A Plea for Fairness and Human Dignity

Dear Outsurance Customer Service,

My name is Mpho Maponya, founder and CEO of Bojwa Group Pty Ltd, Author of 'Bojwa: A Graduate Student From THE UNIVERSity of LiFe' and a Motivational speaker. I write to you not only as a business owner but as a South African who has walked a long, difficult road toward redemption. I am a man who has made mistakes, served his time, and emerged determined to rebuild his life, not just for himself, but for others.

On July 23, 2025, I submitted a request via your website for a callback to obtain a quote for insuring my new barbershop, an entrepreneurial project born out of resilience and hope. This Barbershop business launching on July 26 in Pretoria North , is more than just a venture; it is a symbol of new beginnings. It has already created employment for eight individuals and stands as a beacon of second chances.

When your representative 'Clement' returned my call, I answered his questions honestly, including disclosing that I have a ******** record. I did not hide from my past—I have paid for it. I believed that honesty would be met with professionalism. Instead, I was informed that due to my ******** record, your system would not allow Clement to proceed, nor could he escalate the matter to a manager for consideration.

I was stunned. In that moment, I wasn’t treated as a valued customer or even as a human being. I was reduced to a statistic, a line in your database that automatically disqualified me, without context, without inquiry, and without compassion.

Outsurance claims to offer world-class customer service, yet I experienced none of that. What I experienced was judgment, swift, automated, and absolute. That judgment did not just reject my business, it invalidated my journey of rehabilitation and denied the dignity I’ve fought so hard to reclaim.

After this experience, I contacted MiWay Insurance. When I shared what had happened with Outsurance, they too as an insurance company expressed disbelief, and then offered me comprehensive coverage without hesitation. That contrast speaks volumes.

What does it say about Outsurance’s values when another insurer can see the person behind the past, but you cannot?

I urge you to re-examine your policies and the rigidity of your systems. People with ******** records are not lesser citizens. We are fathers, mothers, entrepreneurs, and change-makers. We deserve the same courtesy, respect, and access to services as anyone else.

Your rejection has not only impacted my business, it has reinforced the very stigma that keeps many former inmates from ever finding their footing again. You had an opportunity to be part of a story of growth and redemption. Instead, you chose to close the door.

I hope you will reflect deeply on how your systems and employees handle cases like mine. South Africa cannot afford to crush those who are trying to rise.

I await your response.

Sincerely, Mpho Maponya Founder & CEO Bojwa Group Pty Ltd Motivational Speaker and Author of 'Bojwa: A Graduate Student From THE UNIVERSity of LiFe'