MSWSA launch calls for financial education that has the ‘Power of Possible’

The 2026 Money Smart Week South Africa (MSWSA) campaign was officially launched on Tuesday, August 18, at the Old Mutual headquarters in Sandton.

The hybrid event bringing together government, financial institutions, regulators, consumer organisations, educational institutions, youth organisations and media in a renewed drive to improve financial literacy across the country.

This year’s campaign, themed ‘Money Smart: The Power of Possible,’ will run from 24 to 30 August 2026 aiming to help South Africans make informed financial decisions through free, unbiased financial education.

The launch marked only the second occasion that participating organisations and the MSWSA team have gathered in person since the campaign began in 2018.

The event also celebrated organisations that have supported the initiative continuously for the past five years.

Opening the event, MSWSA Steering Committee Chairperson Mavis Matlhwana called on participants to ensure that financial education reaches every South African, regardless of where they live or their level of education.

“We must make financial education accessible to everyone in South Africa. Financial information should be presented in simple language that people understand.”

She said MSWSA should enable consumers to be less vulnerable to misinformation, ask the right questions before taking credit, spot a scam and make a budget so they can make informed decisions.

Matlhwana praised the remarkable growth of the campaign over the past eight years.

She also thanked the members of the steering committee, the National Treasury, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and all participating organisations for working together to expand financial education across the country.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Thabang Chiloane of the Banking Association South Africa (BASA) encouraged participants attending both in person and online to focus on turning financial knowledge into practical action.

“Most South Africans wake up each day not thinking about how to grow their wealth. They are thinking about whether the money they have will be enough to get them through the day,” he said.

Dr Chiloane said the campaign should move beyond simply raising awareness.

“We must move from awareness to action. That is what meaningful financial inclusion looks like. Giving people access to information is important, but we must also empower them to use that information to improve their lives.”

He said the campaign’s success has been built on collaboration between organisations that share a common goal of empowering South Africans.

“Financial capability is everybody’s business,” he said.

During the launch, approximately 25 organisations representing banks, educational institutions, youth employment agencies, government departments, industry associations, regulatory authorities and ombuds were recognised for their contributions to the campaign. Sponsors providing both financial and non-financial support were also acknowledged for helping sustain the initiative.

Among the recognised participants was Mapepeza, which has been part of the Money Smart Week South Africa campaign since 2023. Through its digital news platforms, Mapepeza has published financial education and consumer awareness content aimed at helping readers better understand personal finance.

This year, Mapepeza will expand its contribution by producing additional articles and educational video content to help communities better understand financial matters and avoid common financial mistakes.

Money Smart Week South Africa remains a collaborative initiative led by the National Consumer Financial Education Committee (NCFEC), bringing together organisations from government, the financial sector, academia, civil society, consumer bodies, media and influencers to strengthen financial literacy and consumer awareness across the country.

How to participate in MSWSA

If your organisation wants to host an official free activity, the submission deadline on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. Access the participation form here.

You can apply via the MSWSA Portal by outlining their planned educational activities. There is zero cost to participate.

During the campaign, the contents shared must strictly be educational and cannot be used to sell commercial financial products.

Approved partners host their localized events during campaign week (August 24-30).

Activities can include but not limited to: community workshops, presentations/webinars, and shopping mall exhibitions or public activations.

Other programs permitted include educational articles/content from accredited institutions, media campaigns, financial literacy games, and gamified apps.

For more information, visit the MSWSA official website.