Trapped by money: The hidden abuse controlling women’s lives

Financial abuse plagues over half of women in abusive relationships, regardless of their income, according to Rynhardt de Lange, director at Milaw Legal. De Lange explained that even financially independent women can face coercive control and manipulation from partners, trapping them in abusive situations. René Moonsamy, from National Debt Counsellors, elaborated that financial abuse manifests in various ways, such as controlling money access, withholding financial information, pressuring a partner to take out debt, using their accounts for another's benefit, or leaving them responsible for relationship debts.

A critical warning sign is when one partner loses any control over their finances. Consumers should scrutinize every credit agreement, retain control over personal banking and credit information, and seek help early if debt becomes unmanageable or financial control is used for dependence, Moonsamy advised.

Financial abuse extends beyond cash access. South African law firm Simon Dippenaar & Associates lists preventing a partner from working, causing job loss, controlling financial assets, imposing an allowance, or withholding funds entirely as financial abuse examples. It can involve preventing a partner from owning a bank account or credit card, demanding access to bank statements and receipts, or damaging their credit score, Dippenaar & Associates stated.

Nedbank's chief risk officer, David Crewe-Brown, warned that the consequences can be hard to spot within financial services, where abuse effects may resemble poor financial behavior. Crewe-Brown explained that someone experiencing coercive control might miss repayments, accumulate unchosen debt, or have an irregular income due to being prevented from working.

To traditional risk models, these behaviors may just appear as higher credit risk, but they signal financial abuse instead, a key distinction.

Oppermans Inc noted that economic abuse can persist after a relationship ends, with money, including child support, sometimes used as ongoing control. Economic abuse may include denying transport and technology access needed for work and communication, estimating that economic abuse occurs in at least 95% of cases involving other abuse forms.

Its impact can linger, leaving victim-survivors without funds for basic needs or saddled with substantial debts from their partners, affecting creditworthiness and long-term financial stability, Oppermans Inc emphasized. Khensani Nobanda, Nedbank's group chief marketing officer, argued that financial freedom should be understood as more than product access; it's about agency—daily control over financial decisions.

Mara Glennie, founder of TEARS Foundation, highlighted financial dependence as one factor keeping people trapped, alongside poverty, isolation, poor transport, digital surveillance, and inadequate local services. Glennie stressed that the work begins with survivors and communities, demanding that survivors be heard, protected, and connected to real support.

South Africa cannot simply have another Women's Month with applause while the system remains unchanged.