in the 2017/2018 Ask Afrika Orange Index for service excellence in the Medical Aid industry.

The Ask Afrika Orange Index, which started in 2001, measures services within and across 31 industries, using 10 of the most relevant service benchmarks. This provides a 360-degree view of the service performance of an organisation while measuring customer and emotional satisfaction and loyalty.

South African Consumer Index for Medical Schemes (2019)

The South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SA-CSI) for Medical Schemes (2019) conducted by Consulta, provides highly scientific insights into the overall level of satisfaction of customers of South Africa’s medical scheme providers.

In the overall 2019 Customer Satisfaction Index, Bonitas came out on top (joint leadership position), showing the greatest improvement of 4.9 index points.

Sunday Times Top Brands Awards

2nd place in the 2019 Medical Aid Companies category! The Sunday Times Top Brands survey is the leading barometer of consumer sentiment towards brands. When you receive accolades such as these, it is an endorsement that you are doing something right, however the competition will become fiercer.

Notwithstanding the achievements, we will not allow ourselves to become complacent but remain passionate and committed to doing right by our members and beneficiaries!

We are proud to be making a difference to our members when they need us the most, in life-changing moments. We are there For South Africa, For Life!

OUR FINANCIALS

Medical schemes are non-profit organisations. This means any money we save is for the benefit of our members. The more we can save, the more we can keep costs down as well as increase the value of your benefits.

While we might not run for commercial profit, all our financial ducks still have to be very much in a row, including our financial reserves. The good news is we have more than enough in reserves. So we are absolutely confident that we can not only pay your claims but provide you with the best possible bang for your buck.

As an added bonus, our financial indicators are well above industry average and include low expense ratios, allowing us to provide you with quality healthcare and benefits.

2020 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
The Integrated Report for the year ended 31 December 2022
The Integrated Report for the year ended 31 December 2023

Disclaimer:

The Annual Financial Statements (AFS) are subject to change as may be directed by the CMS after it has considered the AFS. If any material changes are required to the AFS by the CMS, the Scheme will inform you accordingly.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Effective leadership is rooted in passion for the cause – in this case making quality healthcare more affordable and accessible. If we make a profit it is ploughed straight back into the Fund so that we can give you more value for your money. We also use this profit to help keep healthcare costs down for you. We have a management team with a wealth of experience to ensure that Bonitas runs smoothly. They are supported by an independently elected Board of Trustees to ensure that our members’ interests are always put first.

Board of Trustees

Mr O J Komane (59) CHAIRPERSON
(Elected Trustee)

Mr OJ Komane is Independent Chairman of the Mineworkers Investment Trust, the 100% shareholder of the Mineworkers Investment Company. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick (UK). Mr Komane is currently the Managing Director of Accelerated Mining and Engineering Services, and served two terms in the office as the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers. He previously also held several positions on different boards of companies.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 1 June 2021

First appointed as Trustee with effect 2 January 2016; appointed as Vice-Chairperson with effect 1 October 2017; appointed as Chairperson with effect 13 March 2019 to 3 December 2020; Trustee term ended with effect 4 January 2021; re-elected as Trustee with effect 1 June 2021 and appointed as Chairperson with effect 28 September 2021; re-appointed as Chairperson with effect 12 August 2022; re-appointed as Chairperson with effect 21 September 2023; re-appointed as Chairperson with effect 18 September 2024.

Mr R Cowlin (70) VICE-CHAIRPERSON
(Appointed Trustee)

Mr R Cowlin has over 36 years’ experience in the medical aid industry and was involved in several aspects of the industry, including administration, marketing, product design and managed care. He held various top management positions within Medscheme and was the Managing Director of Aid for Aids for 10 years.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 5 January 2021

Appointed as Vice-Chairperson with effect 13 March 2019 to 3 December 2020; Trustee term ended with effect 4 January 2021; appointed by the Board with effect 5 January 2021; appointed as Vice-Chairperson with effect 12 August 2022; re-appointed as Vice- Chairperson with effect 21 September 2023; re-appointed as Vice-Chairperson with effect 18 September 2024.

Mr J Bagg (72)
(Appointed Trustee)

Mr J Bagg is a qualified actuary with over 40 years’ actuarial, financial management and consulting experience. He served as Statutory Actuary for numerous life insurance companies and is a Trustee of various retirement funds. He also holds directorships at life insurance and reinsurance companies.

