debtlatest news & developments
Many consumers postpone saving until they receive an increase or debt has been paid off, but waiting for an easier time can result in saving continually being postponed.
DEBT

Why higher earners are falling into debt review in South Africa

New debt-review data shows that higher incomes do not guarantee financial security.

  • Nicola Mawson
5 min read
PayJustNow’s record July transaction value highlights the growing importance of flexible digital payments — but economists warn that the boom may also reveal increasing pressure on household finances
PAYMENTS

PayJustNow reports record transaction value in July

PayJustNow says it recorded its highest monthly transaction value in July 2026, as buy now, pay later services become more popular. An economist warns that the growth may also…

  • Yogashen Pillay
4 min read
South Africa’s energy crisis is shifting from electricity shortages to affordability, with rising electricity, petrol and paraffin costs placing vulnerable households under growing financial pressure.
CONSUMER

South Africa’s energy poverty crisis deepens as rising costs push consumers further into debt

South Africa’s energy crisis is shifting from electricity shortages to affordability, with rising electricity, petrol and paraffin costs placing vulnerable households under…

  • Ashley Lechman
5 min read
The South African economy has experienced a turbulent week, with Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) showing a decline for the first time since February. While this may signal positivity, consumers face mounting pressures from rising fuel prices and significant debt burdens.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Sunday Review: Mixed signals in South Africa's economy

The South African economy has experienced a turbulent week.

  • Ashley Lechman
6 min read
Benay SagerExecutive Head: DebtBusters said that the longer-term lending picture suggests that credit risk is increasingly concentrated among fewer consumers
DEBT

Top earners have begun to face unprecedented debt pressure, an index shows

DebtBusters' Q2 2026 Debt Index reveals alarming trends in debt repayment among top earners.

  • Yogashen Pillay
3 min read
Credit is increasingly being used not to buy homes or build businesses, but to pay for food, electricity and existing debt, says the writer.
COST OF LIVING

Financial inclusion or trap: understanding South Africa’s household debt dilemma

South Africa is slipping into a household debt crisis, with workers increasingly taking on credit simply to afford the basics, says the writer.

  • Professor Conrad Beyers
6 min read