𝗗𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗴𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. As the first fetal-medicine specialist in South Africa’s North West Province, Dr Lesego Thomas is helping to transform maternal and fetal healthcare for women who have historically had limited access to specialist services. Through her work at Life Peglerae Hospital in Rustenburg and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, she is expanding access to early anomaly detection, advanced fetal care, and safer pregnancy outcomes. Her journey into medicine was shaped by early personal loss and a deep sense of service. Reflecting on her father’s passing, she says: “It profoundly shaped my outlook on life and instilled in me compassion, perseverance, and emotional strength.” The Discovery Foundation Subspecialist Award has been instrumental in advancing her work. “The grant allows me to combine research, innovation, and outreach to address maternal health inequities head-on,” she says. “It has provided access to mentorship, academic resources, and clinical tools essential to building sustainable, high-impact services.” Through structured fetal-anomaly screening, strengthened referral pathways, and infection-prevention strategies in obstetric surgery, Dr Thomas is addressing two critical drivers of maternal and neonatal morbidity in South Africa: undetected congenital conditions and preventable surgical complications. The World Health Organization has shown that fewer than eight antenatal contacts are associated with higher perinatal mortality, reinforcing the importance of early detection and sustained pregnancy monitoring. Dr Thomas’ work affirms a simple but profound reality: access to early diagnosis and specialist care can reshape the life course of children and families. #InternationalGynaecologicalAwarenessDay #WomensHealth #MaternalHealth #FetalMedicine #PregnancyCare #HealthcareAccess #MaternalCare #DiscoveryFoundation
Discovery Limited
Financial Services
Johannesburg, Gauteng 710,155 followers
We're a proudly South African company striving to make the world healthier through rewarding healthy living choices.
About us
Imagine a world where people live healthier, more enhanced and protected lives… A world in which each organisation is a powerful influencer and responsible corporate citizen, committed to being a force for social good. As a leading innovator in healthcare, wellness, insurance, investments, financial and life planning, Discovery works ceaselessly to make this vision a reality. Fuelled by our passion for enhancing lives and our desire to innovate, Discovery consistently sets global standards, creating shared value through shared intellectual capital. A testament to this is our Vitality programme, which is both a platform to incentivise people to live healthier lives as well as a channel through which shared value is delivered. We are a proudly South African-born, global company with health, life and short term insurance operations in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and a presence in Germany, France, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Japan through our Global Vitality Network. We uphold our promise of shared value by being a positive disruptor that focusses on bringing about sustainable change in the lives of the people and communities we serve across the globe. Our Vitality Shared-Value Insurance model has received international recognition, including being ranked 17th in Fortune’s index of 51 companies “changing the world” in August 2015, and named a leading health innovator at the World Economic Forum in January 2017. Our values of leadership, honesty, innovation and fairness act as our compass, directing our business practices to take advantage of every opportunity while looking for ways to dazzle clients. With an unwavering commitment to being the best shared value insurance organisation in the world, Discovery is a powerful force for social good.
- Website
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http://www.discovery.co.za
External link for Discovery Limited
- Industry
- Financial Services
- Company size
- 5,001-10,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Type
- Public Company
- Founded
- 1992
- Specialties
- Medical Aid, Life Insurance, Short-Term Insurance, Investments, and Wellness
Locations
Employees at Discovery Limited
Updates
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Our Group Chief Executive, Adrian Gore, announced the Group’s annual results to investors and media this morning. It reflected another strong year of growth, financial performance, and societal impact. We continue to focus on and amplify our purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives – in SA and across the world
I announced our annual results to the investor and media communities this morning and wanted to share some of the financial and strategic highlights. It was another strong year: Group operating profit grew by 17%, normalised headline earnings grew by 21%, and, for the first time, our operating profit exceeded US$1 billion – an important milestone for Discovery. But far more important than the financials are the Core Purpose and Values of our Group, and the impact we have on society. I'm incredibly proud of how our Vitality Shared-value Insurance model has evolved, and of our growing ability to measure its impact accurately and at scale. During the year under review, we positively impacted 54 million people, generating 725 million healthy activities. We estimate that, together with our partners, we have added five million life years to our clients and returned R17.2 billion in shared value - close to the Group’s normalised operating profit. Put differently, our members and society received almost as much value from the model this year as our shareholders did – a remarkable outcome. For me, this is extraordinary evidence of our Core Purpose at scale. Building on that performance, there are two major strategies we have worked hard on and will roll out over the coming months. First, Discovery Bank's Super Bank strategy, creating a powerful platform with considerably greater functionality and capability across all the businesses within Discovery South Africa. Second, VitalityAI, which we are using as a platform to globalise Vitality around the world. I want to thank all our people for their exceptional effort over the past year – our business is built on the greatness of our people and this was particularly evident over the period.
