Author: Kosta Scholiadis

Across South Africa, millions of informal workers keep our towns and cities running: street vendors, domestic workers, market traders, delivery riders, and gig workers who power the everyday economy. Yet, despite their significance to the South African economy, most of these workers remain shut out of the formal financial system. They cannot open bank accounts because they lack formal identification, proof of address, or regular income. Many are migrants who face even greater barriers. For them, financial exclusion is a daily reality that limits their ability to save securely, grow their small businesses, or participate fully in a changing economy.…