What is a credit score?
A credit score is a number that summarises the information on your credit report — your repayment history, how much you owe, and how you use credit. Lenders use it as one input when assessing an application.
Ndzinga Knowledge Centre
Credit Health
Understand, protect and improve your credit profile over time.
- NCR-registered credit provider
- National Credit Act aligned
- Plain-language financial education
Educational content from a registered credit provider — NCR Reg: NCRCP22127 · FSP: 55648
Your credit profile is a record of how you have managed borrowing over time, and lenders use it to decide whether — and on what terms — to extend credit. Good credit health is built slowly: paying on time, keeping balances manageable, and checking your report for errors. This section explains how credit scores are calculated, what helps and what hurts them, and the practical steps you can take to improve your standing. Every South African consumer is entitled to at least one free credit report a year from each registered credit bureau.
Credit Health articles
Ndzinga insightCredit Health
Credit Health6 min read
How to Read — and Fix — Your Credit Report in South Africa
Your credit report shapes the credit you can access. Here is how to read it, what each section means, and how to challenge mistakes under the National Credit Act.
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Ndzinga insightCredit Health
Credit Health5 min read
Understanding Your Credit Score in South Africa
Your credit score is the gateway to financial opportunity in South Africa. Learn how it works, who calculates it, and what you can do to improve yours.
Read articleCredit Health — common questions
How can I improve my credit score?
Pay every account on time, reduce outstanding balances, avoid applying for several loans at once, and check your credit report for mistakes. Improvement takes consistent behaviour over several months.
How often can I check my credit report?
You are entitled to at least one free credit report each year from each registered credit bureau. Checking your own report does not lower your score.