You don’t need to be an investor to be owed dividends. R$4.5 billion in unclaimed dividends is sitting at JSE-listed companies right now — waiting for around 375,000 South Africans who never realised they own shares. The campaign is called Claim It and it’s free.
The participating companies are household names — Sasol, Old Mutual, Naspers, Vodacom (YeboYethu), Northam Platinum, Growthpoint, Super Group. If you or a family member ever worked for, owned shares in, or inherited from any of these, it’s worth a quick check.
Of the 93,000 South Africans who have already contacted the JSE, around 15,000 were confirmed eligible and R$18+ million has been paid out. Average check takes less than 2 minutes — no ID required, no payment, no middleman.
Free verification — no ID required, no payment, no middleman:
Check If a Company Owes You Money → See Full List of Companies →✓ Free check • ✓ No registration needed • ✓ No payment required
The campaign is entirely inbound. JSE is explicit about this: nobody from JSE or any participating company is going to call you offering to “release” your dividends. If someone does, it’s not them. Knowing this one fact saves many South Africans from losing money to scam calls pretending to “help” claim funds.
Why so many ordinary South Africans are owed dividends
There are three main reasons people end up with shares they don’t know about. The first is employee share schemes — many large South African companies offered (or still offer) part of an employee’s salary as company shares. Workers often agreed without fully tracking what happened to those shares over time, especially after changing jobs or retiring.
The second is BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) share schemes popular in the 2000s and 2010s. Vodacom’s YeboYethu and Sasol’s Inzalo and Khanyisa programmes allowed millions of ordinary South Africans to buy shares at preferential rates. Many of those shareholders never sold, lost paperwork, or simply forgot.
The third is inheritance. When a family member dies, their shares often transfer to heirs — but if no one notifies the company’s share registrar, the dividends simply accumulate in an unclaimed account. Decades can pass before anyone realises.
The companies holding unclaimed dividends
The Claim It campaign involves 22 JSE-listed companies. If you or a family member ever worked for, owned shares in, or inherited from one of these, it’s worth checking:
- Old Mutual
- Sasol (Khanyisa / Inzalo)
- Naspers
- Vodacom (YeboYethu)
- Growthpoint
- Northam Platinum
- Cashbuild
- Super Group
- Advtech
- Reunert
- Mpact
- Finbond
- Quilter
- Merafe
- Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO)
- African Media Entertainment
- JSE
The campaign continues to grow — more companies are expected to join in 2026. Even if your company isn’t listed yet, it’s worth checking directly with any company you have a connection to.
How the free check works
There are three ways to verify if you have unclaimed dividends, all of them free:
1. Online form. The main entry point is the JSE’s official Claim It portal at jse.co.za/claimit. You’ll need your South African ID number, contact details, and basic info about any companies you may have worked for.
2. WhatsApp. The campaign also runs a WhatsApp channel — useful if you’d rather submit your documents via mobile or need to follow up on an existing claim.
3. Call centre. You can also dial 0861 401 105 during business hours and speak to a representative who can help you run a check or submit documents over the phone.
Documents you’ll need: A certified copy of your SA ID book or card, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement no older than three months), and contact details. If you’re claiming on behalf of a deceased relative, you’ll need Letters of Executorship plus a certified death certificate.
The process is designed to be accessible. Average completion takes around 10–15 minutes if you have your documents to hand.
How to avoid scams while claiming
The JSE has been explicit: the Claim It campaign is entirely inbound. That means no one from JSE, no one from Sasol, Old Mutual, Vodacom, or any participating company will call you offering to “release” your dividends or asking for upfront fees.
If someone contacts you claiming to be from JSE or a participating company and asks you to pay a “release fee,” “admin fee,” or “verification fee” before your dividends can be paid out, that person is a scammer. The JSE, participating companies, and their authorised registrars never charge claimants any upfront fees.
To protect yourself: only use the official jse.co.za/claimit portal or call the official 0861 number. Never share your ID number, banking details, or one-time PINs with anyone who contacts you unsolicited. When in doubt, hang up and call the JSE directly.
Don’t let time work against you
Some dividend claims may become harder over time — shareholder records can be archived, contact details go stale, and in some cases unclaimed dividends may be subject to prescription rules depending on the company’s policy. The sooner you check, the easier the process.
The campaign is real, it’s free, and it’s working. R$18+ million has already been paid out to 15,000 people. The question is whether any of it is yours.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What are unclaimed dividends?
Unclaimed dividends are dividend payments that a company issued to shareholders but couldn’t deliver — usually because the company lost contact with the shareholder (wrong address, no bank details on file, deceased without notification of heirs). The money stays with the company until the rightful owner comes forward to claim it.
How do I know if I have unclaimed dividends?
The only reliable way is to check directly through the JSE Claim It portal at jse.co.za/claimit, via WhatsApp, or by calling 0861 401 105. The system matches your ID number against records of shareholders with unclaimed dividends.
Can I claim dividends for a deceased family member?
Yes. You’ll need Letters of Executorship from the Master of the High Court and a certified death certificate of the deceased, plus your own ID. The process takes a little longer but is the same free campaign.
Is the JSE Claim It check free?
100% free. The JSE never charges claimants. If someone asks you for an upfront “release fee” or “admin fee,” they are not from JSE — they are a scammer. End the call and report.
Which companies are part of the Claim It campaign?
Currently 22 JSE-listed companies, including Old Mutual, Sasol, Naspers, Vodacom (YeboYethu), Growthpoint, Northam Platinum, Cashbuild, Super Group, Advtech, Reunert, Mpact, Finbond, Quilter, Merafe, WBHO, African Media Entertainment, and JSE itself. The list is growing.
What documents do I need?
A certified copy of your SA ID book or card, proof of address no older than three months, and your contact details. If claiming on behalf of a deceased relative, add Letters of Executorship and a certified death certificate.
This content is for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with the JSE, Sasol, Old Mutual, Naspers, Vodacom, or any of the companies mentioned. Company names are cited for informational and educational purposes only. We do not collect your ID number on this page. There is no guarantee of payment or eligibility.
