Wonga survey reveals that the rising cost of living has forced millions of South Africans into mashonisa debt.

A new Wonga survey shows the cost-of-living crisis is pushing more households into debt just to cover basic needs. 41% of people say they use credit every month for groceries, transport and electricity. 32% borrowed from informal lenders or mashonisas, in the past year, up from 15% in 2025. We speak to Wonga spokesperson, Tina Manyanya about what the findings reveal on household finances and debt.