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Platinum e-Zine Issue #64 February 2015

Living the good life with Platinum Banking from Absa

Inside this Issue

Don't let your emotions Ntwala Island Lodge - Make healthy living a way of affect your financial future exclusive travel offer life – it could save yours

Great reads - award- Lauren Beukes - exploring Superrugby - the annual winning books for 2014 the dark side of life clash of the titans

Go to Platinum Banking Contact Us More Platinum News Don't let your emotions affect your financial future

"We all have unique personalities and instinctive responses to choices we face, including financial choices. These intrinsic behavioural patterns can have a profound effect on our financial decision-making, and can ultimately determine whether or not we achieve our financial goals," says Paul Nixon, Head of Investment Specialist Support at Barclays Africa Wealth and Investment Management.

According to research conducted by Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, the innate need for emotional comfort is estimated to cost the average investor around 3–4% in returns on an annual basis. Nixon explains that this loss of returns is partly due to what is known as ‘the behaviour gap.’ “The “Understanding your financial personality and behaviour gap explains the risk-tolerance is the first step in the process of difference in what our returns creating a financial strategy that will assist you would have been if we were to stick to sensible investment in reaching your financial goals.” rules and actual returns that are determined by our short- term decision-making, mostly based on fulfilling our emotional needs.” In times of market flux and uncertainty, irrespective of whether markets are rising or falling, we often make incorrect investment decisions, and end up buying high and selling low.

The cycle of emotions that investors experience that can have an effect on their investment returns is illustrated by the graphic from Barclays below. These emotions often have no correlation to market movements, and can lead to trade-offs between short-term emotional comfort and long- term investment returns. Rising markets often lead to excitement, fear of 'losing out' and an emotional need to invest more, resulting in investors buying shares when prices are high. At the other end of the scale, falling markets can lead to fear of loss and panic, and can cause investors to sell their shares when prices are low.

Craig Pheiffer, Head: Private Client Asset Management at Absa Wealth and Investment Management, explains that markets often overreact on both the upside and the downside. Whatever the market reaction though, Pheiffer says it is important that investors stick to their individual investment strategy, and not panic. “It is understandable that investors are concerned when markets fall and start to question their investments. What an investor doesn’t want to do, however, is to make rash short-term investment decisions that have negative long-term wealth consequences.”

Source: Barclays

It is clear from the representation above that the emotional reaction to investing begins and ends with a reluctance to invest, which Barclays Capital describes as “an emotional and costly base state experienced by most investors.” Your reactions to the different emotional investment cycles are determined by your financial personality. Barclays Wealth and Investment Management states that the average investor loses 4-5% in investment returns each year by leaving their capital in cash, rather than investing it in a diversified investment portfolio. “Fulfilling our emotional need to avoid loss by not risking our wealth by investing it is the most basic trade-off between comfort and wealth creation, and is potentially a very costly emotional response,” says Nixon. A reluctance to invest can lead to an investor only deciding to invest after a sustained period of market growth, leaving him open to the negative effects of buying when prices are high, i.e. lower returns and increased anxiety over the performance of his share portfolio.

To facilitate the creation of the ideal investment strategy for an investor’s financial personality, a financial adviser should have a clear understanding of behavioural finance and how it affects investment decisions. Behavioural finance uses a combination of psychology and financial theory to understand the connection between markets, emotions, personality and reason. To determine the best combination of high-risk, high-reward and low-risk, low-reward investments suited to a specific investor, the first step would be to determine an investor’s tolerance to risk.

Knowing the investor’s risk tolerance will enable a financial adviser to build an investment portfolio that achieves the best possible returns relative to the stress and anxiety, inherent to the investment process, with which an investor is comfortable. Higher risk tolerance indicates an ability to cope with a higher-risk, higher-return portfolio, while low risk tolerance would lend itself to a lower-risk, lower-return solution.

“Understanding your financial personality and risk-tolerance is the first step in the process of creating a financial strategy that will assist you in reaching your financial goals. Once you understand your natural responses to financial decisions and their possible impact on your financial well-being, you and your financial adviser can start building your investment portfolio in a way that reflects your personal comfort levels and maximises your potential for achieving financial success,” concludes Nixon.

