Straight talk on borrowing in South Africa
Plain-English guides to loans, credit and your rights, so you know the facts before you borrow.
For an emergency, try the cheapest sources first: a payment arrangement with whoever you owe, your savings, an employer advance, and family or a stokvel.
A garnishee order, also called an emolument attachment order, is a court order telling your employer to deduct money from your salary and pay it to a creditor.
A mashonisa is an informal lender who is often not registered with the National Credit Regulator.
Unsecured loans are credit with no asset pledged as security, such as personal loans, credit cards or payday loans.
A loan offer that reaches you first on WhatsApp is a warning sign.
For loan affordability, take your take-home pay, subtract essential costs and existing debt repayments, keep a buffer, and see whether the new repayment still fits.
Why these guides are different
Grounded in SA credit law
Costs, rights and rules are explained in line with the National Credit Act, with official sources linked.
Plain-English only
Short sentences, real rand examples and no jargon you need a dictionary for.
No hype, no fake promises
We never promise guaranteed approval or "no credit check" loans. Every lender must check affordability.
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