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Learn · Private lending in South Africa
Understand private lending before you place capital.
Clear, factual guides for South Africans exploring private lending and private credit — what it is, how prime-linked returns work, and the difference between local and offshore. No jargon, no advice — just the groundwork so you can explore with confidence.
Private lending, explained
Borrowers
Community schemes and arrear levies
What a body corporate is, why levies fall behind, and why that creates a lending need.
Foundations
What is private lending in South Africa?
The complete guide — what it is, how it differs from a bank deposit, and who provides the capital.
Foundations
What is an alternative asset?
Everything outside shares, bonds and cash — what's in the category, and the trade-off nearly all of them share.
Returns
How much can you earn?
Local and offshore ranges, worked examples by amount, and what moves the number.
Returns
What does prime-linked mean?
How the South African prime rate works and why some private-lending returns move with it.
Comparison
Private lending vs a fixed deposit
Returns, risk and access compared — and which suits which kind of capital.
Comparison
Private lending vs unit trusts
Market-linked funds versus a steadier, repayment-based return — compared plainly.
Returns
Monthly income from private lending
How it pays a regular income, how much different amounts produce, and how steady it is.
Offshore
Offshore lending and the rand
Your return has two parts — the interest, and the currency. Worked in both directions.
Offshore
How much can you take offshore?
The SDA and the FIA explained — R2m without SARS approval, R10m more with it, and how they stack.
Offshore
Offshore private lending for South Africans
Hard-currency returns, the rand-hedge angle, the risks, and how to start.
Comparison
Private lending vs the stock market
Returns, risk and volatility compared — and which suits which kind of capital.
Comparison
Private lending vs property (buy-to-let)
Returns, effort, liquidity and risk compared — an asset you run vs a return you receive.
Comparison
Private lending vs money market funds
Where cash waits versus where capital works — returns, access and fees compared.
Comparison
Private lending vs RSA Retail Savings Bonds
Lending to the state versus lending privately — return, security and terms.
Foundations
Private lending vs private credit
What each term means, how they overlap, and which describes what you'd be doing.
Safety
How is my capital protected?
What "secured" means, how recourse works, and the honest caveats.
Safety & getting started
Regulation
Is private lending regulated in SA?
Who must be registered — and why it is not you. Plus FICA, and how to check any operator.
Lump sums
Private lending for a lump sum or retirement
What it does well with a payout, what it does badly, and the questions to settle first.
Tax
Is private lending income taxable?
It is interest, not a dividend or a capital gain — the exemption, and the missing IT3(b).
Safety
Is private lending safe?
How capital is secured, what happens on default, the real risks, and how to check it's legitimate.
Safety
What if a borrower doesn't repay?
The recovery process, what security does, and who handles it.
Getting started
How to start private lending
The five steps from curious to confident — what you'll need and what to expect.
For professionals
Consultants
Additional income for accountants
How accountants add a private-lending consultancy alongside their practice.
Consultants
Additional income for financial advisers
The role, and the compliance questions to settle first.
Consultants
Additional income for estate agents
Meeting clients at the moment capital is released — and smoothing the gaps.
Apply
Become a ProLend consultant
The full model — training, tools, support, and how consultants build a practice.
Put it into practice
Calculator · Local
Model a local, prime-linked scenario
Enter an amount and see an indicative monthly income on a Rand-based pathway.
Calculator · Offshore
Model an offshore scenario
Explore hard-currency income and growth notes — deploy in Rands at live rates.
All tools
Private lending calculators
Both calculators in one place, with what each models and how to read the output.
Directory
Find a consultant near you
Verified private-lending consultants across South Africa. Choose the one you want to talk to.
Educational information only. Nothing on these pages is financial advice or a recommendation. Figures shown in ProLend calculators are indicative; final terms, availability and acceptance apply.