Photos - iStock Ntwala Island Lodge - exclusive travel offer

Situated 70 kilometres upriver from the Victoria Falls, Ntwala Island Lodge is a wonderfully secluded Chobe destination. Ensuring personalised service and culinary expertise, Ntwala offers privately guided activities (big game, fishing and birding) and exclusivity and intimacy within a complete holistic African experience.

The lodge is situated among lush and pristine vegetation on an untouched Namibian cluster of islands linked by floating walkways, near the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers – where Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet – in the heart of the Mambova Rapids. White sand beaches and palm trees give the islands a romantic ambience and the Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls are in close proximity.

The lodge comprises four ultra-luxury styled suites, each inclusive of a private plunge pool and viewing deck, annex bath feature, indoor and outdoor shower, a private sala extending enticingly out over the water, a coffee station and complimentary minibar and a safe. The large spacious rooms are airy and full of light, absorbing the sounds of water, birds and river wildlife.

The lodge’s main complex comprises an indoor/outdoor lounge, a bar, a walk-in wine cellar, a dining area with individual tables, a small reference library, a curio shop and an elevated river-facing viewing deck.

You can meander between the multiple waterways with your personal guide and private boat, cruise the quiet backwaters, revel in an exclusive Chobe sunset cruise while viewing a plethora of game, or pursue the famed Tigerfish. The eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip is a veritable bird watchers’ paradise and few guests fail to be impressed by the variety of bird life that greets one from dawn to dusk. Birdlife endemic to the area include Rock pratincole, Pels fishing owl, Pygmy geese, African skimmers and Schalows turaco.

Activities included in your accommodation comprise private guided game cruises along the Chobe National Park on the Chobe River, private guided sundowner boat cruises, birdwatching walks and boat cruises, fishing with spinning tackle as well as fly fishing. Guided walks can also be arranged on Impalila Island, including afro-botanical walks, cultural village walks and a walk to a 2 000-year-old baobab tree.

There are also numerous activities in the area that can be arranged, such as chartered day trips to Victoria Falls, including a “Flight of the Angels” plane excursion, day trips to Victoria Falls by road, a charter flight over the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and Impalila Island, and game drives into the Chobe National Park.

Offer details:

• R13 694 per person sharing for 3 nights • Valid for travel until 30 June 2015 • Please call Good Taste Travel on 087 285 3601 for bookings

Included in the offer:

• Return economy airfare with SA Airlink from to Kasane Airport, including airport taxes • Road transfer from Kasane Airport to immigration (Chobe River) • Boat transfer from Kasane immigration (Chobe River) to Ntwala Island Lodge • 3 nights’ accommodation at Ntwala Island Lodge in a suite • Breakfast, lunch & dinner • Laundry • Private guided game cruises along the Chobe National Park on the Chobe River • Private guided sundowner boat cruises • Birdwatching walks and boat cruises • Fishing with spinning tackle as well as fly fishing • Guided walks can also be arranged on Impalila Island • Government taxes and park fees • Road transfer from immigration (Chobe River) to Kasane Airport • Free postage of documents • Travel information pack

Photos - www.ntwalaislandlodge.com Make healthy living a way of life – it could save yours

February is Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month, an important initiative to not only get people thinking about their lifestyle choices and the effects of these on their longevity, but also the quality of life they experience. The good news is that, with minimal effort, healthy living can become a way of life for all of us.

The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research has an easy-to-remember formula: ‘Eat 5, Move 10, Sleep 8.’ Add to that ‘Drink 9 or 13’ and you’re on your way to improved health, more energy and a drop in health risks like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Eat: 5 servings of fruit and vegetables in a balanced diet “You just need to take that first small, yet “Don't worry so much about sustainable step to start enjoying the long-term foods you shouldn't eat. Work benefits.” on getting five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day,” is the Mayo Foundation’s guideline. Healthy eating is also about being mindful of what, when and how much you eat.

Eating breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, but the momentum needs to be maintained by eating up to three balanced meals throughout the day, with healthy snacking in between. Registered dietician Rick Hall suggests focusing on variety, colour and portion size. A good guideline is to fill half your plate with fruit and veggies, one-fourth with healthy proteins (lean meats, fish, eggs, low- fat dairy, legumes and/or nuts) and the other fourth with whole grains (e.g. brown rice, pasta, or low-GI bread). Snack on fruit and raw vegetables in between.

