• High Number of Civil Summonses: The report highlighted the number of civil summonses issued for debt in April 2023, with Gauteng province recording the highest number at 11,349. The total number of civil summonses issued across South Africa was 35,413.
• Civil Default and Consent Judgements: Gauteng also led in the number of civil default and consent judgements for debt with 2,822 judgements. The total number of these judgements across South Africa in April 2023 was 10,292.
• Value of Judgements: In terms of the value of civil default and consent judgements for debt, Gauteng had the highest value at R66,547,000. The total value of these judgements across South Africa in April 2023 was R263,923,000.

In a recent report released by Statistics South Africa, the country’s debt landscape has been laid bare, revealing key insights into the state of civil cases for debt in April 2023. The report, titled “Statistics of Civil Cases for Debt, April 2023,” provides a comprehensive overview of the number of civil summonses issued for debt, civil default and consent judgements for debt, and the value of these judgements.

Civil Summonses Issued for Debt

The report outlines the number of civil summonses issued for debt by province. In April 2023, Gauteng recorded the highest number of civil summonses at 11,349, followed by Western Cape at 8,307. The provinces with the least number of summonses were Northern Cape and Limpopo, with 286 and 1,583 summonses respectively. The total number of civil summonses issued for debt across South Africa in April 2023 was 35,413.

Civil Default and Consent Judgements for Debt

The report also provides data on the number of civil default and consent judgements for debt by province. In April 2023, Gauteng again topped the list with 2,822 judgements. Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal followed with 2,224 and 1,104 judgements respectively. The total number of civil default and consent judgements for debt across South Africa in April 2023 was 10,292.

Value of Civil Default and Consent Judgements for Debt

In terms of the value of civil default and consent judgements for debt by province, Gauteng led the pack with a value of R66,547,000. Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal followed with values of R74,130,000 and R39,905,000 respectively. The total value of civil default and consent judgements for debt across South Africa in April 2023 was R263,923,000.

Implications and Conclusions

The data provided by Statistics South Africa paints a detailed picture of the state of civil cases for debt in the country. The high number of civil summonses and judgements in provinces such as Gauteng and Western Cape suggests a significant level of indebtedness, which could have far-reaching implications for the economy and individual financial stability.

As South Africa continues to navigate its economic landscape, these statistics provide valuable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and individuals alike. Understanding the state of debt in the country is crucial for developing strategies to manage and mitigate the impact of debt on the economy and the financial wellbeing of South Africans.

Table 1: Number of Civil Summonses Issued for Debt by Province (April 2023)

Table 2: Number of Civil Default and Consent Judgements for Debt by Province (April 2023)

Table 3: Value of Civil Default and Consent Judgements for Debt by Province (April 2023)

Read the Full Statistical Release below: