Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) grappling with the impact of the recent devastating riots and looting in South Africa will be able to access free legal resources and a complimentary one-hour virtual consultation with an attorney. This is thanks to an initiative by legal technology company, LexisNexis South Africa, and NGO, ProBono.Org, which works with the private legal profession to provide pro bono legal services to the poor and vulnerable.

In the aftermath of the civil unrest, LexisNexis used its expertise to set up a freely available online resource to support affected individuals and businesses with knowledge on their legal rights pertaining to losses.“The Rebuilding and the Rule of Law online platform is designed to provide individuals and businesses with legal information, available resources and advice as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives and businesses, following the looting and devastation,” said LexisNexis South Africa CEO and Chairperson of the Board, Videsha Proothveerajh. 

“We are additionally excited about the partnership with ProBono.Org which will now provide individuals and business owners with the added benefit of a free, one-hour virtual consultation with an attorney in ProBono.Org’s network,” added Proothveerajh. 

KwaZulu-Natal Regional Director of ProBono.Org, Shamika Dwarika, said, “During the 10 years that our Durban office has been in existence, we have assisted thousands of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of society. “We are therefore very proud to be partnering with LexisNexis SA to assist SMMEs as they rebuild. ProBono.Org prides itself on the free, quality legal assistance that we are able to offer through our network of private legal practitioners that undertake pro bono work through us. Our organisation and our legal practitioners are ready and eager to assist and we are confident that SMMEs that access the resource portal and avail themselves of the resources and services on offer, will benefit greatly.”  

To maximise the value of the virtual consultation, business owners will first be directed to questions and answers on the area(s) of the law relating to their individual matters. 

The Rebuilding and the Rule of Law platform provides access to content such as pertinent primary law and expert commentary and guidance around topics such as financing options for rebuilding and recovery, force majeure, disaster management, insurance claims, violent protests, loss of intellectual property, data breaches, cyber-crimes and security, and rights and duties of Community Policing Fora members, particularly relating to civilian neighbourhood patrols. 

Examples of the content LexisNexis SA and partners will include on this evolving platform include: 

Insurance Advice

What is covered by business interruption insurance

How to start the claims process

How to simplify and shorten the claims process

What to do if your claim is repudiated

SASRIA’s ability to pay out claims 

Labour/IR

Basic conditions of employment

Unemployment insurance and benefits

Retrenchments and the LRA if the business has to close or downscale

Dismissals and the LRA if an employee was caught looting

Discrimination (Promotion of Equality) 

Property Law

Rental Obligations and Rights 

Banking Advice

Bridging finance/loans – what is available and pitfalls to look out for

How to access low- and medium-cost funding from private/government sources

Bank charges in the wake of the destruction of ATMs Data Protection, Consumer Law and IP Law

Guidance on POPIA compliance

Guidance on how to simplify contractual terms and conditions and required paperwork for SMMEs that may not have dedicated commercial teams.

Data breaches, cyber-crimes and security Tax Advice

Assistance on various remedies available, including:deferral of the payment of employees’ tax liabilities for tax compliant SMMEs

Legal professionals interested in submitting content for the Rebuilding and the Rule of Law online platform can contact John de Villiers on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

“We believe that the sustainable economic development needed to create a stronger and more stable South Africa goes hand in hand with advancing the Rule of Law, which is our mission at LexisNexis. With the support of ProBono.Org, we are helping businesses and individuals to fast-track their recovery and rebuild their businesses, while meeting their responsibilities in terms of the law,” said Proothveerajh.   

To access the content and set up a free, one-hour virtual consultation with a private attorney, go to: Rebuilding and the Rule of Law platform

Bargain hunters beware: If a deal looks too good to be true, that ad on social media or online classifieds sites could actually be showing off goods stolen during the looting frenzy that took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng this month.

Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), manufacturer of the Dunlop tyre brand, said its Durban Westville warehouse was invaded unlawfully and vandalised on Sunday, 11 July 2021 – and the company is aware that much of the stolen passenger and motorcycle tyre stock is now being sold online. In videos circulating on social media, groups of unidentified individuals were seen making off with tyres in the warehouse.

Lubin Ozoux, CEO of SRSA, said, “The loss in stock and assets is estimated to be approximately R90m with 70 000 tyres stolen from our own warehouse from an estimated total of 140 000 tyres known to have been looted from across the tyre manufacturing chain. However, there will be a substantial impact not only for the Dunlop business but for the entire value chain, including employees, the community and the supply chain.”

“We strongly condemn these illegal actions. Looted commodities are being offered at prices much lower than the normal pricing on numerous social media posts. This is a clear indication that these items have been looted. We do not support, under any circumstance, the purchase of goods from anyone other than reputable manufacturers and suppliers,” he added.

Those who know or suspect the possession of looted tyres can report this anonymously to the Looted Tyres Hotline on (011) 418 3056 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Nduduzo Chala, Managing Executive of the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) said the organisation stands in support of its members Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, Bridgestone SA, Continental Tyres South Africa and Goodyear South Africa.

“As the tyre sector value chain, let us stand together and fight the criminality witnessed. The tyres looted are already being sold on the streets and on social media platforms. We urge customers not to support this and for tyre fitment centres not to fit loose tyres without valid proof of purchase. Together we can stop the cycle of criminality,” he said.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) co-chaired by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), South African Police Service (SAPS) and the State Security Agency (SSA) has also issued a warning to those who were not part of the looting spree but are buying stolen property from the looters that they too, will be arrested for being in possession of stolen property.

Socio-economic losses

Businesses across the board have been brought to their knees by the widespread theft, vandalism and arson – from informal traders to large retail chains. The economic impact of the anarchy and destruction will be massive, in a country which was already grappling with low economic growth and alarmingly high unemployment levels.

Many will lose their livelihoods as businesses, big and small, are unable to continue operations. Supply chains have already been affected and many are struggling to access basics such as food, household essentials and medication.

“Thieves prey on people looking for the best price. At a time that there is such a large volume of illegally obtained goods now circulating in the market, people will need to have their wits about them to ensure they do not indirectly support this thievery,” said Ozoux.

He offered the following tips:

• Report known or suspected possession of looted tyres to the Looted Tyres Hotline.
• Tyre fitment centres should not fit loose tyres without valid proof of purchase.
• Approach purchases from unknown retailers and individuals with caution. Purchase only from reputable manufacturers and suppliers.
• If someone is listing items in bulk, that should be a red flag.
• If the item is marked at a drastically reduced price, that is another red flag.
• If the seller is unable to provide proof of purchase on a brand-new item, it could mean it has been illegally obtained.

“Purchasing items known to have been stolen in large quantities during the looting only does further damage to our country’s economy. It is almost the equivalent of stealing these goods yourself,” he added.

Purchasing through informal channels can encourage more criminal acts and further looting.

“As a brand we lead by example, and now is the time to live by our values. We are appealing to the public to refrain from purchasing any suspicious items for sale on social media.  We ask that you discourage friends and family from purchasing the same,” said Ozoux.