R4.5 billion in unclaimed dividends—how to check if you’re owed

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has introduced a website where South Africans can check for unclaimed dividends.

The stock exchange has launched its new ‘Claim It’ campaign, urging South Africans to check of they are potential shareholders owed a portion of the R4.5 billion in unclaimed dividends.

The Claim It initiative is a collaborative effort between the JSE and 19 of the largest companies listed on the JSE.

It will endeavour to reunite nearly 375 000 former employees, shareholders or beneficiaries of deceased estates with their unclaimed funds.

Difficult to verify beneficiaries

There are various factors that contribute to people not knowing that they have unclaimed dividends owed to them.

These include people changing jobs, moving homes to a new address or updating banking information without notifying listed companies.

This, in turn, has made it difficult to verify beneficiaries, delaying the distribution of unclaimed funds.

The Claim It verification process for determining if a person is owed unclaimed dividends is easy.

• South Africans can visit the JSE website on www.jse.co.za/claimit and complete the online form or
• Contact the JSE Claim It call centre on 0861 401 105 to find out if they are entitled to unclaimed dividends.

The documents that are required for the verification process are:

• A valid South African ID
• Current contact information, such as a cellphone and landline number as well as an email address
• Proof of address

The JSE will then verify whether the details provided correlate with those of the shareholders in the registries.

The 19 listed companies that the JSE has joined forces with to reconnect South Africans with their dividends are:

• African Media Entertainment Ltd
• Finbond Group Ltd
• Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon Ltd
• YeboYethu
• Advtech Ltd
• Cashbuild Ltd
• Super Group Ltd
• Naspers Ltd
• Mpact Ltd
• JSE Ltd
• Reunert Ltd
• Merafe Resources Ltd
• Northam Platinum Holdings Ltd
• Growthpoint Properties Ltd
• Old Mutual Ltd
• Sasol Ltd
• Sasol SA Ltd / Khanyisa
• Quilter PLC
• Sasol Inzalo

To further drive awareness, the JSE has appointed Bafana Bafana legend Lucas Radebe as an ambassador of the campaign.

Radebe is one of South Africa’s most respected and trusted sports figures, known for his legendary football career, charitable work and reputation as an icon of inclusivity, and embodies the values of trust and integrity that are central to this initiative.

ABOUT THE JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history of operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world-class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself on being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.

The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for 137 years. As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates, unlocks value and makes real connections happen.