SASRIA Cover Explained: Riots, Strikes and Civil Unrest

SASRIA is the cover that protects you against damage from riots, strikes, civil unrest and similar special risks that your ordinary car and home insurance specifically exclude. SASRIA stands for the South African Special Risks Insurance Association, a state-owned insurer, and you add its cover cheaply through your normal insurer. After the 2021 unrest, many South Africans learned the hard way how important it is.

What SASRIA covers

SASRIA provides cover for loss or damage caused by special risks such as:

• Riots, public disorder and civil commotion
• Strikes and labour disturbances
• Terrorism and related acts
• Looting connected to these events

Your standard policy typically excludes all of these, which is exactly why SASRIA exists to fill the gap.

How you get it

You do not buy SASRIA directly. It is added to your existing car, home or business policy as a separate item, arranged through your own insurer or broker, for an additional premium that is usually small relative to the protection. When you take out or renew a policy, ask your insurer to confirm that SASRIA cover is included and check the sum insured.

What to check

• That it is actually on your policy. Do not assume it is automatic; confirm it in writing.
• The sum insured and any limits, so your cover matches the value of your car or property.
• The excess that applies to a special-risk claim.
• Whether your home and contents are also covered, not just your car, since unrest can affect both.

Why it matters

Widespread unrest can damage or destroy vehicles and property in a way no ordinary policy will pay for. For a small extra premium, SASRIA turns a potentially ruinous loss into a claimable one. It is one of the cheapest pieces of real protection you can add.

The bottom line

If you want to be covered for riot, strike and civil-unrest damage, make sure SASRIA is on your policy, and check the limits match what you own. When you compare cover, ask each insurer to include it. Get a car insurance quote and confirm your special-risks cover is in place.

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