Stats SA has release the following information:

The number of civil summonses issued for debt increases

In the three months ended November 2009 reflected a 5,1% increase in the total number of civil summonses issued for debt compared with the three months ended November 2008. An increase of 8,1% was recorded between November 2008 and November 2009 .

The major contributors to the increase in civil summonses issued for debt for the three months ended November 2009 compared with the three months ended November 2008 were civil summonses issued in respect of money lent ( 2,6 percentage  points),  promissory  notes  and  other  acknowledgements  of  debt  (1,4  percentage  points)  (this  category includes  credit  card  debt),  ‘other  debts’  (0,9  of  a  percentage  point)  and  professional  services  (0,9  of  a  percentage point). The only negative contributors were the goods sold on an open account category and the rent category.

The number of civil judgments recorded for debt increases

Following the trend in the number of civil summonses issued for debt, the total number of civil judgments recorded for debt for the three months ended November 2009 increased by 14,3% compared with the three months ended November 2008. An increase of 18,8% was recorded between November 2008 and November 2009.

Civil   judgments   in   respect   of   money   lent   (contributing   8,8   percentage   points),   promissory   notes   and   other acknowledgements of debt (contributing 4,2 percentage points) and goods sold on an open account (contributing 1,9percentage points) were the main drivers behind the 14,3% increase. The ‘other debts’ and ‘other services’ categories were the only negative contributors.

The value of civil judgments recorded for debt increases

The total value of civil judgements recorded for debt for the three months ended November 2009 increased by29,9%  compared  with  the  three  months  ended  November  2008.  A  24,1%  increase  was  recorded  between November 2008 and November 2009.

The major contributors to the 29,9% increase in the value of civil judgements for the three months ended November2009 compared with the three months ended November 2008 were money lent (10,7 percentage points), promissory notes  and  other  acknowledgements  of  debt  (5,6  percentage  points)  and  goods  sold  on  an  open  account  (4,0 percentage points).

During November 2009, 64 254 civil judgments for debt amounting to R649,2 million were recorded. The largest contributors to the R649,2 million were :

· money lent (R210,7 million or 32,5%)

· promissory notes and other acknowledgements of debt (R102,8 million or 15,8%)

· ‘other debts’ (R95,4 million or 14,7%) and

· goods sold on an open account (R70,0 million or 10,8%)