Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 Public violence in Durban and Soweto, 8 October 2026. On 8 October 2026 protests in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) and Soweto (Gauteng) turned violent: SAPS reported 14 vehicles torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, and shops looted (SAnews, 9 October 2026). Sasria said it expects claims for looting and fire damage (SABC News, 10 October 2026). By 19 October 2026 no support scheme for affected businesses had been announced. Source
Business looted · step 4 of 4
Rent and loans after the damage — letters to the landlord and the bank
Short answer. Both letters are open below. Written notice to your insurer: Within 30 calendar days of the event (Sasria Material Damage 2026, cl. 5.1.2).
- Written notice to your insurer / Sasria Agent (30 calendar days): type the date
- Full claim details and documents (60 calendar days, 2026 wordings): type the date
Check your own case.
Reminder from step 2 (Sasria wordings 2026). The law sets no deadline for these letters: send them before the next rent or instalment date.
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A rent reduction is easier to agree with a percentage of floor area and a repair timetable than with «the shop is unusable».
Write to the landlord before the next rent date, not after.
An illustrated character, not a lawyer.
Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Written notice to your insurer | Within 30 calendar days of the event | Sasria Material Damage 2026, cl. 5.1.2 |
| Full details of the claim | Within 60 calendar days of the event | Sasria Material Damage 2026, cl. 5.1.3 |
Who repairs what and whether rent is reduced depends on your lease: read the clauses on damage, destruction, insurance and repairs. A bank payment holiday is a request, not a right. No bank relief specific to the October 2026 events had been announced by 19 October 2026.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Tell the landlord in writing
With photos and your CAS and claim numbers.
2
Ask for a joint inspection
With the assessors: that is where repairs are agreed.
3
Measure what you lost
Share of the floor area you cannot use and for how long: the basis for a rent reduction.
4
Write to the bank
Payment holiday, overdraft, restructuring — with a 3-month cash flow forecast.
5
Keep the replies
Your insurer and SARS may ask for them.
6
Car or home damaged too?
See the separate page for residents.
Questions
Can I just stop paying rent?
Avoid it: ask in writing for a reduction or deferral and keep the reply. Your lease decides what happens when the premises are damaged.
Who repairs the building?
Usually the landlord's building insurance covers the structure and your policy covers your stock and fittings, but it depends on the lease. Ask both insurers to coordinate.
Must the bank give me a payment holiday?
No. It is a request; interest may continue to run. Ask for the terms in writing.
Official sources
Step 4 of 4
Business looted or damaged: the 4 steps
- 1 Open a SAPS case
- 2 Notify your insurer (Sasria)
- 3 Ask SARS for a payment arrangement
- 4 Write to the landlord and the bank
Other documents
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.
This is a ready-to-fill template and a deadline calculation, not legal advice.