Despite often being primary breadwinners, middle-class women in South Africa often face financial abuse.
Although South Africa’s shocking gender-based violence statistics are often highlighted as a significant area of concern, the financial abuse of women is often not spoken about.
This is according to Somila Gogoba from Milaw Legal, who said that economic abuse threatens a woman’s financial stability.
“In South Africa, where 38% of households are led by women who are often the primary earners, research by University of South Africa scholars Bianca Rochelle Parry and Puleng Segalo shows these women still face financial abuse. Despite being primary breadwinners, they also shoulder domestic and childcare duties, due to the persistence of stereotypical gender roles in modern society,” said Gogoba.
“Also, in many of these financially abusive relationships, some partners deliberately avoid employment and rely entirely on their partner for financial support without valid reason even when the overall financial circumstances of the household do not warrant it. This is a form of financial abuse because it involves manipulating financial circumstances to control and harm another person.”
She noted that this abusive behaviour often leads to long-term debt issues, which impacts a woman’s mental, physical, and financial health.
A report from National Debt Advisors said that most of its female clients who were seeking debt assistance mainly had unsecured debt. On the other hand, male clients often amassed debt from acquiring assets.
80% of women clients had personal loans, whilst nearly 50% struggled with credit card debt.
Gogoba said that the following steps could help a woman recover from financial abuse:
- “Prepare for the Future: If leaving the abuser immediately isn’t feasible, subtly save funds by opening a new bank account, concealing cash out of the abuser’s reach, and seeking support from trusted friends and family.
- Self-Protection: Update your bank and credit card account details, like PINs and access codes, keeping them secret, and request a free credit report to check for any unauthorised accounts or credit lines in your name.
- Credit Protection: Set up fraud alerts on your credit with major bureaus, valid for two years and extendable to seven with a police or identity theft report or opt for a credit freeze with each bureau to block new accounts from being opened in your name.
- Credit Score Improvement: To boost your credit score, prioritise timely bill payments, manage credit utilisation wisely, maintain a long credit history, and seek professional help.”
“One out of every three adults in this country have experienced financial abuse at the hands of a current or former partner. While seldom spoken about, this form of domestic violence has evidently impacted thousands of households leading to not only lifelong financial trauma, but also a momentous debt crisis.”
