Latest news with #DeMeyer
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Buy now, panic later? Why payment system might be too good to be true
Is 'buy now, pay later' empowering consumers, or quietly indebting them? 'Buy now, pay later' payment options have strutted onto South Africa's financial runway with the swagger of innovation, offering interest-free instalments, bypassing traditional credit checks and boasting sleek user interfaces that make old-school lay-bys look prehistoric. For consumers, it feels like a dream: swipe today, split it tomorrow. For platforms, it is fintech gold. But beneath the surface of this frictionless façade lies a regulatory grey zone thick with risk, ambiguity and potential litigation, Lerato Lamola and Anél De Meyer, partners at Webber Wentzel, warn. 'Buy now, pay later' services allow consumers to buy things immediately and pay for them in instalments over a set period, usually without interest if payments are made on time. However, as usage of the 'buy now, pay later' option increases, concerns around consumer debt, regulatory arbitrage and financial exclusion also grow. Lamola and De Meyer say the central question in South Africa is whether 'buy now, pay later' products fall within the jurisdiction of the National Credit Act or the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS Act). ALSO READ: Credit and the law: Here are the rights you must know about How credit is regulated in SA The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is responsible for enforcing compliance with the National Credit Act, while the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is responsible for compliance with the FAIS Act. The consumer credit environment in South Africa is governed by the National Credit Act, which regulates all credit providers and mandates affordability assessments along with other consumer protection mechanisms. 'Buy now, pay later' providers often argue that they are not credit providers, as their terms and conditions do not constitute a credit agreement, Lamola and De Meyer say. 'They say this is because they charge no interest and operate within a very short payment cycle of four to six weeks. As a result, many 'buy now, pay later' firms claim exemption from the obligations they would have under the National Credit Act.' ALSO READ: Buy now, pay later a convenient way to buy if you qualify Buy now, pay later falls into regulatory void According to the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group (IFWG), 'buy now, pay later' options currently fall into a regulatory void. The NCR has taken limited action against providers, while the FSCA must still issue clear guidance. Therefore, Lamola and De Meyer say, consumers face reduced transparency, while there are no guaranteed recourse mechanisms and inconsistent contract terms. The legal classification of 'buy now, pay later' determines the scope of regulatory obligations, Lamola and De Meyer say. 'If buy now, pay later is credit, the National Credit Act mandates affordability checks, registration with the NCR and extensive disclosures. 'However, most buy now, pay later operators avoid these obligations by structuring their offerings as payment solutions or deferred billing.' They point out that the FAIS Act regulates financial advice and intermediary services. 'Buy now, pay later providers rarely claim to offer financial advice and as such, FAIS oversight is generally not invoked. This ambiguity causes a jurisdictional conflict between the NCR and FSCA, with little resolution.' ALSO READ: Buy now, pay later good news for small businesses Do consumers know enough about it? In addition, they say, South Africans are often unaware of potential late fees, the implications of missed payments, or the lack of legal recourse, especially when providers collapse or change terms unilaterally. Lamola and De Meyer point out that while legal classification remains unresolved, enforcement action against 'buy now, pay later' providers in South Africa has been minimal. 'In practice, the NCR's enforcement has focused largely on traditional credit providers, while the FSCA's mandate remains unclear in the absence of explicit statutory triggers.' They warn that this lack of supervisory clarity raises risks of selective compliance, where only larger players seek legal advice or act pre-emptively, while smaller or offshore providers bypass South African oversight altogether. 'In addition, without designated supervisory frameworks, enforcement becomes reactive, often occurring only after consumers are harmed.' ALSO READ: Beware: debt is often no more than a click away COFI Bill could address 'buy now, pay later' regulatory gaps However, they say the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI Bill) is envisaged to address these regulatory gaps. 'A modern regulatory regime must therefore address not only classification and jurisdiction, but also enforcement mechanisms, investigative powers and coordinated oversight, possibly through inter-agency memoranda of understanding or joint supervisory task teams. 'Without this, regulatory gaps become systemic vulnerabilities.' Lamola and De Meyer say South Africa's current dual-regulator model is ill-equipped for the digital fragmentation of modern finance. 'The lack of a clear buy now, pay later regulatory framework stands in contrast with jurisdictions where regulators have already expanded definitions of credit to include buy now, pay later explicitly. 'We hope that the COFI Bill will reconcile its institutional gaps and avoid regulatory arbitrage by expanding statutory definitions and enforcing consistency.' They say it is unclear whether a platform offering 'buy now, pay later' options at checkout could be deemed to be providing or facilitating credit under the National Credit Act. 