Straight talk on borrowing in South Africa
Plain-English guides to loans, credit and your rights, so you know the facts before you borrow.
Reckless lending happens when a credit provider grants credit without properly assessing whether you can afford it, or lends when it knew or should have known you did not understand the risks, or when the loan left you over-indebted.
School costs in January are predictable. Work out the total, divide it by the months left and save that amount each month.
A loan's interest rate can be quoted per month or per year, fixed or linked to prime, and charged on the starting balance or on what you still owe.
Januworry is the tight stretch between a spent December and a late January payday.
A judgment debt is a debt a court has ordered you to pay.
A 13th cheque is an extra annual payment some South African employers pay, often in December, and it depends on your contract rather than the law.
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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One free 5-minute form, referred to NCR-registered lenders.