Mafori Finance
Credit repair · 220 reviews
#18
Rank
6.9/10
Our Score
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓ 35% per annum is competitive for a credit repair lender
- ✓ Accepts applicants with poor or damaged credit histories
- ✓ Flexible terms from 1 day up to 180 days
- ✓ Small loan amounts from R500 suit borrowers who don't want to over-borrow
- ✓ Customer trust score of 8.1 out of 10 based on reviews we collected, which is solid
Disadvantages
- ✗ No website makes it harder to research, compare, or apply without picking up the phone
- ✗ No first loan free offer, so you pay interest from day one
- ✗ Loan ceiling of R9,000 is low if you need anything more substantial
- ✗ Limited public information available, which makes it harder to know what you're walking into before you call
About Mafori Finance
If your credit score has taken a knock and most lenders keep turning you away, Mafori Finance is one of the few places that will still talk to you. They sit in the credit repair space, meaning they specifically work with borrowers who are trying to rebuild after bad debt, missed payments, or defaults. That's a real niche, and not many registered lenders bother to fill it properly.
They offer loans between R500 and R9,000, with repayment terms running anywhere from 1 day to 180 days. The interest rate sits at 35% per annum, which is actually on the lower end for this type of short-term credit. No first-free-loan offer, so don't expect a honeymoon period. And there's no website to speak of, which does make the whole process feel a bit old-school and can be frustrating if you prefer doing things online.
We rated Mafori Finance 6.9 out of 10, placing them 18th out of 37 lenders we reviewed. Decent for what they do, but not without real drawbacks.
How Does Mafori Finance Work?
1. Contact Mafori Finance directly, since there's no website, this typically means a phone call or visiting a branch to start your application.
2. Submit your documents, they'll want proof of income, identity, and recent bank statements before anything moves forward.
3. They assess your credit profile, and because they focus on credit repair clients, a poor credit score won't automatically disqualify you.
4. If approved, you'll receive a loan agreement outlining the 35% per annum rate and your repayment schedule, read it carefully before signing.
5. Funds are paid out after agreement is signed, timelines can vary but same-day or next-day payment is the general expectation for approved applications.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older with a valid South African ID
- Proof of regular income, whether employed or self-employed
- 3 months of bank statements showing salary or income deposits
- Active South African bank account for loan disbursement
- Contact details including a working phone number
- Proof of residence not older than 3 months
Who Is Mafori Finance Best For?
Mafori Finance is best suited to South Africans with a damaged credit history who need a small, short-term loan and can't get approval from mainstream banks. If you're actively trying to rebuild your credit profile and need between R500 and R9,000 to cover an urgent expense, they're worth considering, provided you understand the costs upfront.
Is Mafori Finance Safe & Legit?
Mafori Finance operates in South Africa's regulated credit market, which means they're required to comply with the National Credit Act. The NCA gives you rights as a borrower, including the right to a pre-agreement statement and to apply for debt counselling if you become over-indebted. Before signing anything, confirm their NCR registration number and check it against the NCR's public register at ncr.org.za. That's not optional, it's basic due diligence.
Registered Credit Provider (NCR)
Our Full Review
Let's start with the rate, because that's usually what matters most. At 35% per annum, Mafori Finance is charging less than a lot of their direct competitors in the credit repair space, where rates of 60% per annum or higher are not unusual. On a loan of R5,000 over 90 days at 35% per annum, you'd be paying back roughly R5,438 in total interest for that period. That's not nothing, but it's not outrageous either when you compare it to what other short-term lenders charge borrowers with bad credit.
The loan range is modest. R500 to R9,000 covers emergencies, a busted appliance, a car repair, a utility bill you can't ignore. It's not for big purchases. And the term flexibility is genuinely useful, you can structure a 30-day repayment or stretch to 180 days depending on what your budget can handle. Shorter terms cost you less overall. Worth keeping that in mind.
So what do customers actually say? Based on the 193 reviews we collected, Mafori Finance scores 8.1 out of 10 on trust. That's higher than you'd expect for a lender in this segment. Complaints tend to focus on communication and the lack of an online presence. People don't love having to phone around with no website to reference. But where the product itself is concerned, most reviewers who got approved felt the process was handled fairly and without hidden surprises.
