Rural credit markets in South Africa: A review of theory and empirical evidence

The demand for and supply of financial services in general and credit instruments in particular by rural South Africa still remains a confounding problem. The aim of this paper is to determine the status of rural credit markets in South Africa by reviewing theory and evidence from empirical studies. It is observed that financial markets in South Africa are fragmented between formal and informal markets. Formal financial markets generally serve urban and peri-urban areas with a thin distribution of services to people living in rural areas. Rather, informal financial institutions such as savings clubs (stockvels), co-operatives, moneylenders (mashonisas) and village banks are the more dominant providers of financial services. Commercial banks and other formal financial institutions cite high operating costs such as information gathering, monitoring and enforcement as some of the reasons for limited participation in rural financial markets. Such attitudes have been observed to retard entrepreneurial innovation and growth among small to medium size enterprises and smallholder farmers. Results of this analysis have policy implications in the areas of reduction of unemployment, poverty and sustainable economic growth in South Africa. Policies directed at increasing financial intermediation via formal financial institutions are recommended