Since our March 2021 Survey, we experienced rioting and looting in KwaZulu Natal and other provinces during July. The subsequent month-on-month data does not show a noticeable change in bank lending as a result thereof.

The most popular method of measuring competition in banking is the Herfindahl-Hirshman index that measures concentration as a proxy for competition. We examine 17 different mathematical models used to measure competition and begin framing the challenges that need to be considered to ensure that policy decisions, driven by competition concerns, will have the greatest positive impact on social welfare.

As at the end of March 2021, the total domestic assets of the South African banking industry were approximately R5 521 billion. This was about R25 billion lower than the total balance sheet of the banks in our previous Survey, at approximately R5 546 billion. The Survey in March 2020 recorded an extraordinary month-on-month increase of R258 billion. Month-on-month growth in total industry balance sheets since then have been negative for 6 out of the 12 months until March 2021.

As at the end of September 2020, the total domestic assets of the South African banking industry were approximately R5 546 billion. This was about R11 billion lower than the total balance sheet of the banks in March 2020 at R5 558 billion, reflecting the unprecedented growth in month-on-month lending for March 2020 of R258 billion. This survey also includes questions relating to the impact of COVID-19 and resulting lockdown regulations as well questions related to renewable energy

During the six months to March 2020, new domestic lending of approximately R330 billion had been created, almost R100 billion more than the previous period ending September 2019

The South African Bank Lending Practices Survey, measures lending sentiment of senior credit practitioners across the banking industry and continues with its three themes of household lending, enterprise lending and the strategic direction of banks.