A spike in credit providers and no measurable increase in debt counsellors might be a cause for concern because more South Africans than ever are struggling with debt. According to the latest Eighty20/XDS Credit Stress Report, 35% of the country’s 56-million open loans were in arrears at the start of 2026, with 14.8-million more than three months behind on payments. In the poorest group of borrowers, which Eighty20 calls the Mass Credit Market, the figure is even higher: 52% were in default at the start of 2026. Across the country there were 56-million open loans, and 19.6-million of them were behind on payments. On average, credit-active consumers were spending 28% of their monthly take-home pay just on debt repayments.

So right now more lenders than ever are handing out credit; four in ten borrowers are falling behind, but the number of professionals helping them dig their way out hasn’t grown at all.