South Africa’s middle class is in deep trouble

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

Eighty20 has released its 2023 Q4 Credit Stress Report (CSR) in collaboration with Xpert Decision Systems
(XDS) outlining developments in the credit sector as well as its impact on the economic landscape. The 2023 Q3 analysis brought a glimmer of hope to South Africa's credit sector for the first time in years.

This optimism was short-lived as Q4 highlighted a blend of both positive and negative indicators with the unemployment
rate increasing slightly, inflation creeping up, and consumer confidence dipping down again.

Despite this, there was a significant improvement within the credit sector as the percentage of loans in arrears
decreased by a full percentage point. Although our economy bounced back to its pre-Covid level in mid-2023, there was a 0.3% decline in GDP during Q3 of 2023, raising concerns of being at risk of a recession when the GDP figures are released on March 5th.
The UK has already slipped into a technical recession, and globally, theoutlook remains bleak.
21 Mar 2024 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Tracking South Africa’s Reform Agenda

Econometrix Chief Economist Dr. Azar Jammine breaks down the latest Operation Vulindlela progress report. We explore where reforms are gaining traction—from energy restructuring to freight logistics—and where bottlenecks remain.
28 Apr 3PM 20 min

Is SA’s Construction Sector Turning?

Economist Dr. Roelof Botha analyzes the latest Afrimat Construction Index alongside Operation Vulindlela’s reform dashboard. With construction activity rising for a second quarter, we ask whether reforms in energy, logistics, and water are finally translating into real‑world infrastructure momentum.
28 Apr 3PM 13 min

Making B‑BBEE Work for Growth

NEF General Counsel Karishma Govender joins us to unpack new research on managers’ perceptions of B‑BBEE. We explore why transformation remains essential.
28 Apr 3PM 8 min

Inside the SpendTrend26 Report

Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner joins Kaya Biz to unpack the SpendTrend26 report, revealing how South Africans are becoming more disciplined, more digital, and more value‑driven.
28 Apr 3PM 17 min

Long‑Term Investing in Uncertain Markets

With global conflict, inflation swings, and rapid AI disruption, investors are feeling the pressure. Horacia Naidoo‑McCarthy from Allan Gray explains how to avoid emotional decision‑making, anchor to fundamentals, and maintain long‑term discipline when markets feel unfamiliar and unpredictable.
28 Apr 3PM 12 min