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Partner Content

You can attend an industry event or you can become part of the industry.

For iPDA, August was about the latter.

The 2026 DCASA Annual Conference and Golf Day in Gauteng gave us the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and professionals, exchange ideas, challenge thinking and, importantly, contribute to the conversations shaping the future of debt review.

With around 200 delegates at Birchwood Conference Centre, the conference theme — “Don’t Drop the Ball” — was particularly fitting. The debt review industry is evolving, and staying ahead requires more than simply keeping up. It requires collaboration, accountability and a willingness to have the conversations that matter.

The conference brought together industry voices to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing debt review, including consumer experiences, communication, data, collaboration, fees and the future of the sector.

Our CEO and PDASA Chairman, Tiaan Hattingh, contributed to these discussions as both a speaker and panelist.

His message challenged delegates to look beyond the immediate issues and consider the bigger picture:

    • Are we building value?
    • Are we stronger together?
    • Are we making an impact?
    • Are we leaving it better than we found it?

For iPDA, these aren’t simply questions for a conference audience. They reflect the way we believe an industry should move forward — together.

Planting the Seeds of Growth

We brought a little of that philosophy to life with our coffee-inspired conference theme.

Each delegate received an Arabica coffee plant, representing something we believe strongly in: growth takes time.

It needs nurturing, it needs the right conditions and it benefits from collaboration. The same can be said for the debt review industry.

 The following day, the conversation moved from the conference room to the golf course as iPDA and SoftyComp joined industry colleagues for the DCASA Golf Day.

Our coffee-inspired waterhole activation gave us another opportunity to connect with delegates in a fun and memorable way. And apparently, we made quite an impression — iPDA took home the Best Waterhole award! A little friendly competition never hurts.

Taking Our Place at the Table

But perhaps the most significant development came beyond the two-day event. iPDA is proud to be the first PDA to join both DCASA and NDCA as an Associate Member.

This is more than a membership milestone. It represents a deliberate decision to become more deeply involved in the industry we serve.

We believe that meaningful progress happens when businesses don’t simply operate within an industry, but actively participate in shaping it.

That means listening to different perspectives.

    • Having difficult conversations.
    • Sharing knowledge.
    • Building relationships.
    • And looking for opportunities to make a genuine difference.

The conference may be over. The golf clubs may be packed away. The coffee plants may now be finding their place on desks and windowsills across the industry but for iPDA, this is only the beginning.

We aren’t here simply to have a seat at the table. We’re here to contribute to the conversation.

Because the future of debt review belongs to all of us — and we believe the strongest industry is one where we show up, speak up and grow together.