A recent Debt Rescue survey has uncovered a growing crisis among South Africa’s credit-active consumers, with 41% admitting to defaulting on their credit card payments in the past year. There’s also been a sharp rise in home loan arrears, with late payments up by more than 21%. According to Debt Rescue spokesperson Annaline van der Poel, the cost of living in South Africa is pushing middle-income households to breaking point. Many are taking on part-time jobs, freelancing, or starting side hustles just to survive — yet still struggle to cover their debt repayments and monthly expenses. This data highlights the alarming pace at which over-indebtedness is spreading across previously stable income groups, signalling a worsening consumer debt crisis.