“But be realistic,” says Laurie Stewart from Achieve Solutions. In a perfect world, we’ll only eat when hungry, never overeat and avoid junk food. But we’re not perfect. “Rather than become rigid about eating, give yourself room in your nutritional plan to be human.”

Drink: 9 cups (for women) and 13 cups (for men) of fluids Every system in our body needs water to function properly. Water flushes out toxins, regulates body temperature, lubricates our joints, carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells, etc. Being even mildly dehydrated depletes energy levels, and has a negative impact on mental tasks, mood and memory.

Water should be the drink of choice, but it’s not the only option. The Institute of Medicine’s recommended fluid intake of 3 litres (13 cups) per day for men and 2,2 litres (9 cups) per day for women is a total count of water, other beverages and the liquids in our food. But make sure they’re natural, low fat and low in sugar.

Incorporate more fluids into your day by starting with a glass of warm water with some lemon juice, drinking a glass of water or a low-calorie juice before every meal, keeping a jug of water at your desk, and eating more fluid-rich foods like watermelon, grapes and tomatoes.

Sleep: 8 hours is still a safe average Most people perform at their peak after eight hours of sleep. For many, 9 to 10 hours are too much, while anything less than 6 would be too little.

Adequate sleep aids the body's restorative processes, but new research also indicates that people with poor sleeping habits run the risk of becoming overweight. One study found that a lack of sleep triggers the concentration of a hormone that increases hunger. Our brains also need sleep to learn and remember. “Most skills are tied to sleep,” says Robert Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute. “Athletic skills, motor skills and math and word recall all seem to improve with sleep.”

If you experience difficulty in falling asleep, the Mayo Foundation suggests sticking to a consistent schedule (getting up and going to bed at the same time, weekends included), watching what you eat and drink before bedtime (avoid nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and carbohydrate-packed foods), following a bedtime ritual (dim the lights, read, listen to soothing music), and making sure you’re comfortable (a cool, dark, quiet room and comfortable bedding).

Exercise: 10 minutes make a difference The great thing about exercise is that you don’t need a gym or fancy equipment. Just focus on doing your normal activities differently, or with greater vigour. As little as 10 minutes of physical activity a day contributes to the 60 to 90 minutes a week, which can reduce your heart disease risk by up to half. Make up those 10 minutes by walking the dog, taking the stairs, playing with the kids, sweeping the house or doing leg lifts while talking on the phone.

But keep it moderate (which means working up a slight sweat and being slightly out of breath), as more intense exercise performed too often easily leads to illness and injury.

The bottom line is that the basic principles of healthy living work together like links in a chain — one leads to the other. You just need to take that first small, yet sustainable step to start enjoying the long-term benefits.

Photos - iStock Great reads - award-winning books for 2014

Although literary awards are not always predictors of best-sellers, taking a look at award-winning books for 2014 may just lead you to discover two excellent reads.

The Sunday Times Fiction Prize is considered one of the most prestigious literary awards in , and the prize for 2014 was awarded to first-time fiction writer Claire Robertson for her debut novel The Spiral House (Umuzi), a work of historical fiction spanning two significant periods in South African history. “ The Spiral House emerged as the unanimous winner in the tightly contested Fiction category. The judges called it an astonishingly adept and richly imagined novel, a layered, subtle story that resonates with important ideas about history. We “The Spiral House is a dense, demanding novel applaud the sensuous quality that requires of its reader an emotional of the writing, and were investment and a willingness to listen.” amazed by its remarkable language," said Sunday Times books editor Ben Williams.

The Spiral House tells the story of two South African women born two hundred years apart. One narrative takes place in 1794, in the Cape, and revolves around Katrijn van der Caab, a freed slave and wigmaker’s apprentice who accompanies her French employer on a trip from to Vogelzang, a farm where a girl is suffering from mysterious hair loss. The farmhouse’s dark secrets and violence are used as a means to oppress and manipulate. Katrijn feels herself increasingly drawn to her employer in this remote place where the master conducts experiments in human breeding and categorisation.

The other storyline is set in the 1960s. Sister Vergilius, a nun at a mission hospital, finds herself wanting to be free of the restrictions placed on her by her order. A new republic is about to be born, and her life intertwines with that of a gentleman farmer whose life is being made increasingly difficult by the powers that be — due to him being an Englishman and a suspected communist — a young man and a group of visiting Americans.

