Financial Abuse Persists Even Among Economically Independent Women

02 December 2024 – As South Africa observes 16 Days of Activism Against the Abuse of Women and Children, the conversation around abuse extends beyond physical violence to the less visible but equally damaging phenomenon of financial abuse. According to Rynhardt de Lange, Director and Head of Legal at Milaw Legal, financial independence alone is often insufficient to protect women from this insidious form of control.

The Scope of Financial Abuse

More than 50% of women in abusive relationships experience financial abuse, cutting across all income levels. A 2021 United Nations report reveals that 38% of women globally who earn an income still face financial control from their partners. In South Africa, this often coincides with physical abuse, where 40% of women report being assaulted at home, according to Stats SA’s Victims of Crime report.

Forms of Financial Abuse

De Lange identifies common tactics used by abusers:

• Control over finances: Partners demand access to earnings or bank accounts.
• Sabotage of financial independence: Women are pressured to quit their jobs or forced to use income for debts they did not agree to.
• Emotional manipulation: Guilt, threats, or coercion are used to strip women of financial autonomy.

“When paired with emotional or physical violence, financial abuse becomes an even greater barrier to leaving abusive relationships,” explains De Lange.

Strategies to Combat Financial Abuse

De Lange offers practical steps for women to protect themselves:

1. Recognise the signs: Identify controlling financial behaviours, such as sabotaging your financial independence or refusing to contribute.
2. Strengthen legal protections: Leverage South African laws that recognise financial abuse as part of domestic violence. Work with legal professionals to secure financial autonomy.
3. Safeguard finances: Use separate accounts, build savings, or establish a trust to protect personal earnings.
4. Report abuse safely: Seek confidential support from trained legal and law enforcement professionals.

The Role of Support Systems

“Financial abuse isn’t always immediately visible, but its effects are deeply damaging,” says De Lange. “At Milaw Legal, we’ve seen how financial control traps women in cycles of dependency. Real change requires economic empowerment and robust support systems to help women reclaim their lives and finances.”

About Milaw Legal

Milaw Legal is a debt management and legal services company committed to empowering South Africans with over a decade of expertise in financial services. The organisation provides comprehensive services such as debt review removal, judgment removal, and affordable distribution, guided by values of integrity, empathy, and innovation.

Total Words: 340

---

Social Media Post

Silent Control: Financial Abuse Among Women

Financial abuse traps even financially independent women. Learn how to recognise and combat this hidden form of control with Milaw Legal. #FinancialAbuse #WomenEmpowerment #MilawLegal #16DaysOfActivism #mypressportal #pressrelease #AfricaNewsroom #bizcommunity #publicrelations #africa #southernafrica #southafrica