Private lending
ProLend does not lend you money. It connects South Africans to arrangements where their own capital is the money being lent — so the interest comes to them, not to a bank. Local and offshore.
Two ways to lend — see the structure, model a return
For professionals — join the network Become a ProLend consultantPrivate lending in South Africa
Private lending is lending that happens outside the banking system. Instead of depositing money with a bank that then lends it on, capital is placed directly into a lending arrangement — to a business, a property development, or a community scheme — and the return is the interest paid on that loan.
You are a lender rather than an owner. There is no share price to follow, because there is no share. What determines the outcome is whether the borrowing is repaid under its terms, which is why the security behind a loan matters more than market sentiment.
It is an alternative asset in the sense that it sits outside listed shares, bonds and cash — and like most alternatives, it asks for capital to be committed for a term rather than withdrawable on a few days' notice.
ProLend is a marketing and distribution platform, not the lender. We explain how the structures work, let you model an indicative scenario on your own numbers, and connect you with a consultant who can walk through the detail. Every consultant is listed in our directory of verified private-lending consultants — you choose who you speak to.
There are two pathways. Local arrangements are rand-denominated and prime-linked, so the return moves with the Reserve Bank's prime rate. Offshore arrangements are in pounds, dollars or euros at a fixed annual rate — where the currency movement becomes a second factor alongside the interest.
The calculator above is indicative and requires no sign-up. Nothing is committed by using it.
It tends to suit people with capital that genuinely has no near-term call on it: a lump sum after a business sale or property transaction, retirement capital that needs to produce income you can plan around, or savings that have been sitting in cash by default for years.
It suits less well anyone who may need the money at short notice. Capital is committed for the term, and that commitment is precisely what earns the higher return — so money you might need should stay where it can be reached.
Returns are not guaranteed and capital is at risk. The honest questions to ask first are what secures the loan and what happens if a borrower does not repay — the answers to those matter far more than the headline rate.
Private lending in South Africa
The essentials on private lending in South Africa — before you model a scenario.
ProLend is a South African private-lending platform where you can explore and model local and offshore private-lending opportunities and enquire through a dedicated consultant. Figures shown are indicative and not financial advice.
Private lending is the provision of capital into structured lending arrangements outside traditional bank deposits, usually for income or growth. Returns depend on the arrangement and prevailing rates. Read the complete guide →
Local pathways are Rand-based and prime-linked. Offshore pathways are denominated in hard currency such as US dollars, pounds or euros over fixed terms; you deploy in Rands at the live exchange rate.
A prime-linked return moves with South Africa's prime lending rate — the benchmark rate banks charge their lowest-risk clients — so the indicative return adjusts as prime changes. Prime-linked, explained →
It is for people with capital who want to explore income or growth through private-lending arrangements. ProLend provides information and a calculator; it does not provide financial advice.
Model an amount on the ProLend calculator to see an indicative outcome, then submit an enquiry. A consultant will be in touch. There is no obligation.