“Extensively researched and gorgeously bookended by the artistry of the incomparable Joey Hi-Fi, The Spiral House is a dense, demanding novel that requires of its reader an emotional investment and a willingness to listen. The voices that ultimately emerge are haunting and sublime” — Jonathan Amid (www.litnet.co.za).

Internationally, the Man Booker Prize promotes fiction writing by rewarding the best book of the year. This prestigious award is viewed as the world's most important annual literary prize.

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2014 was awarded to Richard Flanagan for his book The Narrow Road to the Deep North . The novel portrays imperial Japan’s construction of the Thailand-Burma ‘Death Railway’ during World War II. After capturing Burma in the early 1940s, the Japanese army needed a more efficient resupply route, and constructed the bridge in little over a year by using some 300 000 people as throwaway labour. Flanagan’s late father was a survivor of this undertaking, which claimed the lives of more than 12 000 Allied prisoners.

The narrative revolves around the 77-year-old Dr Dorrigo Evans, an Australian war hero plagued by the loss of his one true love, whose life has been a string of meaningless private affairs and public admirations. “The more he was accused of virtue as he grew older, the more he hated it,” Flanagan writes. “Virtue was vanity dressed up and waiting for applause.” Asked to write the introduction to a collection of sketches by one of the servicemen imprisoned with him by the Japanese, Evans recalls the experiences of that terrible period. As senior captured officers succumb to disease, Evans is placed in command of 700 ailing prisoners whom he “held, nursed, cajoled, begged, hoodwinked and organised into surviving, whose needs he always put before his own.”

Flanagan captures the horrific conditions and mind-numbing violence to which these prisoners of war were subjected in heart- wrenching detail. Evans strives to save each one while knowing that he won’t be able to rescue any of them, and that their deaths in service to an insane objective are meaningless and will quickly be forgotten.

Among the novel’s strategies is its intervallic shift to the Japanese and Korean guards’ points of view — both during the war and long after it had ended. Flanagan provides a clear picture of men raised on emperor worship, trained in a system of ritualised brutality and utterly convinced of the necessity of their cause. It’s a tormenting portrayal of the force of culture and the way warped political logic, inflated by religious fanaticism, can twist obscene violence into seemingly necessary and justifiable acts.

Photos - iStock Lauren Beukes - exploring the dark side of life

Lauren Beukes is an award-winning South African fiction writer, TV scriptwriter, journalist, columnist and documentary-maker. The internationally acclaimed writer has taken the world of fiction writing by storm, and has racked up numerous prestigious international and local literary awards in the process.

The rights to one of her books, (2013), was optioned by American actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way Productions, and is being adapted for a television series.

Beukes was born on 5 June 1976, and grew up in Johannesburg. Growing up, travelling overseas with her family to places like Israel, America and expanded her “"Scary as hell and hypnotic. I couldn't put it horizons from an early age, down... I'd grab it if I were you." - Stephen King” and prepared her for the life of an internationally successful writer. After matriculating from Roedean School, she moved to Cape Town, where she still lives with her husband, filmmaker and producer Matthew Brown, and their young daughter, to study at the , where she obtained an MA degree in creative writing.

After finishing her studies, Beukes worked as a freelance journalist for ten years, including two years in New York and Chicago in the USA, writing for, among others, the Sunday Times , Colors , The Hollywood Reporter , Nature Medicine , Marie Claire , Elle , Cosmopolitan , SL Magazine and The Big Issue . During this time, Beukes was the winner of Best Columnist, Western Cape, in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards in 2007 and 2008. “Ten years as a freelance journalist is what really taught me to write, and gave me the inside scoop on all kinds of things I normally wouldn’t have experienced, from learning how to make umqombothi to skydiving and shark diving. I’ve interviewed homeless sex workers, teenage vampires, Aids activists, base jumpers, electricity thieves and nuclear physicists. It’s been an amazing grounding, but, really, writing comes down to the ability to tell a story; it doesn’t matter what medium you’re writing in, whether it’s journalism or fiction or scriptwriting,” Beukes told FirstStep.me in an interview in 2007.