Appointment details:
Appointed:5 October 2022

Previous Trustee of Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS) and appointed to the Bonitas Board pursuant to the amalgamation with LMS; re-appointed by the Board as a Trustee with effect 1 April 2019 as part of a casual vacancy (appointment was approved by the members at the AGM held on 19 August 2019); appointed as Vice-Chairperson with effect 4 December 2020; stepped down as Vice-Chairperson on 12 August 2022; Trustee term ended on 31 August 2022; appointed by the Board with effect 5 October 2022.

Mr M G Netshisaulu (48)
(Elected Trustee)

Mr MG Netshisaulu holds an LLB and MCom in Taxation. He is a chartered tax advisor and a member of the Compliance Institute of South Africa. He gained extensive experience in the tax industry with the South African Revenue Service, as well as corporate and non-profit organisations. He completed a CMS Trustee development and inhouse BHF programme. He is currently employed as a Financial Strategic Analyst at UNISA and serves as UNISA member of the Professional Research Committee. He also previously served as Nehawu Branch Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.

Appointment details:
Appointed:1 September 2017
Re-elected with effect 9 September 2022.

Mr P J Ribbens (53)
(Elected Trustee)

Mr PJ Ribbens started his business in 1997 and has run it for the past 26 years. He has vast experience in marketing and sales and is a director of Ribbens Office National. His responsibilities include overseeing assigned accounts and monitoring and evaluating project activities. He provides guidance to the marketing department by evaluating and developing marketing strategies and planning and coordinating marketing efforts. He positions the company’s brand and develops pricing strategies with the sales department. He has completed several Trustee training courses and is well-equipped to support the Board in terms of complex decision-making. He has served for several years on the Managed Healthcare and Investment Committees, and his experience in these areas assists him greatly in serving the Bonitas community.

Appointment details:
Appointed:1 July 2019
Re-elected with effect 17 July 2024.

Mr J R Venter (43)
(Elected Trustee)

Mr JR Venter holds a BCom from the University of Pretoria. He has extensive experience in business development, corporate governance, strategic member relationship, retention management and financial management. He is employed by the largest technology service provider in Africa and has more than 16 years’ ICT experience. Mr Venter is member-focused and drives SLA adherence from service providers thorough due diligence on contracts and value creation for members.

Appointment details:
Appointed:1 July 2019
Re-elected with effect 17 July 2024.

ADV RT Monene (32)
(Elected Trustee)

ADV RT Monene completed her diploma in Law, LLB, and an additional module in Public International Law at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She joined the Johannesburg Bar in December 2018 after her studies at UNISA and serving on student representative bodies. In 2017, she Chaired the Student Representative Council at UNISA. Adv Monene is a general litigator with experience and interest in administrative and public law, medical negligence, constitutional law, human rights law, family law, labour law and regulatory law.

Appointment details:
Appointed:9 September 2022

Mr A Edwards (63)
(Elected Trustee)

Mr A Edwards has over 25 years’ experience in financial services and private healthcare funding. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology and a Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Education, which underpins his expertise in corporate wellness strategy, managed healthcare, clinical risk management, as well as sales, marketing and distribution.

During his decade-long tenure as Chief Executive of Liberty Medical Scheme, he served over 100 000 members and their families each year, demonstrating both ethical leadership and a deep understanding of healthcare economics. His executive roles in multibillion-rand medical schemes and private mergers further highlight his strategic acumen.

Today, Mr Edwards runs a successful coaching and consulting practice focused on executive coaching, resilience and corporate wellbeing – particularly addressing clinical burnout. This positions him as a trusted advisor to organisations and executives seeking sustainable growth and employee wellbeing.

Appointment details: 1 April 2024

Appointed by the Board as a Trustee with effect 1 April 2024 as part of a casual vacancy (appointment was approved by the members at the AGM held on 21 August 2024, therefore regarded as an elected Trustee in terms of the Scheme Rules).

