When an event needs liability insurance: the Act, the by-law and the venue

There is no single rule that requires insurance for every event. Section 25 of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act 2 of 2010 requires public liability insurance, as prescribed, for events within that Act. A municipal by-law or a venue contract can also ask for it. Find the document that asks and read its words.

What does the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act say?

Section 25(1) says: "A person referred to in section 4(1) must ensure that public liability insurance, as prescribed, is in place for an event." Section 25(2) says the insurance must be sourced from a person registered or authorised under section 7 of the Short-term Insurance Act, 1998, or section 7 of the Long-term Insurance Act, 1998.

The people in section 4(1) are "a controlling body, an event organiser, or a stadium or venue owner, as the case may be". The Act defines an event organiser as any person who plans, is in charge of, manages, supervises or holds an event or sponsorship rights to an event. Section 5(1) goes further: no person may organise an event unless that person complies with the requirements of section 6(1) or 6(3) and section 25.

Three points follow.

1. "As prescribed". The detail of what insurance is prescribed sits in the regulations under the Act. This guide did not verify the content of those regulations, so it does not state a figure or a form of cover. Ask the police or the venue for the current requirement.
2. Who is named. The duty is on the people in section 4(1), not only the event organiser.
3. A registered insurer. Section 25(2) requires the insurance to come from a person registered or authorised under the Acts it names.

Which events does the Act cover?

The definition of an event in the Act is wide: sporting, entertainment, recreational, religious, cultural, exhibitional, organisational or similar activities, at a stadium, venue or route or within their precincts.

Section 2(2)(b) says the Act does not apply to gatherings as defined in the Regulation of Gatherings Act 205 of 1993. Section 3 allows the Minister of Police, on application in the prescribed manner, to exclude by Gazette notice specified events or classes of events from the Act, or to exempt a person from compliance.

Section 6 involves the National Commissioner of Police in categorising events as low-risk, medium-risk or high-risk. An organiser must submit an annual schedule of events at least six months before the calendar year or season begins (section 6(1)), or, for an event that could not be planned into the schedule, submit the schedule for that event upon initiating plans (section 6(3)). Section 11(1) says that for an event categorised as high-risk, the organiser must apply at least 60 days before the event for a high-risk event safety certificate.

Whether a particular wedding, birthday, corporate function or fundraiser falls within the Act in practice is not something this guide can settle. Ask the venue and the local police station. If you are told the Act applies, ask what the prescribed insurance is.

What does a low-risk event have to do?

Section 4(9) says an event organiser must, for every event categorised as low-risk, ensure that:

• a safety officer is appointed;
• a written safety plan is prepared covering safety, security and crowd management measures, parking arrangements and emergency medical measures;
• those measures are put in place; and
• the local police station is informed of the event details before the event.

Section 4(10) says the safety plan must include the risk assessment, event details including duration, venue design and safe capacity, the expected attendance, control of service providers, ablution facilities, refuse removal, water and lighting, control of liquor, fire measures, emergency medical measures, access and egress control, safety announcements and emergency evacuation procedures. A well-prepared plan also helps when you give information to a provider. See what to have ready.

What can a municipal by-law require?

Municipalities regulate events through by-laws and permits. These are local, and they change, so check the current text for your area.

As an example, the City of Cape Town Events By-law, 2009 was amended by the Events Amendment By-law, 2016 (Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 7664, 19 August 2016). The amending text provides that the event organiser must provide evidence, to the satisfaction of the City Manager, of appropriate indemnity cover and public liability insurance, replacing the earlier wording about specialised risk insurance, blanket liability or work cover. The amending by-law's long title also says that event owners are liable for damage to City property resulting from the holding of an event.

That is one municipality, as amended in 2016. It does not tell you what any other municipality requires, or whether the City has since changed its by-law or checklist. For any event that needs a permit, ask the municipality's events office for the current requirements in writing.

What can a venue require?

A venue can ask for proof of insurance in its hire contract, even where no statute or by-law does. The business hub says most hired venues now ask for it and that the venue contract usually states what they expect. Read the contract and note the kind of cover, any limit, the dates, and what proof is wanted and when. Contract wording is for you and the venue to agree; Olvian cannot say what a venue should ask.

What if no law applies but the venue asks anyway?

Then the contract is what binds you. A venue is free to make insurance a condition of the booking, and most hired venues do, according to the hub. If you cannot meet the condition, say so early and ask what the venue will accept. Do not sign a clause you do not understand: ask the licensed provider to read it with you, and ask for their answer in writing.

How do I find out what applies to my event?

1. Ask the venue what its contract and its own rules require.
2. Ask the municipality's events office whether a permit is needed, and what insurance evidence it asks for.
3. Ask the local police station whether the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act applies to your event and, if so, how it is categorised.
4. Ask the licensed provider who calls you to confirm in writing what the policy covers against what you were told.

Write down who told you what, and when.

How does Olvian fit in?

Olvian is a lead-referral service. You ask once, and the request goes to licensed providers who pay Olvian a fee and call you back. Olvian is not an insurer, broker or adviser. It does not decide whether the law requires insurance for your event.

Sources

Checked on 31 October 2026. This guide is information, not advice.

• Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act 2 of 2010, section 25: Public liability insurance
• Section 1: Definitions
• Section 2: Application of Act
• Section 3: Exemptions
• Section 4: Responsibility for safety and security at events
• Section 5: Prohibition
• Section 6: Risk categorisation of events
• Section 11: High-risk event safety certificate
• City of Cape Town Events Amendment By-law, 2016, Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 7664, 19 August 2016