How to protect your home over your Easter travels

Marius Kemp, Head of Personal Lines Underwriting at Santam, shares practical home safety tips for a secure Easter long weekend.

As South Africans prepare for the Easter long weekend, there is encouraging news for holidaymakers hitting the road. The Department of Transport’s 2025 Easter road safety campaign delivered historic results, with fatalities reaching their lowest level in three years and crashes declining significantly compared to 2024.

Crashes dropped from 209 in 2024 to 141 in 2025 – a 32.5% decline year-on-year. Law enforcement visibility also intensified, with 44 505 traffic fines issued, 941 drivers arrested for drunken driving and 89 arrested for excessive speeding. More than 2 000 vehicles were discontinued, and over 1 500 impounded, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe vehicles and driver behaviour. 

Commenting on this, Marius Kemp, Head of Personal Lines Underwriting at Santam, says the improved statistics are a positive sign that road safety interventions are making an impact. “While it’s encouraging to see fatalities and crashes decline, Easter remains one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Increased traffic volumes, fatigue and long-distance driving still elevate risk. A safe holiday starts with responsible driving and proper preparation,” says Kemp. 

However, road travel is only one part of the risk equation during long weekends. According to the latest crime statistics , housebreaking remains the most common crime experienced by households in South Africa. Over the 2024/25 period, an estimated 1.5 million housebreaking incidents occurred, affecting 5.7% of households nationwide.

“Even as road safety improves, homes left unoccupied over long weekends remain a major risk that we cannot ignore. As such, taking proactive steps to secure your property is just as important as preparing your vehicle,” Kemp adds. 

To help South Africans travel with peace of mind this Easter, Kemp shares the following home safety checklist:

1. Test your alarm system: Ensure it is fully functional, as non-operational alarms may affect your insurance cover.
2. Notify your security company: Inform them of your travel dates and provide an alternative contact person.
3.  Arrange regular check-ins: Ask a trusted neighbour, friend or family member to keep an eye on your home.
4. Prevent avoidable damage: Turn off the main water supply to prevent burst pipe damage. Unplug electrical appliances (except essential ones like the fridge) to reduce fire and surge risk. Switch off the geyser to save electricity. 
5. Review your insurance cover: Reassess the value of your household contents to ensure you are adequately covered

“Insurance is there to protect you when the unexpected happens, but policyholders also have a responsibility to take reasonable precautions to safeguard their property,” says Kemp.

“Taking these simple steps not only reduces the likelihood of loss, but can also make the claims process far smoother should you need to claim. Solid preparation gives you peace of mind and ensures that if something does go wrong, you’re in the strongest possible position to recover quickly,” he concludes.