This post was published on Dec 18, 2025 | Updated on Jan 9, 2026
Dezemba in South Africa is a wonderful contradiction: it’s the month of road trips, family reunions, “just one more plate” at Christmas lunch, kids sprinting through sprinklers, and seaside queues stretching from Durban’s promenade all the way into next week.
But it’s also (and here’s the part nobody puts on the postcard) the month of the most car accidents, a spike in home break-ins, weather that goes from sunshine to Noah’s Ark in 20 minutes, and burglars who seem to work an impressive amount of overtime for the holidays.
Every year, when we reach the December stretch, South Africans across the country (Jozi, East London, Polokwane, you name it!) all start doing the same thing: rushing. Rushing to hit that deadline. Rushing to get the kids’ bags packed. Rushing to get to the coast before the traffic on the N3 becomes a biblical plague.
And when we rush? Now that’s when accidents happen.
If you’re thinking of renewing your insurance or upgrading your cover before the holiday madness begins, you’re already wiser than most South Africans. Because the truth is simple: December is not the month to take chances. December is the month to make the #WyzeMoves.
This guide will take you through the biggest risks South Africans face in the festive season: car accidents, car break-ins, home break-ins and weather-related building damage, and the car insurance, household insurance and building insurance you need to stay financially covered.
Whether you’re driving from Pretoria to Margate, flying from Cape Town to eMonti, or simply chilling in your garden in Bloem, this is the insurance deep dive you’ll be glad you read.
Why Dezemba Brings the Perfect Storm (Literally and Figuratively)
Before we break down the insurance you need, let’s talk about why December is a hotbed of mishaps. Askies Auntie, it’s even for the most careful among us!
- The roads are full
School’s out. Offices are closing. Families are migrating to coastal cities. Delivery drivers are doing three times their usual volume, and the roads become a traffic blend of tired parents, over-excited kids, holiday drivers, taxis trying to make a living, and drivers who are more reckless than others. - Homes stand empty
Burglars know December better than we do: they know exactly when you’re leaving, how long you’re gone, and whether your sliding window is locked properly. Empty homes are irresistible targets. - The weather goes wild
Ask anyone who’s lived through a Durban thunderstorm or a Joburg hailstorm: December storms come without warning and leave behind a trail of flooded garages, leaking roofs, fallen trees, and short-circuited appliances. If it can break, December will test it. - People relax a little too much
We all do it. “I’ll lock the sliding door later.” “Let’s quickly run into the shop.” “The tyre pressure looks fine.”
The small slips become big problems when we’re in holiday mode and get our OOO on.
The good news? Being prepared, but certainly not paranoid, is the solution. And that’s where iWYZE comes in.
Car Accidents: Why You Need Holiday-Ready Car Insurance
If you’ve ever been stuck on the N1 outside Bloemfontein during the December migration, itching to get your suntan going on Bronze Beach, you’ll know that holiday driving is not for the faint-hearted. Car accidents climb sharply in December, partly because of increased traffic, partly because of long distances, and partly because everyone’s brain has already clocked out.
Why December is high-risk for car accidents
- Increased long-distance travel
- Driver fatigue
- Sudden storms that may reduce your visibility
- More pedestrians and cyclists on the road
- Impatient, risk-taking drivers in holiday traffic
- Alcohol-related incidents
- Road infrastructure being under pressure
- Even the best drivers can land in a situation where someone else’s mistake becomes their problem.
Think you’re covered? Double-check.
If you haven’t updated your car insurance in a few years, this is the perfect moment to refresh your policy and ensure it still meets your needs.
Ask yourself:
- Does my cover include hail damage?
- Am I covered outside the province where I live?
- Can I afford my excess?
- Are my tyres, windscreen and sound system covered?
- Am I covered for car break-ins while travelling?
iWYZE takes the guesswork out of it. The whole point is to keep you moving, even if December throws you a plot twist.
Stay Cruising: #WYZE Tips to Help You Avoid December Car Accidents
More than tips, read on for our Dezemba driving survival strategies!
- Rest like it’s your day-job
Fatigue is one of the biggest causes of accidents. Rest every two hours, even if you feel fine: you’re not proving anything by powering through exhaustion! - Check your car before you leave
Tyres, brake lights, wipers, oil, water, spare wheel: give them all a once-over. The holidays are not the time to discover that your tyres are smoother than the N2 toll plaza. - Drive defensively, always
Assume every other driver is on holiday mode. Because many are. - Don’t overload your vehicle
Are you sure you need that extra umbrella? It’s a car, after all. Not a removal truck. - Keep your valuables out of sight
Get your boot blanket! Don’t believe us? It can save you thousands. - Get iWYZE car insurance updated
Holiday safety starts long before you hit the road.
