We helped #RebuildSA using our technology skills

Over the past 2 months we have been working on assisting the South African government (in partnership with https://xtnd.co.za/) in designing and building a loss registration portal for the public to register and disclose the losses they experienced during the unrest which resulted in looting in July 2021. We assisted National Treasury in launching the online portal (https://www.relief4sa.co.za/) in mid-September for businesses to report the damage they suffered during the violence two months ago in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng.

Many of the hardest hit are likely to be businesses that are small, informal, uninsured and not registered with the taxman. Treasury deputy director-general Ismail Momoniat said the government would not use the information beyond support measures, as long as applicants did not give false information. “We have talked to various authorities, as well as the short-term insurers and the banks, but we realise there are still huge gaps in the information we have on the extent of damage suffered by businesses, including micro businesses such as spaza shops operating from people’s houses,” said Momoniat.

President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear that the government would ensure SASRIA (https://www.sasria.co.za/) could meet all claims and the Treasury has so far allocated R3.9bn to bolster the insurer’s balance sheet. It is committed to providing more money if necessary. Momoniat said the concern was with uninsured small and micro businesses. The government was working with banks and short-term insurers and others in financial services to assess how these businesses could best be helped.

“It matters a lot in terms of local communities,” he said. “The businesses that suffered damage were often providing crucial lines of supply and services to households in their areas.”

Sources: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/business/2021-09-11-government-launches-portal-for-businesses-affected-by-riots-looting/, https://www.itweb.co.za/content/dgp45Ma6pJyqX9l8, https://www.moonstone.co.za/online-registration-portal-for-losses-due-to-civil-unrest/