Debt Review Awards 2025: Awards
Debt Review Awards 2025 | Part 4
Over the last 11 months, members of the SA debt management industry (credit providers, debt counsellors, attorneys and others) took time to complete reviews of their colleagues on the other side of the industry.
These form the basis of the Awards results shown below.
Steve from the Debt Review Awards team amused the guests while explaining how great he had made debt review and how he knows all there is to know about debt review (in a very Trump-esque style address).
He not only promised to “make debt great again” (??), but also announced plans for the next five years to include and recognise efforts in other regions of the world. This will adjust the current set up of the local Debt Review Awards into the International Debt Management Awards.
Media Award
A brand new award category this year, recognised journalist Ryk Van Niekerk of Moneyweb for his article: The 16-minute scam: How a cold call nearly put me under debt review.
The media play an important role in letting the public know both the benefits and challenges that come with debt review. This new category is designed to help shine a light on those in the media who are making an effort to help educate consumers.
Legal Awards
In 2025, two Awards, based on peer reviews by fellow attorney participants, were made in the following legal categories:
Top 5 Attorneys on behalf of Credit Providers Practices
Alphabetically:
CF van Coller Inc
Glover Kannieappan Inc (GKI)
Oosthuizen Du Toit Berg & Boon Attorneys
Velile Tinto & Associates
VHI Attorneys
Highest Rated:
Glover Kannieappan Inc (GKI)
Top 5 Attorneys on Behalf of Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
D.E. Bendeman & Associates
De Lange Attorneys | MiLaw
Janda Du Toit Attorneys
Jonathan Van Druten Attorneys
Steyn Coetzee & Inc
Highest Rated:
Jonathan Van Druten Attorneys
The Nousheen Pore Award
In the final legal category, recognition was given to an individual who strives to empower and assist others and is involved in the legal side of the debt management process.
Timmy van der Grijp
PDAs
For many years, there has been a back and forth in Awards between the small number of registered payment distribution agents.
Given the small number of participants in this side of the industry an adjustment has been made in this category going forward.
This year, all three of the NCR registered Payment Distribution Agents were recognised for their vital contribution to the industry.
The PDA have moved a combined +- R1.9 billion monthly from consumers to credit providers over the last year.
That’s really an amazing statistic! This is roughly 10% of the entire credit providers’ distressed client debtors’ book for the whole country. This goes to show the high level of accuracy and ability of all 3 of the NCR registered PDAs.
Credit Providers
Credit providers in 6 different size or type categories were recognised during this year’s awards process. Debt Counsellors got to weigh in throughout the year on how credit providers (both of BASA, CASA and no affiliated) were preforming specifically in regard to debt review.
The results of the industry peer review were announced and the top spots went to the following credit providers.
Debt Counsellors identified Nedbank as this year’s Most Improved Debt Review Department
Short Term Finance
Consumer Friend (obo Credit Solutions)
Retail & Recoveries
Consumer Friend (obo various clients)
Large Non Bank Credit Providers
Old Mutual
Vehicle Finance
MFC (a division of Nedbank)
Banks: Unsecured
African Bank
Banks: Secured
ABSA
Finally, the highest rated debt review department across all different types of credit providers in this year’s peer reviews was identified.
Consumer Friend took home their third Award of the day as the overall highest rated out of all credit provider debt review departments reviewed by Debt Counsellors for 2024-2025.
Debt Counsellors
The final section of the day was Debt Counsellors of various size practices.
This year, there had already been Top 10 announcements in the various sizes. These were shared online leading up to the event.
On the day, the Top 5 were announced and the highest rated Boutique, Small, Medium, Large, National and National Plus categories.
Top 5 Boutique Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
2nd Chance Debt Counsellors | Anthony Mac Minn
Flischman Debt Counsellors | Tielman Flischman
Karlien de Wet Debt Counselling | Karlien de Wet
Living Debt Free | Kevin Russell
Wineland Debt Counsellor | Karel Schweidler
Highest Rated:
Tielman Flischman | Flischman Debt Counsellors
Top 5 Small Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
Algoa Debt Counsellors | Derryn Fish
CIDA | Lee-Ann Sansom
First Urban Financial Services | Johan Smith
Mabcor | Corrie Gouws
RD Debt Counselling | Anna Du Plessis
Highest Rated:
Mabcor | Corrie Gouws
Top 5 Medium Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
Consumer Credit Care | Janine Viljoen
CS Debt Counselling | Bernidene Thieroff
Debt Therapy | Reinhard Pettenburger
Nazlee van Staden | Nazlee van Staden
Nicola van der Merwe Debt Counsellor | Nicola van der Merwe
Highest Rated:
Debt Therapy | Reinhard Pettenburger
Top 5 Large Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
DCGsa
Debt Map
DebtSafe
EZ Debt
Gauteng Debt Counselling
Highest Rated:
DebtSafe
Top 5 National Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
CreditSmart
DC Experts
Debtco Group
Meerkat
Vantage Debt Management
Highest Rated:
DC Experts
Top 5 National Plus Debt Counsellors
Alphabetically:
DebtBusters
Debt Rescue
National Debt Advisors (NDA)
National Debt Counsellors (NDC)
Pioneer Debt Solutions
Highest Rated:
National Debt Counsellors (NDC)
Congratulations to the Top 10, Top 5 and highest rated Debt Counsellors this year.
Your hard work and efforts are being noticed by credit providers and you are setting the standard for debt review this year. Well done!
For more pics and details on the Awards process and info on the winners and highest rated in various categories, please head to the Awards website:
