The gap between South Africans who are financially secure and those struggling to make ends meet is growing, as more workers take on debt and turn to gambling in an attempt to stay afloat, according to the Old Mutual Savings & Investment Monitor 2026.
While some South Africans are building savings and investing for the future, many others are becoming increasingly reliant on debt simply to cover everyday expenses, underscoring the deepening financial divide.
The report found that 40% of working South Africans described themselves as highly or overwhelmingly financially stressed, with financial stress increasing most sharply among people earning less than R30000 a month.
The divide is also evident in borrowing patterns. Nearly two-thirds…