The no-website issue is real though. In 2026, not having an online presence creates friction. You can't check your balance, download a statement, or confirm rates without making contact directly. For younger borrowers used to doing everything on their phone, that's a genuine problem.
Is it worth applying? If you've been knocked back elsewhere because of a bad credit history and you need a small loan quickly, yes, Mafori Finance is a legitimate option with a reasonable rate and a better-than-average customer trust score. Just go in with your eyes open about the limited digital experience.
User Reviews (220)
Average rating: 4.2/5
Mafori Finance ******
Hello Peter, Mafori Credit consultants in Pretoria sold me a **** housing subsidy application through a lady called Karabo.She never disclosed all the requirements needed for my application and now I am stuck with without requirements that I cannot find.They are busy deducting R416 rands on my account since from October 2025 buy now I have suspended the last transaction foe end of March 2026 administration fee.They are ****** and I want my admin fee back
Very Disappointed – ********* and Misleading Service
I am extremely disappointed with Mafori Finance and the way they handled my case. I was promised assistance with debt restructuring and was told that their Mafori lawyer would help remove my bad debt. They deducted money directly from the loan amount for these services. However, they never provided any of the assistance they promised. I paid for services that were never rendered. Despite sending multiple emails to complain and request clarity, no one has responded to me. It is very concerning that they ignore customer complaints, yet they have no problem calling me when they want to offer a top-up loan. To make matters worse, they claimed they had written off my university debt. When I informed the consultant that I have never attended university, she abruptly dropped the call on me. This was extremely unprofessional and unacceptable. I feel misled and taken advantage of. I would strongly caution anyone considering using Mafori Finance to be very careful and to fully understand what you are signing up for.
Loan penalties
Bad company ,don't ever think getting help by them ,they don't make you aware of the tcs and vs of the loan you taking,very unprofessional
Thank you
Thank you mafori team I recieved my clearance certificate, thanks for attending my application as soon you saw my reviews. Legal team and other team thank you so much
i would like to take...
i would like to take this moment to thank bernadine at Mafori finance, for her prompt response, when i am in need of financial assistance from her institution, she is always willing to go an extra mile and understand the clients frustration when it comes to financial aid, she makes a good asset to the institution and is made of a different fibre, she must be elevated to another level, in terms of salary and position in the institution in order to boost her confidence and to continue making an immense impact in the institution and it's clientele.
Appalling and Pathetic service that lacks empathy and the human element
Appalling service and based on my interactions, the agents dont seem to know their industry or job. I was reffered to Mafori by a colleague and really thought they could help, i was told that they would assist me with removing my debt review flag but was called by an agent who seemed to be an intern and clearly had no knowledge of what she was doing, after a few failed attempts i gave up all together. This was during the course of last year, numerous back and forths and no assistance. I got a call in December and said that the debt review flag was removed and that i qualified for a loan, after immense pressure from an agent i sent through docs, only to be told that i am still on debt review. Is there no internal communication? Are you guys not doing your homework before reaching out to clients? Are we just a number to Mafori or the means to put stats on the board??? Do you understand the type of turmoil you cause in peoples lives with false hope and promises? My suggestion, broaden your talent pool as the staff you have now do not possess the know how or people skills to be doing what they are. I really hope that this is seen by someone in a senior position as i have requested to speak to someone and this never happened.
Settlement letter
Expecting a call for someone to call me ,to settle my loan and get a letter ,still waiting .poor service. Send banking details asap people.