Management

Because we have been entrusted with the responsibility of looking after your needs, we take your welfare and healthcare very seriously. It is our duty and our promise to:

Always act in the best interests of you and your beneficiaries
Provide healthcare benefits of exceptional quality and substance
Make sure you get value for money when you need it most.
Design and customise our benefit options to ensure there is a plan that is perfect for you and your family
Make it simple and easy to understand
Deliver outstanding service
Ensure that our financial management and corporate governance is exceptional

Mr LR Callakoppen (48) – Principal Officer

Mr LR Callakoppen holds a Master HR Professional (SA Board for People Practices), MPhil (Human Resource) and Industrial Sociology and Information Science Honours Degree from the University of Johannesburg. He also holds a Global Executive Development Qualification (GEDP) from GIBS and completed the Professional Trustee Development Programme at Wits Business School. He has a wealth of experience at an executive level with specialisation in human capital, transformation and operational management. He has been involved with Medscheme and the AfroCentric Group in various functions for over 13 years, including heading up the Bonitas business unit. He serves on the BHF Board and is Chair of the BHF Finance and Audit Committee.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 1 May 2019

Ms V Rikhotso (39) – Chief Financial Officer

Ms V Rikhotso is a chartered accountant registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has 16 years’ experience in the public and private sectors with extensive leadership roles in risk, compliance and financial management. She played a vital role in establishing the financial services division within the Auditor- General of South Africa, serving as an audit manager for key entities including the Public Investment Corporation, Development Bank of Southern Africa and South African Revenue Service.

Prior to joining Bonitas, Ms Rikhotso held the position of Senior Specialist: Governance, Risk and Control at Transnet SOC Ltd. She was responsible for establishing and maintaining sustainably effective internal controls across the Transnet Corporate Centre operating division, identifying areas that require financial and operational improvements, and driving the development of appropriate models/ solutions to sustainably address risks and compliance with applicable legislation.

She previously served on the Bonitas Board, where she was instrumental in providing strategic oversight and promoting financial stewardship.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 1 February 2025

Mr S Perumal (50) – Chief Operating Officer

Mr S Perumal holds an MBA (specialisation in Healthcare Management) from a reputable business school. He has been involved in the healthcare industry for the past 32 years and was employed by Medscheme and the AfroCentric Group in functions including I&T system support, business development and project leadership. Mr Perumal’s passion for optimising business processes and improving operational efficiency led him to pursue a career in operations management. His expertise lies in analysing complex systems, identifying bottlenecks and implementing innovative solutions to drive efficiency and maximise performance. This is fuelled by his strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 1 January 2018
** Promoted from Head of Operations to Chief Operations Officer (COO) with effect 1 January 2025.

Dr T Hadebe (41) – Clinical and Managed Care Executive

Dr T Hadebe is a qualified medical practitioner from Stellenbosch University. He also holds postgraduate qualifications, including in business studies and occupational health, and has a keen interest in global health matters. He has over 13 years’ work experience in both the private and public healthcare sectors and has held numerous clinical managerial roles. Dr Hadebe’s client-centred and value-based approach to healthcare ensures that he succeeds in his roles whilst delivering optimal healthcare to clients.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 6 November 2023

Ms M Marais (45) – Head: Governance, Risk and Compliance

Ms M Marais holds a BCom (Financial Accounting) and BCom Honours (Internal Audit) from the University of Pretoria, and she is a qualified Certified Internal Auditor. Before joining Bonitas she was a Senior Manager in the Financial Services–Risk Assurance division at PwC.
Ms Marais has over 22 years’ experience in internal audit, governance, compliance and risk management within the financial services sector, and more specifically the medical scheme and healthcare industry.
She is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and through them has obtained certification in Risk Management Assurance.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 15 October 2018

Ms M Masilela (44) – Scheme Secretary

Ms M Masilela holds a Professional Advanced Qualification in Governance and Administration, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice from a reputable international business school, and Postgraduate Certificates in Company Law, Advanced Company Law, and Governance, Risk and Compliance from Wits University. Ms Masilela has over 21 years’ company secretarial experience working directly with Boards in the trade union environment, with nongovernmental healthcare organisations and in the medical schemes industry, and she specialises in Board administration, corporate governance, company law, compliance and King IV™.

Appointment details:
Appointed: 1 February 2017

OUR SPONSORSHIP

We have a number of sponsorship initiatives that benefit not just our community of members but the community at large. The thread that runs through all of them, big or small, is that we are always promoting health and wellness and making healthcare accessible to more people. This includes improving the skills of your healthcare professionals so they give you the best, cutting edge level of care and sharing information and tips around chronic conditions and other health concerns that are prevalent in South Africa.

OUR SPONSORSHIPS

Gift of the Givers

Hearing loss is more common than we think, up to 19% of South African school children suffer from varying degrees of hearing difficulties. To address this important health issue and close the gap on hearing impediments, we have partnered with humanitarian aid organisation, Gift of the Givers, on a project that will initially screen around 15 860 learners during 2023. We are truly excited by this partnership, and we know this ambitious project will have a profound impact on so many lives. .