Know Your Rights: A South African’s Guide to Safe Borrowing and Dealing with Loan Sharks

A certified mediator and debt counsellor, Arthur Nieklaassen, authored this book, revealing a critical truth. Borrowers are not obligated to repay debts to unregistered loan sharks, or Mashonisas.

The book provides a clear, step-by-step journey from vulnerability to empowerment. It begins by demystifying the South African credit landscape, explaining the protective role of the National Credit Act (NCA) and the National Credit Regulator (NCR). It then outlines how to identify the red flags of illegal lenders and details the devastating cycle of debt they create.

At its core, the book offers a practical action plan for those already trapped, guiding them on how to cease communication. Gather evidence, report the lender, and stand their ground against intimidation using proven mediation techniques.

Moving beyond crisis management, Nieklaassen provides actionable strategies for finding safe financial alternatives, building a healthy financial future through budgeting and saving, and empowering entire communities to resist these predators. This book is more than just information. It is a tool for transformation, turning fear into concrete action and helplessness into confident control.