Sasria SOC Ltd

Sasria SOC Ltd is South Africa’s state-owned specialist insurer and the only non-life insurer that provides special risk cover to everyone who owns assets in South Africa, including government entities. Sasria covers damage caused by riots, strikes, terrorism, public disorder and politically motivated malicious acts, risks that ordinary insurance policies exclude. The state owns Sasria through National Treasury, and it is listed under Schedule 3B of the Public Finance Management Act.

Registered name

Sasria SOC Ltd

Type

State-owned insurer (special risks)

Fields funded

Accounting, finance, economics, insurance and risk, mathematics, statistics, computer science and IT

Website

sasria.co.za

Email

contactus@sasria.co.za

Phone

011 214 0800

Born after the Soweto Uprising

Sasria was born in 1979, in the aftermath of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. After that turning point, private insurers were unwilling to cover unrest damage, and Sasria became the country’s only insurer providing affordable cover for such extraordinary events. Sasria says it was inspired by the courageous young people who shaped the course of history.

The July 2021 unrest

Sasria’s role became highly visible after the July 2021 civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, when looting and arson destroyed shopping centres, warehouses and factories. Sasria’s circulars refer to an independent review of those claims. Sasria’s cover, sold through ordinary insurers as an add-on, protects assets such as buildings, vehicles and municipal infrastructure, with primary cover of up to R500 million for municipal assets.

Investing in skills

Sasria’s corporate social investment supports the South African Actuarial Development Programme, which Sasria says has helped 119 students qualify as actuaries. Sasria partners with the Adopt A School Foundation, which has reached 32 schools, funds the Primestars EduCate programme that improves Matric Mathematics and Science results, and supports young insurance professionals through the Insurance Institute of Gauteng.

The Sasria bursary

Sasria’s bursary funds first-year students for full-time bachelor’s degrees in accounting, finance and economics, insurance and risk management, mathematics and statistics, and computer science and IT. The bursary covers tuition and study costs for the whole degree, subject to results, with vacation work at Sasria. Applicants must be South African citizens aged 16 to 20 with at least 70% in Matric, Mathematics rather than Mathematical Literacy, and household income below R600 000.

The 2026 round opened in January 2026 and closed on 13 March 2026, so expect the 2027 call early in 2027.

How to research Sasria

Read how Sasria cover works with ordinary insurance, and think about how unrest and climate risks affect insurers. Prepare documents before Matric results, since the window is short.

See the Old Mutual actuarial bursary for actuarial students.