Publications
Partners
Cape Town - In March 2015 there was an increase of 9.5% in the number of civil summonses issued for debt in SA, as compared to March 2014, according to a report released by Stats SA in May 2015.
The number of cases in March 2014 was 60 677 and in March 2015 66 422.
The highest number of civil default and consent judgements in March 2015 was in Gauteng (6 279), followed by the Western Cape with 4 142. The lowest number of cases was in the Northern Cape, with 486 recorded during March 2015.
The value of the civil judgements for debt in March 2015 totaled R423m, an increase of 11% compared to March 2014.
The largest three contributors to the value of the debt judgements R423m were the following:
• Services (R69.4m)
• Money lent (R93.3m)
• Other debts (145.2m)
But when the entire first quarter of 2015 is compared to the first quarter of 2015, there was, in fact a decrease of 3.2% in the number of civil summonses between 2014 and 2015.
Fewer cases, but larger sums of debt
In the first quarter of 2015, there was a decrease of 8.4% in the total number of civil judgements when compared to the number of civil judgements for debt recorded in the first quarter of 2014.
However, a year-on-year increase of 11% was recorded in the value of civil judgements – in other words, while there were fewer cases, they involved larger sums of money (In total from R381.2m in the first quarter of 2014 to R423m in the first quarter of 2015)
Terms of reference
Services refer to municipal services, plumbers, builders, mechanics, panel beaters and electricians. ‘Other debts’ refer to all other outstanding debts, such as wages and salaries, medical fund debt, sponsored debt, class and tuition debt, tax, assessment rates and property levies.
A civil judgement is a decision taken in a civil matter or a dispute between two people or parties, whereas a civil summons is a notice to appear before the court of law where a dispute between two parties or people has to be heard (not for a criminal offence).
A consent judgement refers to the agreement by a debtor to accept a judgement of the court against him/her for debt without defending the action. A default judgement refers to a ruling by the court against the defendant, who is not present, despite being given notice of the court proceedings, and requiring to be present.
Stats SA conducts a monthly sample survey of civil cases recorded and civil summonses for debt issued in South Africa. The monthly survey of 203 magistrates’ courts represents approximately 98% of all cases in South Africa, according to the Stats SA.
Reference
1. Stats SA
