About Us

A legacy of commitment to family, clients and community

Reliance Insurance Brokers is one of the oldest independent insurance brokerages in South Africa. The company was founded in 1979 by the late Abdulhay Mohamed Mayet, a renowned figure in the local insurance sector and son of Saley's Insurance Agencies founder, Mohamed Saley Mayet.

Abdulhay's insurance career began when he was just 21 years old, and he worked as a clerk in Saley's Insurance Agencies, then the chief agent of the South British Insurance Co. Ltd. The firm prioritised service excellence and as such, technical expertise. In the absence of any relevant training institutions, the organisation's partners created a formalised training programme for junior staff.

Abdulhay benefitted enormously from this programme, augmenting his on-the-job experience with mentored skills training and in-depth subject research and reading, which he undertook in his spare time. His affinity for the industry saw him seconded to two top technical officers within the South British Insurance Co. and within two years was promoted to account executive.

In 1976, after the Soweto riots, Abdulhay joined a lobby group to put pressure on insurers to settle claims for buildings damaged in the riots - an initiative that eventually succeeded. This event marked the beginning of his anti-apartheid efforts to bring equality to the insurance sector, and served as a launchpad for his contribution to the founding of the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (SASRIA). He was also instrumental in lobbying for a large portion of SASRIA monies to be used to pay off part of South Africa's national debt in 1999.

In 1978 he left Saleys and went into business on a 50/50 basis with SA May, a wholly owned subsidiary of then leading British merchant bank, Hill Samuel. Two years later Hill Samuel sold its 50% share in the business to Alexander Howden Insurance Brokers, a Lloyds broker and one of the largest brokerages in the world.

In 1981 Alexander Howden, which had an interest in Reliance Insurance Agency, passed the entire portfolio to the Abdulhay Mohamed Mayet Group when a major shareholder emigrated. This brought with it a significant number of clients. The following year Alexander Howden merged with the top US brokerage, Alexander Alexander (AA), which subsequently held a 50% shareholding in the Abdulhay Mohamed Mayet Group. AA was represented in South Africa by Price Forbes Federale Volkskas (PFV).

In 1985, American firms disinvested from South Africa under sanctions, and AA sold 90% of its shares in the Group to PFV. However, the costs of being part of a larger group were prohibitive, and after negotiations, Abdulhay and his co-shareholder once again held 100% shares in the Abdulhay Mohamed Mayet Group. This shareholding remained effective until 2000 when Abdulhay bought out his co-shareholder. That same year, the company became an approved Lloyds of London correspondent.

A family affair

In 1988, Abdulhay's daughter Fatima began working for the company, and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being appointed a director and chief financial officer. Fatima has extensive experience in underwriting, claims and every aspect of the Reliance business.

His second daughter, Somayya, joined the firm in 1992. Like her father, she started her career as an administrative clerk, working directly under him to gain valuable industry experience and rising up through the business.

Over the years, Abdulhay built a thriving company with outstanding client, stakeholder and industry relationships as it foundation. This ethos has been passed onto his daughters, who have maintained it alongside the firm's reputation for upholding its unwavering customer service and family traditions, such as serving tea in prized bone China tea sets!

Abdulhay had served the local insurance industry for 57 years at the time of his passing in 2020. His memory, legacy, traditional values, sense of family and commitment to his community live on in the business he left behind in the very capable hands of his mentees and beloved daughters, Fatima and Somayya.

Together they have implemented the succession plan authorised by their father before his passing to ensure the spirit of what he founded 43 years ago, will continue for decades to come.