Getting your credit life in check and make 2026 the year of smarter credit choices.
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GUEST – Jaco van Jaarsveldt, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Experian
South Africa’s credit landscape just offered a rare glimmer of hope: a 14% year-on-year improvement in default rates according to Experian’s latest Consumer Default Index (CDI).
However, this seemingly positive statistic is a deceptive illusion, stemming more from tightened lending practices than from a genuine surge in consumer financial strength. As the echoes of festive spending fade, 2026 is poised to expose a hidden vulnerability, making this a critical moment to confront our credit choices head-on and build resilience for the real financial pressures set to emerge.
Despite this technical improvement, demand for credit remains very high, surpassing pre-COVID levels, indicating many households are still struggling to manage daily expenses. This context underscores the critical need for a renewed credit mindset.
South Africa’s credit landscape just offered a rare glimmer of hope: a 14% year-on-year improvement in default rates according to Experian’s latest Consumer Default Index (CDI).
However, this seemingly positive statistic is a deceptive illusion, stemming more from tightened lending practices than from a genuine surge in consumer financial strength. As the echoes of festive spending fade, 2026 is poised to expose a hidden vulnerability, making this a critical moment to confront our credit choices head-on and build resilience for the real financial pressures set to emerge.
Despite this technical improvement, demand for credit remains very high, surpassing pre-COVID levels, indicating many households are still struggling to manage daily expenses. This context underscores the critical need for a renewed credit mindset.