'Retailers and marketplaces must consider whether they are indirectly exposing themselves to liability or reputational risk, especially if their partners engage in misleading conduct, impose unlawful fees, or collapse without notice.' ALSO READ: How to build a strong credit score to unlock financial freedom Verification and affordability assessments important De Meyer and Lamola say one major challenge for effective 'buy now, pay later' regulation in South Africa lies in consumer verification and affordability assessments. 'Without a robust credit history or consistent income documentation, many consumers who use these services remain invisible to traditional risk models. 'This opens the door to over-indebtedness, particularly among the underbanked. Future Buy Now Pay Later regulation must therefore account for the reality of fragmented digital footprints and low formal credit participation. 'Buy now, pay later redefined consumer finance by promising simplicity and speed, but the country risks repeating mistakes seen in unregulated microcredit booms if it fails to address its regulatory gaps. 'Global trends show that regulation can evolve in tandem with technology. By embracing reform and cross-sector collaboration, South Africa can lead in creating a safe, competitive digital finance ecosystem.' NOW READ: Why you should use credit responsibly
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Namibian programme uses horses to empower children with disabilities
Susan de Meyer runs a project in the African country of Namibia. The programme uses the power and gentleness of horses to help children with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. De Meyer's dusty paddock is just outside the capital city, Windhoek. Each weekday morning, it is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from special schools. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses. They have always been part of her life. She says they have an invaluable quality: they don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. De Meyer's programme, 'Enabling Through the Horse', is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation. It won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation. Answer: 'Enabling Through the Horse'
The Star
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Horse therapy program brings joy to kids with learning disabilities in Namibia
Susan de Meyer's horses have different effects on different children. Hyperactive kids learn to be a little quieter around them while non-verbal children are moved to communicate and to bond with them. De Meyer runs a program in the southern African country of Namibia that harnesses the power but also the gentleness of horses to help children with learning disabilities and conditions like ADHD and autism. Each weekday morning, de Meyer's dusty paddock just outside the capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the special schools she helps. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. Merci who participates in the 'Enabling Through the Horse', therapy program, petting one of the animals horse. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and they've always been part of her life. She said they have a quality that is invaluable: They don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. 'The horse is the hero in this whole situation because these kids don't want to be around a lot of people,' de Meyer said. De Meyer's program, 'Enabling Through the Horse', is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation because it 'underlines the wonderful characteristics of the horse in exuding sensitivity and intuition'. Horse therapy has been promoted by autism groups and those that work with children with learning disabilities as having a positive impact. And animal therapy in general has been found to be useful in many instances, like dogs that help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and therapy cats that are taken to hospitals and nursing homes. Program founder De Meyer (in red) grew up on a farm surrounded by horses. Some survivors of the devastating 2023 Hawaii wildfires in the United States found relief in horse therapy while grieving loved ones they had lost. De Meyer jokes she has 'two-and-a-half horses'. These include two Arabians – a white mare named Faranah and a brown gelding, Lansha – while the 'half' is a miniature horse called Bonzi, who is about head-high for a five-year-old. The Arabians are often the most useful for the children's therapy because of their size, de Meyer said. 'It gives them self-esteem. When they stroke the horse, the therapy starts because this is a very big animal compared to their height, and they are not scared to stroke the horse ... and then to ride it and tell the horse what they want,' she said. De Meyer works with children with a range of conditions or disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, those who are non-verbal or touch sensitive, and some who were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and have developmental problems. She has received interest from other countries in Africa and Asia to start similar programs there. 'The changes that I've seen with the learners are significant,' said Chriszell Louw, a teacher at Dagbreek School, which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for children with intellectual disabilities. 'We have a learner that likes to talk a lot. When we come here, she knows she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place.' 'Some of them you see they are more open, they are happy. Some of them were very scared when they started with the horse riding but now they are very excited. When they hear we're going to the horses they are very excited and just want to go by themselves,' Louw said. De Meyer said her program helps with fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance and posture, all important for kids who struggle to sit at a desk at school and learn. One simple exercise de Meyer has children do when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out straight and to the sides, using only their torso and lower body to balance as a groom leads the horse around the paddock. Some of the kids break out in smiles when they let go and look like they're soaring. 'We make the world different for these kids,' de Meyer said. – AP
