If you live in South Africa, you know we are a nation of preppers. We have gas bottles for when the power goes off. We have water tanks for when the taps run dry. We have panic buttons for security and tracking units in our cars. We spend a huge amount of mental energy asking, “What if?”
But strangely, when it comes to the biggest “What If” of all—the possibility of a sudden illness, accident, or passing away—most South African households are woefully unprepared.
We might have a Will locked away in a lawyer’s office in Sandton or Cape Town, but at home? We usually have nothing but a chaotic drawer full of old receipts and a mental to-do list that nobody else can see.
This is why every single home needs a “Just In Case” Folder. Think of it as the First Aid Kit for your life administration.
What is a “Just In Case” Folder?
A “Just In Case” (JIC) folder is a centralised, physical, or digital collection of the vital information required to keep your life (and your household) running if you aren’t there to steer the ship.
It isn’t just about death. It’s about emergencies. If you were in a car accident tomorrow and ended up in ICU for three weeks, would your partner or parents know:
- Which Medical Aid plan you are on and what your member number is?
- Where the spare keys for the bakkie are?
- How to pay the sliding scale school fees?
- The code for the gate or the safe?
If the answer is “no,” you are unintentionally leaving your family vulnerable.
As Heard on Cape Talk & EWN 📻
“Most of us will have our will set out… but in the case of a death plan, it covers more logistical, practical things that we tend not to think of because it’s not spoken about very often.” — Karin Meyer
The Unique South African Admin Headache
Admin in our country is… specific. It’s not as simple as just handing over a credit card. We have layers of bureaucracy that can be a nightmare to navigate without the right details.
Your JIC Folder solves problems specific to our context:
1. The Municipal Maze
If you pay your electricity or water directly to the municipality (or via a third-party app), and you are the only one with the login, the lights go out when you do. Your folder needs to list your account numbers, prepaid meter numbers, and login details for apps like EasyPay or banking profiles.
2. Vehicle Papers (NaTIS)
Selling a car from a deceased estate in South Africa is notoriously difficult if you cannot find the original registration papers (NaTIS documents). If you’ve paid off your car but never collected the papers from the bank, your family needs to know that. A note in your folder saves them months of queuing at the licensing department.
3. Security and Access
Does your security company have a specific password for false alarms? Do you have a firearm safe with a backup key? In South Africa, security details are critical. If the alarm is going off and your spouse doesn’t know the password to give the control room, it adds unnecessary stress to a traumatic situation.
Are you suffering from the ‘Ostrich Effect’? Burying your head in the sand won’t stop the admin from piling up, but our guide will. We promise it’s less scary than you think.” 👉 Click here to un-bury your head and tackle the Death Admin once and for all.
The 3 Pillars of a Solid JIC Folder
You can try to cobble this together using a ring binder and loose papers, but it often gets messy and outdated. That is why I developed a structured solution. Start building your folder today with our downloadable template.
Here are the three pillars our planner covers:
Pillar 1: The “Right Now” Logistics
This section covers the immediate 24 to 48 hours. It includes:
- Funeral Policy Details: Policy number and the 24-hour call centre number.
- Organ Donation Wishes: Have you registered? Where is the card?
- People to Notify: Not just family, but your employer (to trigger group life benefits) and your accountant.
Pillar 2: The Financial Snapshot
This isn’t a list of your assets (that’s for the Will). This is a list of your liabilities and processes.
- Which day do the debit orders go off?
- Are there manual payments that need to be made (like the gardener or domestic worker)?
- Where are the tax certificates stored?
Pillar 3: The Digital Legacy
As discussed in my interview with Cape Talk, this is the modern blind spot. Your JIC folder needs to contain the master passwords to your email and your phone. Without access to your email, your executor often cannot find the invoices or policies they need to wind up your estate.
“But isn’t it dangerous to write this down?”
This is the most common question I get. “Karin, if I write down my PINs, what if someone steals the folder?”
The answer is simple: Storage.
You treat this folder with the same respect you treat your passport or your jewellery. You don’t leave it on the coffee table. You keep it in a safe, a locked filing cabinet, or hidden in a discreet spot that only your “Trusted Person” knows about.
The risk of your family being locked out of your life during a crisis is statistically much higher than the risk of a burglar stealing a specific folder of documents to hack your bank account.
Do It For Them, Not You
Building a “Just In Case” folder feels like a chore. It feels like admin. But when the time comes that it is needed, it will be the most valuable thing you ever created.
It transforms a frantic search for papers into a calm, guided process. It allows your loved ones to grieve without the panic of red tape.
Don’t wait for a crisis to get organised.
Download the ‘In Case of Death’ Planner Now Instant Download. 30 Pages of Essential Guidance. Peace of Mind Guaranteed.
