YOUTH & DEBT- With 6.7 million youth aged 18-24, only 1 million are credit active.

Loading player...
GUEST - Andrew Fulton – Director at Eighty20

South Africa's youth are grappling with deepening financial challenges, including crushing unemployment, limited asset ownership and mounting debt levels. Eighty20, South Africa’s leading consulting, analytics and research company analyses those aged 24 and younger, who make up 44.5% of the population—bearing the brunt of economic hardship, reflecting broader structural issues in the country’s economy.

Eighty20's National Segmentation reveals that of the 6.7 million youth aged 18-24, only one million are credit active. Yet among these credit users, nearly half have defaulted on their loans. With an average monthly income of R3,400 (less than half the national average of R7,000) and a youth unemployment rate of 62.4%, financial strain is widespread in this age group.
17 Jun 2025 5AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Inside Siyakhokha: How Ekurhuleni Is Modernising Municipal Payments

Ekurhuleni’s finances — and its ability to deliver reliable services — depend on a strong partnership with residents. MMC for Finance Alderman Jongizizwe Dlabathi explains how the City’s Siyakhokha platform is transforming municipal payments through convenience, security and digital efficiency. From registering online to logging queries and making payment arrangements,…
25 Jun 4PM 15 min

African Bank sees R624mn half-year loss, Capital ratio 25.8% keeps ops standing

African Bank has entered a new chapter shifting from years of acquisitive expansion to a disciplined phase of consolidation. Interim Group CEO Zweli Manyathi breaks down the R624m loss, the credit environment, cost‑to‑income pressures, and the bank’s strategy to unlock value from its diversified platform.
25 Jun 4PM 21 min

Meet the Kaya Youth: Ambitious, Connected and Climbing the Wealth Ladder

BrandMapp’s latest data reveals a youth audience unlike any other in South Africa — ambitious, financially upward‑moving, news‑engaged and career‑focused. Brandon de Kock, Director of Storytelling at BrandMapp, unpacks who the Kaya youth really are, how they consume news, what motivates them, and why they represent the next wave of…
25 Jun 4PM 9 min

The Real State of SA’s Retirement Health

South Africa’s most referenced retirement study reveals a widening gap between when people believe they should start planning and when they actually do. CEO of Sanlam Corporate, Kanyisa Mkhize, unpacks the 2026 Sanlam Benchmark findings — from delayed planning and rising debt among retirees to the behavioural risks shaping household…
25 Jun 4PM 11 min

Gautrain at 16: Inside SA’s Most Successful Transport PPP

Gautrain Management Agency CEO Tshepo Kgobe joins us in studio to reflect on 16 years of the rapid rail system that has carried more than 216 million passengers. We go beyond the milestone to unpack operational excellence, affordability, and the future of Gauteng mobility. A deep dive into what it…
24 Jun 4PM 24 min