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey: Measures to put more neighbourhood police on beat
Surrey Police will have its "highest number of officers in a generation" after receiving funds for 40 patrol recruits, the force has said. The estimated £2.5m from central government will add to the 222 extra officers who joined the force since new recruits will likely comprise of 25 full time police officers and 15 special De Meyer, the force's chief constable, said it was "a chance to strengthen our presence in the heart of our communities". He said: "It's about building lasting relationships and ensuring that we are seen as a trusted resource, not just an authority figure."The guarantee reinforces our commitment to community engagement, crime prevention, and proactive policing."The programme is part of the government's plan to have at least one named, contactable officer in each neighbourhood, as well as dedicated teams on patrol in town centres and other hotspots, according to Local Democracy Reporting will also be dedicated antisocial behaviour leads in every force which Surrey Police said reflects the government's recognition of the public's crime and safety concerns. Surrey Police said it had a total of 2,336 officers in Townsend, the force's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Neighbourhood policing is a key commitment for Surrey Police, and residents are already benefiting from that focus, with an additional 3,500 charges and 2,500 more arrests across all crime types in 12 months."Initiatives such as the Safer Streets programme and hotspot policing have led to increased trust and greater intelligence gathering in our communities."
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Horse therapy programme in Namibia brings joy to children with learning disabilities
Windhoek: Susan de Meyer's horses have different effects on different children. Hyperactive kids learn to be a little quieter around them while nonverbal children are moved to communicate and to bond with them. De Meyer runs a program in the southern African country of Namibia that harnesses the power but also the gentleness of horses to help children with learning disabilities and conditions like ADHD and autism. Each weekday morning, de Meyer's dusty paddock just outside the capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the special schools she helps. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and they've always been part of her life. She said they have a quality that is invaluable: They don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. "The horse is the hero in this whole situation because these kids don't want to be around a lot of people," de Meyer said. De Meyer's program, "Enabling Through the Horse," is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation because it "underlines the wonderful characteristics of the horse in exuding sensitivity and intuition." Horse therapy has been promoted by autism groups and those that work with children with learning disabilities as having a positive impact. And animal therapy in general has been found to be useful in many instances, like dogs that help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and therapy cats that are taken to hospitals and nursing homes. Some survivors of the devastating 2023 Hawaii wildfires found relief in horse therapy while grieving loved ones they had lost. De Meyer jokes she has "two-and-a-half horses." These include two Arabians - a white mare named Faranah and a brown gelding, Lansha - while the "half" is a miniature horse called Bonzi, who is about head-high for a 5-year-old. The Arabians are often the most useful for the children's therapy because of their size, de Meyer said. "It gives them self-esteem. When they stroke the horse, the therapy starts because this is a very big animal compared to their height, and they are not scared to stroke the horse ... and then to ride it and tell the horse what they want," she said. De Meyer works with children with a range of conditions or disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, those who are nonverbal or touch sensitive, and some who were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and have developmental problems. She has received interest from other countries in Africa and Asia to start similar programs there. "The changes that I've seen with the learners are significant," said Chriszell Louw, a teacher at Dagbreek School, which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for children with intellectual disabilities. "We have a learner that likes to talk a lot. When we come here, she knows she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place." "Some of them you see they are more open, they are happy. Some of them were very scared when they started with the horse riding but now they are very excited. When they hear we're going to the horses they are very excited and just want to go by themselves," Louw said. De Meyer said her programme helps with fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance and posture, all important for kids who struggle to sit at a desk at school and learn. One simple exercise de Meyer has children do when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out straight and to the sides, using only their torso and lower body to balance as a groom leads the horse around the paddock. Some of the kids break out in smiles when they let go and look like they're soaring. "We make the world different for these kids," de Meyer said.