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Purpose and performance go hand in hand. Proud to be ranked #1 globally by Morningstar Sustainalytics in the insurance industry, reflecting the power of our shared-value model.
Discovery ranked #1 globally by leading ESG rating agency !!! Strong ESG performance is not achieved through reporting alone. It is the result of embedding sustainability, governance and long-term thinking into strategy and day-to-day decision-making. I'm proud to see Discovery's recognition by Morningstar Sustainalytics, a leading ESG rating agency, ranking Discovery #1 globally in the insurance industry group as well as #1 globally in the life and health insurance sub-industry. The ranking places Discovery in the enviable “negligible-risk” category, a powerful message to all customers, partners, shareholders, debtholders and broader stakeholders… and aligns strongly with the attributes of the Vitality Shared-value model, which improves health and financial outcomes and reduces risk more broadly. These outcomes reinforce our belief that creating long-term value for our business and creating positive impact for society are mutually reinforcing objectives. We are clear about our opportunity as well as our responsibility to make a measurable and verifiable contribution to sustainable development at scale, through our core business model. Congratulations to everyone across Discovery and our partners who contribute to this achievement and help advance our purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives. #Sustainability #ESG #InvestorRelations #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SharedValue #DiscoveryLimited #Impact #MorningstarSustainalytics
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Nobody gets healthier alone. Behind every diagnosis and treatment journey, every setback and every breakthrough is someone who cares, someone who believes in us, someone who keeps going even when we can’t. We all need someone to help us be healthier. This is dedicated to those who have walked beside us when it mattered most. It's also a reflection of who we are as Discovery Health. We don't simply fund healthcare. We support people through the moments that matter most and help strengthen the support systems that make better health possible. Watch and take a moment to share this with someone who has played an important role in your journey to better health. Discovery Health. For your health. Like no other. #MySomeone #DiscoveryLovesYourHealth #ForYourHealthLikeNoOther
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Discovery is proud to be participating in Money Smart Week South Africa 2026 for the first time. This year's theme, Money Smart: The Power of Possible, reminds us that improving our financial wellbeing doesn't always require big changes. Sometimes, it starts with one small decision. Throughout the week, Discovery employees are being encouraged to identify one small saving they can make and redirect it towards a meaningful financial goal, whether that's reducing debt, building savings, creating an emergency fund or working towards something important to them. Because no amount is too small when it helps move you forward. Together, we're supporting practical financial education and helping our people take simple steps towards a stronger financial future. #MSWSA2026 #Discovery
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Leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and changemakers came together for the South African launch of The Four Principles, the new book by our Founder and CEO, Adrian Gore, on multiplying impact in life & leadership. The evening featured powerful conversations, shared insights and reflections on leading with purpose in a rapidly changing world. Watch the highlights below. #TheFourPrinciples
Grateful to everyone who came out to the South African launch of The Four Principles. The book was written to multiply the impact of individuals regardless of their contexts, and I hope South African leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators – and anyone who wants to positively influence society – gain something from the book. #TheFourPrinciples
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Discovery Limited reposted this
Grateful to everyone who came out to the South African launch of The Four Principles. The book was written to multiply the impact of individuals regardless of their contexts, and I hope South African leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators – and anyone who wants to positively influence society – gain something from the book. #TheFourPrinciples
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Our founder and Group Chief Executive, Adrian Gore, spoke to Bruce Whitfield about Adrian’s new book, The Four Principles – Multiply Your Impact in Life and Leadership. Bruce probed the stories behind the principles, the power of optimism in changing fundamentals, and the potential Adrian believes lies within every person – and how to liberate it. #TheFourPrinciples
