She skips meals to pay the bills

CRISIS: WITH RISING DEBT AND NO SAVINGS, WOMEN MAKE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL CHOICES DAILY → 60% lack emergency funds, while 43% rely on credit just to eat.

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South African women of all income levels are forced to make difficult financial choices while people across the country brace themselves for job losses in the wake of the US tariff hike, with households already stretched by record levels of debt. More and more South African women, which include 40% who are single mothers, must take on the financial responsibility for themselves and their families – but at what cost?

A recent survey conducted by Debt Rescue reveals a grim scenario where women from all walks of life are forced to make difficult financial decisions just to keep going.

The survey shows that 54% of the respondents attributed their failing physical health to financial stress, while 43% say they sometimes go without food or electricity to repay their debt and 44% struggle to make their minimum debt repayments.

This is in line with the latest survey data released by FinMark Trust, which shows that 75% of adults who borrowed money in 2024 needed to cover essentials such as food, with 43% relying on credit to put meals on the table.

Increasing arrears and defaults point to households walking a terrifying financial tightrope, says Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue.