Grietjie Verhoef is Professor in Economic and Business History, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her doctoral thesis on the History of Nedbank, 1945-1973, was the beginning of research into the development of the South African financial services sector, from informal savings organisations (ROSCAS), to community banks and the highly concentrated South African banking sector. Her research on the development of Afrikaner business penetration ultimately directed the focus towards the life office started by a handful Afrikaner professionals - Sanlam. She is also the author of The History of Business in Africa.