Johannesburg — With over 12 million adults in South Africa struggling with debt and nearly half the population lacking financial literacy, the need for accessible credit education has never been more urgent. Into this crisis steps TransUnion, which recently unveiled Africa’s first-ever peelable billboard at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, as part of its new campaign, ‘Be the Reason Things Change’.
The striking installation is designed to symbolically and physically strip away barriers like fear, misinformation, and exclusion, which keep millions of South Africans locked out of the formal credit system. Each of the 500 peelable strips reveals a QR code that unlocks a free e-learning credit education course worth R2,000.
“Visibility is power,” says Amy Beck, CMO TransUnion Africa. “When people understand how credit works, they gain the confidence to change their future, and lenders gain the insights to see them clearly. This campaign is about breaking down the barriers that hold people back and empowering them to take control of their financial story.”
The campaign comes at a sobering time: according to HSRC research, 71% of South Africans don’t have emergency savings, and a May 2025 FinMark Trust study revealed that millions face ongoing repayment difficulties. While financial inclusion has improved, the lack of knowledge about credit continues to trap households in cycles of debt.
A Springbok at the forefront
At the heart of the campaign is Springbok star Lukhanyo Am, joined by fellow Springbok Makazole Mapimpi, actor Thembinkosi Mthembu, and fashion entrepreneur Tshepo Mohlala. Together, they peel back the layers of their own journeys, highlighting how education, opportunity, and resilience can transform lives.
For Am, whose on-field leadership has inspired a nation, the cause is personal:
By standing behind financial education, he and the other ambassadors are urging South Africans to see credit not as a burden, but as a potential tool for empowerment.
(Also read: Can’t get to a Springboks match? Boktown brings it to you — here’s the 2025 schedule)
Beyond the billboard
To extend the campaign’s reach, TransUnion will launch a digital peelable billboard on August 26, opening the platform to an additional 4,500 South Africans. In total, over R10 million worth of education, training, and prizes will be distributed, including:
- Five education fund prizes valued at R20,000 each, paid directly to a learning institution or nominated beneficiary.
- Ten tech-for-learning prizes worth R7,000 each, comprising a laptop and 12 months of data.
The campaign, run in partnership with the InterInternational Finance Corporation, is designed not only to teach but also to equip South Africans with the tools to thrive in a digital-first economy.
A wake-up call for South Africans
Despite progress in financial inclusion, the facts remain grim:
- 12 million South Africans are in financial distress due to debt.
- 51% of adults lack financial literacy, according to FSCA and HSRC studies.
- 71% of the population has no emergency savings, leaving them vulnerable to financial shocks.
Against this backdrop, Be the Reason Things Change is more than a campaign — it’s a wake-up call.
“This campaign is about more than credit education. It’s about unlocking opportunity,” TransUnion notes. “When people understand their credit profiles, they make better decisions, recover from setbacks, and access life-changing possibilities, from buying a car to starting a business.”
For more information, visit TransUnion’s Be The Reason Things Change campaign hub.
