AVBOB Caledon opened its new life insurance offices in Kerk Street on Friday 3 November.
The offices, located in an old residential dwelling, which has had various tenants in the past, has been meticulously restored to its former glory, preserving historic details yet turning it into functioning offices.
AVBOB was registered as a mutual society on 15 August 1918, primarily to give people returning from the war and dying from the Spanish flu a dignified burial. The manufacturing of coffins was soon added with the Life Insurance section formed in 1961. Provincial manager Southern region Mongz Siziba said AVBOB is the largest burial society in Africa and has on numerous occasions been voted as top employer.
“We have several core values and one of them is customer focus,” Siziba told guests before he cut the ribbon officially opening the building. “There is nothing we can do without you.”
District Manager of Insurance Services Marcelle Cilliers told Hermanus Times: “AVBOB consists of two sections – the funeral services and financial services. With this new office we can have a financial advisor at hand to advise our customers.
“To celebrate the opening of our offices, we would also like to give something back to the community in the form of food and toiletry hampers as well as blankets,” said Cilliers.
“Our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) department makes regular donations to communities and individuals affected by disaster situations like flood and fire.”
A number of guests received hampers on Friday, but Cilliers stressed this was an ongoing project. They also assist with soup kitchens where up to 300 people are fed at one sitting.
The well-known Caledon gospel band The Silver Bells provided the music for the occasion.
AVBOB also annually sponsors the prestigious Forum of Community Journalists Awards.
