
A way out sought for consumers stuck in debt counselling
The National Debt Counselling Association is pushing for a regulated mechanism to remove consumers from incomplete debt counselling caused by life-changing events.

The National Debt Counselling Association is pushing for a regulated mechanism to remove consumers from incomplete debt counselling caused by life-changing events.

Experts urge South Africans to plan, set budgets, and prioritise essentials to enjoy the holidays without starting the year in debt.

The Association’s proposal will embed COFI’s principles and the TCF outcomes into debt-counselling practice.

Nearly half of South Africans dedicate more than 40% of their take-home pay to repayments – and there are indications of ‘savings fatigue’.

While Millennials and Gen X buckle under rising debt, Gen Z’s openness to credit education and digital tools offers hope for reversing South Africa’s deepening financial crisis.

The changes, which include stricter compliance rules and clearer protocols for stopping debit orders, are designed to streamline the process and protect consumers.

DebtBusters’ Q4 2024 Debt Index reveals a worsening cash flow crunch, with rising reliance on short-term loans and record-high debt service ratios.

Even as inflation eases, high interest rates continue to erode incomes, forcing many South Africans to rely on loans to get by.

The Money Stress Tracker survey finds that consumers’ response to financial strain is long on intent but short on action.