4-min read
SASRIA Insurance, Explained
South Africa has a history of political and social activism, and mass action may result in severe damage to property and losses in productivity and income.
What is SASRIA?
SASRIA SOC Ltd is South Africa’s specialist insurer for “special risks” — events like civil commotion, public disorder, strikes, riots and terrorism that are typically excluded from standard short-term insurance policies.
SASRIA exists because these risks can cause widespread, high-severity losses that the conventional market struggles to price and reinsure at scale. SASRIA itself explains that its origin is tied to historic unrest and the need for a dedicated special-risk insurer.
Miway’s current definition aligns with SASRIA’s own description: SASRIA is state-owned and provides special-risk cover to individuals, businesses and government entities with assets in South Africa.
What does SASRIA cover?
SASRIA cover applies to loss or damage caused by special-risk events, commonly including:
- Terrorism
- Public disorder / civil commotion
- Strikes
- Riots
- (And related political/non-political disturbance categories referenced in SASRIA guidance)
In plain terms: if property is damaged during qualifying unrest-related events (for example, riot or public disturbance), SASRIA is designed to respond where standard insurance would usually exclude the cause of loss.
What SASRIA does not cover (and why this matters)
Looting is not the same as theft
SASRIA’s wording and legal commentary make this clear:
- Looting must happen during an insured SASRIA event (like riot/public disturbance).
- SASRIA does not cover theft as a standalone event.
Why it matters: after unrest, many people describe losses as “theft”, but whether it qualifies as SASRIA depends on the insured peril context, not just the fact that items are missing.
Other common exclusions (policy-wording dependent) include war/war-related activity and certain extreme terrorism categories referenced in policy documentation.
Is SASRIA cover compulsory in South Africa?
Generally, SASRIA is not compulsory — it’s typically an optional add-on (often called a SASRIA “coupon” or extension) attached to an underlying policy, depending on product type and insurer structure. SASRIA’s own Q&A states policyholders may choose not to purchase SASRIA cover (but should understand the exposure).
How do you get SASRIA cover?
Most people don’t buy SASRIA directly from SASRIA. Instead, SASRIA is usually added through your insurer/broker as an extension to the underlying policy, and your insurer helps administer claims routing and documentation.
This “distributed” model is also how many industry explanations describe SASRIA operating through insurers as agents.
How SASRIA works with Miway cover types
SASRIA and car insurance (motor)
If your vehicle is damaged during unrest-related events (for example, riot/public disorder), SASRIA motor cover is designed to address that special-risk cause of loss, subject to terms and definitions in the policy wording. SASRIA’s motor wording documents describe SASRIA as covering special risks such as civil commotion, strike, riot, public disorder and terrorism.
Practical example (motor):
- A car is damaged during a public disturbance event → SASRIA may be the relevant special-risk trigger (depending on facts and wording).
- A car is stolen overnight with no qualifying unrest event → that’s typically standard theft cover under your underlying motor policy (not SASRIA).
SASRIA and home insurance (buildings + home contents)
SASRIA is about the cause of loss (special-risk events), not the asset class. If qualifying unrest causes damage to your home structure or contents, SASRIA may respond to that peril, subject to the underlying policy structure and the SASRIA extension attached.
Practical example (home):
- Windows smashed and contents damaged during riots → likely SASRIA-triggered (if defined event).
- Burglar breaks in weeks later unrelated to unrest → standard theft/burglary considerations apply, not SASRIA.
SASRIA and business insurance (property + stock)
For businesses, SASRIA is especially relevant because unrest can create clustered losses: damaged shopfronts, destroyed stock, and forced closures.
But watch the distinction:
- Property/stock damage caused by qualifying unrest = SASRIA-type peril response
- Loss of income because you had to close = business interruption territory (may require BI cover; SASRIA BI is separate and policy-structured)
SASRIA has specific documents/wording for business interruption as a category, which is a clue that BI isn’t automatically included unless it’s specifically arranged.
Does SASRIA cover business interruption automatically?
Not automatically.
A key reason businesses get caught off-guard is assuming “SASRIA covers everything that happens during unrest.” In reality, material damage (physical loss) and business interruption (loss of income/standing charges) are often structured as separate cover components.
SASRIA publishes separate BI wording, reinforcing that BI is treated distinctly.
What to do: If downtime is your biggest risk (retail, warehousing, manufacturing), ask specifically about:
- SASRIA BI availability (if applicable)
- Waiting periods
- Sum insured for gross profit/standing charges
- Documentation required (turnover proof, payroll, financials)
Claims: how to avoid delays (simple, practical steps)
If an unrest-related event happens, the fastest way to reduce claim friction is to create a clean evidence pack:
Your “48-hour SASRIA-ready” checklist
- Photos/video of damage (wide + close-up)
- Police case number (where required/appropriate)
- Inventory list of damaged items/stock
- Proof of ownership/value (invoices, supplier statements)
- Timeline of events (what happened, when, where)
- Security footage if available
And if looting is involved, remember the key rule: it must occur during an insured SASRIA event — not as a standalone “theft” occurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
· What does SASRIA cover in one sentence?
SASRIA covers loss or damage caused by special risks like civil commotion, public disorder, strikes, riots and terrorism in South Africa.
· Is SASRIA cover compulsory?
No — SASRIA’s official Q&A indicates it’s not compulsory and can be opted out of (with understanding of the risk).
· Does SASRIA cover looting?
Looting can be covered only if it occurs during an insured SASRIA event (like riot/public disturbance). SASRIA does not cover theft as a standalone peril.
· Does SASRIA cover business interruption?
Business interruption is typically treated as a separate cover component and has its own SASRIA wording structure, so it should be confirmed and arranged explicitly.
