Who you are
We confirm your identity so that nobody can borrow in your name.
How we lend responsibly
A loan should solve a problem without creating a new one. That is why every application for a RandLeaf loan is assessed, every time, and why we set limits that are stricter than the law in a few places.
What the law asks of every lender
The National Credit Act 34 of 2005 sets the rules for consumer credit in South Africa. Among other things, it requires a lender to assess whether you can afford a loan before agreeing to it, and to give you a quote that shows the full cost.
Lending to someone who clearly can’t afford it, or without doing a proper assessment, is called reckless credit. The Act treats it seriously, and so do we.
This page is not legal advice
It explains how we apply the law in our own process. If you have a dispute about a credit agreement, the complaints page explains where you can take it.
What we check, and why
This is how RandLeaf assesses its own loans. Its own applications aren’t open yet; while applications go through our partner link, the partner’s credit provider does its own assessment, which the National Credit Act requires of every lender.
Your credit record
A credit bureau report shows your existing accounts and how they are being repaid. It helps us see the full picture, not only one payslip.
Your income
We confirm your regular income from payslips or bank statements, or through a bank verification you approve.
Your expenses
We look at your living costs and existing repayments to see what is left over each month.
Limits we set ourselves
- Lower maximums on a first loan: short-term loan up to R2 000, instalment loan up to R5 000, personal loan up to R10 000
- One active RandLeaf loan per customer at a time
- No roll-overs, top-ups or automatic renewals
- No new loan to repay an existing loan, ours or anyone else’s
- No lending to anyone under debt review or who has applied for it
Coming back after repaying does not mean automatic approval. A previous loan does not guarantee approval: every application is assessed again with up-to-date information.
Our prices and the legal maximums
The regulations in Government Gazette 39379 (GN 1080 of 2015) set maximum interest rates, initiation fees and service fees for different types of credit. Our rates and fees are set below those maximums.
We charge 2% a month interest on the principal you still owe, an initiation fee of R50 plus 4% of the amount above R1 000, and a service fee of R40 a month. Fees include any VAT that applies.
The legal ceilings are not a discount we give you. They are limits every lender must stay within. Where the regulations set a lower ceiling for some repeat loans, that is the law, not part of RandLeaf Roots.
Marketing rules we follow
- We never say approval is guaranteed or that we don’t check credit records
- We don’t use countdown timers, “last chance” offers or pressure to borrow more
- Every example shows the full amount to repay, not only a monthly figure
- We only send marketing messages where the law allows it and you can opt out
Struggling with repayments?
Having difficulty making a repayment? Contact our support team to discuss the available options. What to do if you are struggling.
Related pages
Requirements
Age, ID, your own bank account, an income you can show and room in your budget.
Costs and fees
Interest, initiation fee and service fee, each explained.
Payment difficulties
What to do first if a repayment is going to be hard, and where to find independent help.