Beukes’s first book, the non-fiction Maverick: Extraordinary Women from South Africa's Past (Oshun, 2005) was long-listed for the 2006 Sunday Times Alan Paton Award, and her debut novel, Moxyland (2008), was nominated for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize. Moxyland is a dystopian novel set in a near- futuristic Cape Town suffering under an oppressive and pervasive government and media. Beukes’s book , a hard-boiled thriller about crime, magic, the music industry, refugees and redemption, set in a re-imagined Johannesburg, won the 2011 Arthur C. Clarke Award, given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year and considered the UK’s most prestigious science fiction literature prize. Beukes was featured as one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top Young South Africans 2009, and appeared in the Mail & Guardian’s Book of Women in 2010 and 2011. Aside from winning the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Zoo City was the winner of the 2010 Kitschies Red Tentacle Award for Best Novel, and was short-listed for the University of Johannesburg Literary Prize as well as the M-Net Literary Awards.

Beukes’s The Shining Girls , a novel about a time-travelling serial killer, was included in the Sunday Times best-seller list, and her other awards include the 2014 British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, the Strand Magazine Critics Award for Best Novel, the RT Book Awards Best Suspense Thriller and the 2013 and 2014 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing in English. Her latest novel is Broken Monsters , of which celebrated horror writer Stephen King had the following to say: "Scary as hell and hypnotic. I couldn't put it down... I'd grab it if I were you." Broken Monsters made the semi-finals of the GoodReads Choice Awards — Best Horror. On the film-making side, Beukes directed a feature-length documentary about Miss Gay Western Cape, called Glitterboys & Ganglands . The film was shown at various festivals, including The Atlanta Film Festival, Encounters and Out in Africa, and won Best LGBT Film award at the San Diego Black Film Festival.

Asked by The Mail & Guardian in 2011 what South Africa can do to encourage writers, Beukes had the following to say: “The most important thing is to get people reading. Dump the tax on books, lower the cost of import duties, support libraries and organisations like www.help2read.co.za and support literacy initiatives like www.yoza.mobi, which infects teens with a love of reading through short stories by great local writers, delivered through their cellphones. And support writers. Buy books. Support ReadSA, which is working hard to promote local literature. And set up more grants to allow us to take time off from our day jobs so we can actually spare some time to write or go to overseas festivals to promote South African literature.”

Photos - Gallo Images/Foto24/Bongiwe Gumede; www.laurenbeukes.com Superrugby - the annual clash of the titans

2014 was a disappointing year in for the South African franchises, and South African rugby supporters will be hoping that 2015 will see a change in fortunes for their teams. With an exciting year of rugby ahead of us, we take a look at the SA teams' prospects for the 2015 competition.

The The Bulls ended their 2014 campaign in second place on the log in the South African conference, and in 9th place in the overall standings. 2014 was always going to be a rebuilding year for the Bulls after the loss of a number of players in 2013.

The Bulls’ only significant player losses for 2015 where prop Frik Kirsten, who retired due to a neck injury, and the move of promising young lock Paul Willemse to Grenoble in France. The return of loose forwards Pierre Spies and after long-term injury lay-offs, together with the addition of three former Cheetah forwards, hooker , prop and flanker Lappies Labuschagne, will bolster the Bulls’ forward pack.

To do well, the Bulls will need to learn to turn pressure into points, and improved tactical kicking and decision-making from scrum half and fly half Handré Pollard will be key.

Our prediction: Expect the Bulls to be better than in 2014; a place in the final stages of the competition might even be in the frame...

The 2014 was not a good year for the Cheetahs, who ended last on the SA log and second-to-last on the overall competition log. With a mass exodus of players at the end of the season, including captain Adriaan Strauss (who joined the Bulls) and fly half (to Racing Metro), 2015 promises to be another tough year for the franchise.

On the plus side, the recruitment of hard-working loose forward Willie Britz (from the Lions), centres JP du Plessis (from Montpellier) and JW Jonker (also from the Lions), full back Joe Pietersen (from Biarritz) and winger Sergeal Petersen (from the EP Kings) should add much-needed fire power.

The Cheetahs need to complement their attacking flair with improved defence, and need to be able to play more conservative rugby at certain times.

Our prediction: While exciting Springbok backs and should provide magical moments, it is difficult to see the Cheetahs improving significantly on their performance of 2014.

The Lions The Lions were the surprise package of 2014, and their enterprising and uncompromising style of play won them many supporters. While ending 4th in the SA conference and 12th overall may not seem like a successful season to some, it was an inspirational performance from a team denied the privilege of playing Super Rugby in 2013.

