South Africans received some financial breathing room from lower interest rates and access to retirement savings under the two-pot retirement system in the first quarter of 2026, but new data suggests financial pressure has not disappeared; it may simply be showing up in different places.
The latest DebtBusters Debt Index shows consumers continued to face elevated debt burdens despite an easing in borrowing costs, with signs that credit stress is becoming increasingly concentrated among higher-income households, while lower-income consumers appear to be losing access to credit.
The index is based on consumers who applied for debt counselling and therefore reflects trends among financially stressed households rather than the broader…