{
  "id": 776577,
  "title": "A good salary is not protection against debt, report highlights",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/a-good-salary-is-not-protection-against-debt-report-highlights",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T14:44:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/business/personal-finance/a-good-salary-is-not-protection-against-debt-report-highlights/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The inaugural South African Financial Pressure Index (SAFPI) has revealed that even high earners cannot shield themselves from debt, as the amount of credit offered increases with income. Compiled by debt counselling company Debt Solutions 4u, the monthly research initiative is based on anonymised debt review application data from South Africans. The first index, released in early August, showed that the majority of debt review applicants spend more than half of their income on unsecured debt repayments such as personal loans, credit cards, and store accounts. Lead debt counsellor Rowan Breeds stated that the median applicant earns under R10 000 a month and owes R13 439 in unsecured debt, with monthly repayments amounting to R4 392. Breeds emphasized that a good salary does not provide protection against debt, as credit providers lend based on income, meaning higher earners qualify for more credit. The index found that personal loans are the primary source of debt among applicants, followed by credit cards, store cards, and other forms of credit. Breeds noted that personal loans often stem from attempts to cover other debts. Most individuals seeking debt review already have an existing review with a debt counsellor, as one can only be under debt review with one counsellor at a time. If an individual is already under review, they must transfer to a new counsellor, obtain a clearance certificate for settled debts, or apply for a court order if their circumstances have changed. The SAFPI data currently excludes repeat applicants, who come back after 90 days or more, as the dataset only began in December 2025.",
  "summary": "The higher a person's income, the more credit they are offered.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}