The Double Shift - How Black Tax & Caregiving Quietly Drain SA Women

Most SA women will manage their family’s finances, while silently bearing the weight of Black tax and caregiving. Charnel Collins discusses steps forward this Women’s Month.

08 August 2025: 95% of South African women will, at some point, become their family’s primary financial decision-maker. Yet most are navigating this role while managing invisible burdens for which few are prepared.

As we commemorate Women’s Month, Charnel Collins, CEO of National Debt Advisors, unpacks how the dual weight of Black tax and caregiving responsibilities creates a financial and emotional toll that is often overlooked, particularly for South African women.

Black Tax: A Lifeline with Consequences

Black tax is not a cultural cliché. It is a structural reality. For many women, supporting parents, funding siblings’ education, and covering extended family expenses is not optional. It’s essential.

“These contributions are often rooted in love and duty,” explains Collins. “But the expectation can be relentless. Women are not just providing financially. They’re also offering emotional and logistical support, often without acknowledgement.”

This occurs in a context of persistent income inequality. According to Bankrate data, South African women earn only 83 cents for every R1 earned by men, a gap that compounds financial pressure.

Caregiving: Unpaid Work That Carries a Cost

Caregiving responsibilities such as raising children, caring for aging parents, and supporting relatives fall disproportionately on women. Globally, this unpaid labour accounts for an average of 23 hours per week, layered atop full-time employment.

“There’s no pension, no medical aid, and no formal recognition for caregiving,” says Collins. “But the responsibilities are constant. They affect a woman’s ability to earn, save, and plan for her own future.”

In South Africa, over 50% of mothers are sole breadwinners, yet just 1 in 5 receives consistent financial support from the father. These figures expose the systemic gaps women are left to fill alone.

Also, only 5% of South African women are on track with a retirement plan, compared to 11% of men, according to the 10X Retirement Reality Report. Considering women also tend to live longer and outlive their partners, the long-term risks are significant.

In light of these challenges, Collins shares several strategies to help women reclaim financial agency without shame:

1. Cultivate a Wealth Mindset: A belief in your right to financial stability and success is the foundation. Replacing scarcity thinking with a mindset of possibility is critical to building long-term wealth.
2. Diversify Income Streams: Whether through side hustles, consulting, or flexible work options, diversifying income streams offers greater stability, especially when caregiving demands reduce full-time availability.
3. Leverage Stokvels and Community Saving: Community-based savings models such as stokvels provide both financial support and collective accountability, easing the pressure of carrying every responsibility alone.
4. Seek Professional Financial Support: If you’ve accrued debt in the process of supporting your family, know that help is available. Reach out to a registered debt management provider or qualified financial advisor to explore options for recovery.

“Many women feel an unspoken obligation to carry others while battling guilt for needing rest and fear of being seen as selfish. Recognising these pressures is the first step to financial freedom,” said Collins.

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About National Debt Advisors:

National Debt Advisors is South Africa’s number one debt counselling company and is perfectly positioned to help South African consumers who are struggling with their finances, become debt-free in under 60 months. NDA will negotiate with creditors for reduced monthly interest rates and extended terms – ultimately consolidating all debt repayments into one lower monthly installment - whilst protecting consumers from harassment by creditors, securing their assets against repossession and leaving them with more money left to live on. NDA will help South Africans gain their financial freedom.