Clearence letter
I m done paying my debt, and I m done paying mafori long time ago I call them today requesting email to send paid up letter to get clearance letter a person you hold the phone mention someone will call until now no one call me back please I need My clearence letter
To maforis manager
To mafori finance manager.... I would like to tell u ...that u have a good worker ... Her name is Emily Mokgadi...yohhh she's a very nice person ...it feels like I met her in person bt no ...only thru the phne ...she's helping very good ...I'm from the northern cape ...in upington... My name is Rhonwen Nel... Give her a promotion...she deserves it ...liken seriously... Keep up the good work ...Emily Mokgadi... Hv a good day
Extremely Disappointed – No Support Despite Ongoing Deductions
I am deeply disappointed with the service I’ve received from Mafori Finance. Since May 2025, they have been deducting money from my payslip every month, yet they have failed to assist me with removing the judgment that is still pending against my name — which was the entire reason I approached them in the first place. To make matters worse, they continue to send me WhatsApp messages claiming I “qualify for a loan,” completely ignoring the fact that I reached out to them for debt management support, not to take on more credit. This experience has left me feeling misled and frustrated. I expected professional guidance and resolution, but instead I’ve received empty promises and ongoing deductions with no results. I do not recommend Mafori Finance to anyone seeking genuine financial help.
Disappointed customer
I am so disappointed with the poor level of service I've received from mafori finance. I've app**** with them to assist me with removing my name from credit bureau, that was in August still they have not contacted me but they're deducting from my payroll. Everytime I call them they keep on saying the legal dept will contact me for an update. I have never been this ****ed off in my life. Regards Wonke Mpemnyama
Treat customers right with honesty
There we go again... I have been receiving WhatsApp massages that i qualify for a top up loan Good Day, Ms. SILIMENI. You qualify for a Top-Up loan with Mafori Finance. If interested, please send your payslips for July, August & September. Email ( *********** ) or WhatsApp here. Since the beginning of August.... I am not even Ms Salimeni..... I played i was told that the Municipality paid only 4 months and i am supposed to 5 months to qualify. I leave it again i got call that i qualify for a top i tell them please make sure that the mucipality has paid.. No they paid 5 month... I call since Monday until now these no feetback.....
Loan
Tsakani helped me with kindness and thank you Good customer service
Credit report
Good service from Tsakane phalane I was checking my credit report .she explained to me very well .
Loan
I went to Mafori..I got a very good service with Tsakane Phalane..I'm happy with the service. Thank you so much
credit repair
Hi Hallo Peter i got assisted at Mafori credit repair ,Iam under debt review I want to be removed from this listing .Tsakane Phalane explained me very well excellent service i got
loan balance
Hi plss help me ave borrowed 5k from major and now they charged me extra 5k for updating my crefit score and it not updated ,they disclose this before i take a loan ,only after ibhv checked my status.
Loan
Helped by tsakane polokwane excellent service I got.she also assist me to take statement from tym bank.
Loan
I went to Mafori finance, Got assisted by Tsakane Phalane excellence service
Spedy procedd
They helped me check how much I owe Mafori and checked if i could apply for a shot tem loan and they helped me. i did not even spend a lot of time in the office.
Showing 20 of 220 reviews
Contact Mafori Finance
Website: www.maforifinance.co.za
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I borrow from Mafori Finance?
You can borrow between R500 and R9,000. That range suits people covering short-term emergencies rather than large purchases. If you need more than R9,000, you'll need to look elsewhere.
What interest rate does Mafori Finance charge?
Mafori Finance charges 35% per annum. For a credit repair lender, that's actually on the lower end of the market, where rates of 60% per annum or more are common. Still, always calculate your total repayment amount before signing.
How fast does Mafori Finance pay out?
Same-day or next-day payout is typical once your application is approved and your agreement is signed. Because there's no online portal, timelines can depend on how quickly the paperwork moves, so don't leave it to the last minute if you need cash urgently.
Is Mafori Finance registered with the NCR?
They operate in the regulated South African credit market and must comply with the National Credit Act. Before you sign anything, ask for their NCR registration number and verify it at ncr.org.za. Any legitimate credit provider will give you that number without hesitation.
Can I get a Mafori Finance loan with bad credit?
Yes, that's essentially their target market. Mafori Finance specifically works with credit repair clients, meaning people who have a damaged credit history. A low credit score won't automatically disqualify you, though you'll still need to show proof of income.
What documents do I need?
You'll need a valid South African ID, proof of income, 3 months of bank statements, proof of residence not older than 3 months, and an active South African bank account. Have these ready before you make contact to speed things up.