What's changed in South African debt collection and prescription law
Two developments matter most for debt collection practice right now: a 2019 debt-intervention reform to the National Credit Act that is signed into law but still has no commencement date, and a 2023 Judicial Matters Amendment Act that touched debt-adjacent procedure. The prescribed rate of interest is also revised periodically by government notice, so any interest figure needs checking against the current notice. This is general information, not legal advice.
Reviewed by TefCo Compliance Research — last verified 15 September 2026.
In short
- The National Credit Amendment Act 7 of 2019, which would create a free debt-intervention route for the poorest over-indebted consumers, was published in the Government Gazette on 19 August 2019 but still requires a presidential commencement proclamation before it takes legal effect.
- The Judicial Matters Amendment Act 15 of 2023 was assented to and published on 3 April 2024, and touches procedure the debt collection industry should be aware of, alongside its main changes to the Magistrates' Courts Act, Administration of Estates Act and Criminal Procedure Act.
- The prescribed rate of interest under the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act 55 of 1975 is revised from time to time by government notice — the rate has changed more than once in recent years, so always confirm the rate currently in force rather than relying on a remembered figure.
- None of this is legal advice — where a change affects a live collection matter, get advice from a qualified legal practitioner.
Debt intervention: enacted, but still not in force
The National Credit Amendment Act 7 of 2019 would let a natural person earning a low monthly income, with limited unsecured debt and no realisable assets, apply to the National Credit Regulator and National Consumer Tribunal to have that debt re-arranged, suspended, or ultimately extinguished. It was assented to and published in Government Gazette 42653 on 19 August 2019.
As at the most recent published check, the Act still requires the President to fix a commencement date by proclamation, and no such proclamation had been issued. Businesses relying on 'debt intervention' as an active legal route for a consumer should first confirm whether it has since commenced — this page cannot confirm that for you at the time you are reading it.
Because commencement depends on a future proclamation, this is one of the few dates on this page that could change without a new Act being passed. Check the Government Gazette or the National Credit Regulator's website for a commencement notice before assuming the debt-intervention provisions are live.
The Judicial Matters Amendment Act 15 of 2023
This Act was assented to and published in Government Gazette 50430 on 3 April 2024. Its main subject matter is the Magistrates' Courts Act 1944, the Administration of Estates Act 1965 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1977, rather than the Debt Collectors Act directly — but it forms part of the same family of amendments that periodically touch magistrates' court procedure relevant to how debt matters are enforced.
Businesses and their legal practitioners should check the current, amended text of any Act they rely on for a collection matter, rather than the original enactment, since several Acts covered on this page have been amended more than once since their original commencement.
Interest rates that move independently of any of these Acts
The Prescribed Rate of Interest Act 55 of 1975 rate is not fixed in the Act itself — it is set and revised by government notice from time to time, and has changed more than once in the recent past. Any figure quoted for the prescribed rate should be checked against the Government Gazette notice currently in force before being used in a calculation or a client communication.
Frequently asked
Can a consumer apply for debt intervention right now?
This depends on whether the National Credit Amendment Act 7 of 2019 has commenced by the time you are reading this. It had not commenced as at the most recent published check available when this page was last reviewed — confirm the current position before advising a consumer either way.
Did the Judicial Matters Amendment Act 15 of 2023 change the Debt Collectors Act's fee structure?
The Act's stated focus is the Magistrates' Courts Act, Administration of Estates Act and Criminal Procedure Act. No verified source found for this page confirms a direct amendment to Debt Collectors Act fees by this Act — confirm current fees directly with the Council for Debt Collectors.
Where do I find the current prescribed rate of interest?
Check the most recent government notice under the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act 55 of 1975 in the Government Gazette, since the rate is revised periodically and is not fixed in the Act's text.
Sources
- National Credit Amendment Act 7 of 2019, Government Gazette 42653 (19 August 2019)
- Judicial Matters Amendment Act 15 of 2023, Government Gazette 50430 (3 April 2024)
- Prescribed Rate of Interest Act 55 of 1975 — current prescribed rate notices (Acts Online)
- Debt Collectors Act 114 of 1998, consolidated text (SAFLII)
TefCo Corporate Compliance (Pty) Ltd is a compliance management platform, not a legal, tax or advisory firm. This guide is general information, not advice. Fees, dates and thresholds change — confirm current figures with the regulator before you rely on them.