Your money, your power

COST OF IGNORANCE: WHY FINANCIAL LITERACY IS EVERYONE'S RIGHT

- FOSE SEGODI

Money is central to every decision we make. From what we eat to how we raise our children and prepare for the future.

Despite this, the harsh truth is many South Africans were never given the opportunity to learn the basics of managing money well.

That is why Money Smart Week South Africa (MSWSA) exists—it is here to change that, one conversation, one tip and one empowered individual at a time.

The campaign was officially launched in 2018 by the national consumer financial education committee, with the aim of making financial education easier, digestible and accessible to every person, regardless of their income and socioeconomic status.

Marking eight years of this campaign, the national platform has grown, with 75 partner organisations who delivered practical money lessons across the country in 2024.

To further expand and build on this momentum, MSWSA will deepen its aim under the theme "Smart money: financial foundations for a resilient future".

Financial literacy isn't a privilege; it's a right. Every person deserves to understand how money works so they can make decisions confidently and avoid costly mistakes. These mistakes may look like people falling into over-indebtedness without knowing their rights.

Families living without emergency funds and young working adults entering adulthood with no understanding of credit.