Player depth will again be a challenge for the Lions, but coach Johan Ackermann and his management team have shown that they can get the best out of players deemed second- stringers by other unions.

The Lions’ scrum was the most dominant unit in the 2014 competition, providing a solid platform for their backs to play from. Fly half Marnitz Boshoff will be relied upon to dictate the game and put points on the board with his prodigious kicking boot. Captain and Springbok number eight Warren Whitely, together with flankers and Derick Minnie, will compete unceasingly, and their linking and running skills will prove a headache for opposition teams.

Our prediction: Expect the Lions to keep improving with every game; however, a place in the play- offs may yet be a few seasons away.

The With the strong start the Sharks had to the 2014 competition, their supporters would have been disappointed with the way they finished. The Sharks lost games they should have won towards the end of their campaign, which ultimately cost them a home semi and a place in the final. By far the strongest of the SA sides, the Sharks finished 3rd on the log in the overall competition.

Under previous coach , the Sharks played conservative rugby with plenty of kicking from hand. The Sharks’ new director of rugby, Gary Gold, has promised a more expansive style of play in 2015.

While the loss of flanker Jacques Botes (retired), lock Anton Bresler (to Edinburgh) and scrum half Charl McLeod (to Grenoble) will be felt, the gain of lock Mouritz Botha (from Saracens), eighth man Renaldo Bothma (from the ), and fly half Lionel Cronjé (from the Brumbies) will be a boost to their chances.

Our prediction: With fly half back to his best and with the Du Plessis brothers, the Beast and having had some rest, the Sharks should be good for a spot in the play- offs again this year.

The Finishing 3rd in the SA conference and 11th on the overall log was an indication of a disappointing season for the Stormers, of whom a lot was expected. The Stormers started off badly, and failed to find any momentum until the closing stages of the competition.

The loss of Springbok captain (due to a knee injury) is a big blow to the Stormers’ chances, and stalwart loose forwards and and the ever-improving youngster will carry a lot of weight on their shoulders. New Director of Rugby Gert Smal’s influence could be seen in their last couple of games of 2014, and the attacking style they displayed was a departure from the defence-oriented game they favoured in recent years. Lack of depth in certain positions, especially at fly half, could again be a problem for the Stormers.

Our prediction: The Stormers will be better than they were in 2014, if they can combine their renowned defence with a more attacking style of play, but will probably not feature in the play-offs.

Photos - Steve Haag/Gallo Images; Louis Botha/Gallo Images; Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images Platinum News

Win R50 000 with Absa Home Loans!

Stand a chance to win amazing prizes, including a R50 000 grand prize, in the recently launched "Absa House Hunt" competition. The competition is currently running and will close on 22 February 2015 (date inclusive).

How to take part in the "Absa House Hunt" competition:

• Download the Homeowner App from the App Store or Google PlayStore.

• Visit the Absa Facebook or Twitter pages to follow the instructions on how to use the Absa Homeowner App to find three secret properties. (Hint for the 1st property: Search for an apartment on 4 Judith Road in Randburg selling for R720 000)

• Once you find the first property, follow the clues to the 2nd property which will direct you to the 3rd and final property.

• You will then be asked a question regarding all three properties on the 3rd property listing which you can use to enter the draw by responding to the “estate agent” via email with the correct answer.

• Please note that the specifications of the three “fictitious” properties are not linked to or a part of any existing estate agent listing.

• Please note that the Homeowner App is a Smartphone App available on Android and iOS devices only.

In addition to the "Absa House Hunt" competition, we have also recently launched version 2 of the Homeowner App. While version 1 allows you to search for homes from South Africa’s biggest property listing, save and rate your favourite homes, use our handy calculators and enjoy direct contact with Absa and estate agents to make your dream home a reality; version 2 of the Homeowner App now offers you more.

Homeowner App version 2 adds the following:

• "See if you qualify" - this feature allows you to check in real time if you are eligible for a home loan from Absa in 3 easy steps. There is also an option to request a call back from one of our friendly home loans consultants.

• Email Absa – this feature provides you with another option to reach out to Absa Home Loans via email, along with the existing call Absa feature.

• Contact independent mortgage originators via phone or email.

Photos - Absa

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