SOUTH Africa’s African Life Assurance Company (Aflife) has reported a sharp drop in its interim earnings, but said the foundations for future shareholder wealth creation were firmly in place. Headline earnings per share plunged to 64.7 cents in the six months to September 30 from 134.7 cents the previous year, hit by a range of domestic factors including a government decision to halt direct payroll deductions for employee loans, the company said. – Reuters