Car Break-Ins: The Silent Holiday Nuisance
Whether you’re parked outside Gateway in Durbs, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Menlyn in Pretoria or Hemingways in East London, December is when car break-ins spike.
You see, thieves know:
- Cars are full of your holiday luggage
- Drivers move quickly and are more distracted than usual
- Many out-of-towners aren’t familiar with local hotspots
What thieves love in December
- Laptops
- Bags
- Sunglasses
- Christmas gifts
- GPS devices
- Passports
Shopping bags
And sadly, anything that looks like it could be easily resold
How to prevent a December car break-in
- Lock your car properly: check it twice, don’t just rely on the beep
- Triple-check for remote jamming
- Don’t leave anything valuable visible
- Choose a well-lit parking space
- Don’t assume a quick stop is necessarily safe
- Car insurance helps soften the blow if the unexpected happens
Home Break-Ins: The December Opportunity Criminals Love
Now let’s talk about home break-ins, which are arguably one of the biggest risks over the December holiday period!
When you go on holiday, burglars go to work.
Why our homes are targeted
- Obvious signs of vacancy when you’re on holiday
- Very full rubbish bins left on the pavement or lawn outside
- No lights-on timers
- Quiet neighbourhoods
- Social media oversharing (yes, this matters!)
#WYZE Ways to Cover Your Home
- Ask a neighbour (we’ve all got that fave!) you trust to keep an eye out on your property
- Use timers for your lights (easier than ever now with voice-assisted tech in your home)
- Lock windows and double-lock sliding doors
- Arm your alarm and double-check the battery is okay
- Move valuables out of visible rooms
- Update your household insurance
Household insurance is what covers the inside of your home: electronics, furniture, jewellery, appliances, clothes, alles.
If you walked into your house tomorrow and everything was gone, household insurance is what would pay to replace it all.
December Storms & Building Damage: When Weather Doesn’t Care About Your Holiday
Some cities, like Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg, are just about famous for December storms, and ones that typically arrive without warning, too! Your lawn might survive the hail, but the real damage occurs when homes aren’t adequately covered. By insurance! We may all notice that the weather’s growing wilder each year, but there’s also data to back up our observations: at iWYZE, we’ve seen an average 8% increase in claims related to weather-stricken homes.
And while it may seem like a nice-to-have, when you’re a home-owner, building insurance is essential. Especially in Dezemba.
What building insurance covers
- Roof structure
- Walls
- Driveway
- Geyser
- Garage
- Pool pump
- Permanent fixtures
- Damage caused by storms, lightning, and yes, even fire
Without building insurance, you pay for everything out of pocket, and repairs are never cheap.
#WYZE Building Checks Before You Go Away
- Clear your gutters so rain water can flow properly
- Trim trees that may be leaning into your roof
- Inspect the tiles and roofing Turn off your geyser
- Check the garden drains
- Ensure your boundary walls are standing tall, and stable
A single storm can cause thousands in damage, so while it may seem like an extra expense, building insurance really does keep you saving in the long run!
#WYZE Energy Tips (yes, it’s important!)
If you can, use alternative energy when you go away, and remember to do the following (if they apply) before you head off for your holiday:
- Switch off your geyser tank (and don’t forget the valves)
- Hybrid inverters? Perfect.
- Inverters not hybrid? Then rather switch off!
- Prepaid meter? Ensure you have more than enough electricity loaded before you leave
- And, finally: switch off and unplug all non-essential electronic items (no, my dear, no need to leave your hairdryer plugged in!).
The December Insurance Checklist Every Satafrikan Needs
Before you go anywhere, ask yourself:
Car insurance; am I fully covered for:
- Accidents
- Theft
- Weather damage
- Car break-ins
- Roadside emergencies
Household insurance; does it cover:
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Clothing
- Holiday valuables
Building insurance; does it cover against:
- Storm damage
- Fire
- Burst geysers
- Structural damage
Fallen trees
If anything feels uncertain, even the tiniest littlest bit, now is the moment to update your cover.
Make Memories, Not Mishaps
At the end of the day, you can’t control December. You can’t control the weather, how your in-laws react to your cooking, or even the traffic. And you definitely can’t control that uncle who reverses using only vibes (and faith).
But you can control how covered you are when life happens.
When you make the #WyzeMoves, with updated car insurance, household insurance and building insurance, you’re not just covering your belongings (although that is wonderful, of course). You’re covering your time, your money, your peace of mind, and yes, that December holiday you’ve worked all year for!
Whether you’re enjoying the festive season at home, hitting the road, or heading to your favourite beach, do the #Wyze thing: sort your cover before the holidays, so December doesn’t sort you out.
Ready to get covered? Visit the iWYZE website for an easy quote today. It’s just another way to guarantee a Dezemba that’s safe, simple and ultimately, stress-free.