What book - other than a religious text - has changed your life? My Damascene moment was Hans Rosling’s “Factfulness.” It opened my eyes to one incontrovertible truth - we think we understand the world when we actually don’t. Every decision we take is downstream from what we believe is true and if we get that wrong, nothing that follows can be right. It set me on a life-changing quest - writing books of my own - starting with “The Upside of Down.” I have seldom felt more aligned with a book as Adrian Gore’s ‘The Four Principles.’ I realised how much I had gleaned, not just from books, but in my access both on and off the stage, to the many leading thinkers he invited to his annual leadership summits: from Daniel Kahneman to Dan Ariely and scores of others. That ecosystem fuelled my own quest to better understand the world. I love the clarity of Adrian’s message, neatly interwoven with some of the Discovery story to illustrate the thinking behind how he built the team that built the global business. It starts with a delicious provocation: pessimism is easy and primitive. Anyone can tell you what’s wrong - it takes a particular disciplined optimism to understand that opportunities present themselves in periods of great uncertainty. Catch our chat here.
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What a way to finish Gradhack 2026 🚀 Last week, our top three finalist teams presented their solutions to Discovery's senior leaders in a thrilling finale that showcased the incredible talent, innovation, and teamwork of this year's participants. Congratulations to Marnus Nieman, Ulrich Bester, Joshua Webber and Kyle Kalin, The Good, The Bad and the Buggy from North-West University / Noordwes-Universiteit, who claimed top spot and were crowned the Gradhack 2026 champions 🏆 The team tackled a real healthcare challenge: helping members safely return to exercise after illness, injury, surgery, or periods of inactivity. Their AI-powered coach combines health and Vitality data with personalised guidance to create dynamic recovery plans tailored to each member's unique circumstances. From onboarding assessments and condition-aware exercise recommendations to activity tracking, VO₂ Max improvement, and adaptive coaching, the solution demonstrated how AI can transform complex health information into simple, actionable support. Most importantly, it empowers members to rebuild confidence, stay motivated, and progress safely on their wellness journey. This winning concept embodied everything the hackathon set out to achieve: innovation with purpose, human-centred design, and technology that can make a meaningful difference in people's lives. But the day wasn't only about presentations. From a campus tour to a competitive padel showdown and a celebratory dinner in Sandton, the finalists experienced a day packed with learning, networking, fun, and a few unforgettable memories. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making Gradhack 2026 a success. We can't wait to see what these future innovators achieve next. #Gradhack2026 #InsideDiscoveryTech
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Highlighting stem-cell access awareness: Dr Nokubonga Vundla’s mission to transform haematology care Observed from 15 July to 15 August, Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donation and Leukaemia/Awareness Month highlights the urgent need for donor diversity and equitable access to treatment across the country. The month aims to raise awareness about early detection, donor recruitment and equitable access to lifesaving care. This message is embodied by Dr Nokubonga Vundla, a Clinical Haematology Fellow at UCT and recipient of the Discovery Foundation Sub Specialist Award. Raised in Mandeni, she learned early that “education was not negotiable in our home.” Her journey from rural KwaZulu Natal to the frontlines of haematology is grounded in a commitment to equity. “Being uprooted so suddenly made me aware of how fragile access to opportunity can be. I saw firsthand that geography determines not only one’s education but also one’s health.” With support from the Discovery Foundation Award, she is developing a National Bleeding Disorders Registry and conducting a study on alternatives to splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Dr Vundla’s work speaks directly to the goals of this awareness month: expanding donor diversity, strengthening access and ensuring that lifesaving stem cell treatment is within reach for every community. It also resonates with the spirit of Women’s Month in August, which honours women whose leadership and scientific contribution shape South Africa’s future. #StemCellDonation #LeukaemiaAwareness #DiscoveryFoundation #WomenInMedicine #MedicalResearch
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