- Africa’s first-ever peelable billboard launches in Johannesburg to spotlight the need for credit education
- Campaign ambassadors include S pringbok rugby stars Makazole Mapimpi and L ukhanyo Am, as well as fashion entrepreneur Tshepo Mohlala
- Over R10m valued in sponsorship and investment in e-learning credit courses for over 5,000 South Africans.
- Interactive billboard and digital experience drive nationwide access to credit education tools
Be the Reason Things Change—a movement addressing one of South Africa’s most pressing issues: financial exclusion—is almost here. Built to spark conversation, drive empowerment, and showcase innovative solutions, the campaign aims to shift the future in meaningful ways.
But this is about more than just finance—it’s about access to information that many everyday South Africans simply don’t have. Greater awareness around credit and its impact on daily life is crucial, and this campaign seeks to make that knowledge accessible.
In a bold move to drive financial inclusion, TransUnion has unveiled Africa’s first-ever peelable billboard – part of its powerful new campaign, ‘Be the Reason Things Change’. The striking, interactive installation symbolically and physically strips away the barriers that keep millions of South Africans locked out of the formal credit economy.
Located at Melrose Arch by the entrance from Corlett Drive in Johannesburg, the billboard invites members of the public to peel away layers representing fear, misinformation, and exclusion. Each of the 500 peeled strips reveals a QR code unlocking a free e-learning credit education course valued at R2,000 each. As part of the campaign, TransUnion will be awarding a range of impactful prizes designed to support education and digital access, these include:
- Five education fund prizes valued at R20,000 each, which will be paid directly to a recognised educational institution or a nominated beneficiary to help cover tuition or learning-related expenses.
- Ten tech-for-learning prizes valued at R7,000 each, comprising of a laptop and 12 months of data, equipping recipients with the tools they need to thrive in a digital-first world.
This headline-grabbing installation comes against a sobering backdrop: nearly 1 in 2 adults in South Africa lack a clear understanding of how credit works, while over 16 million people remain excluded from the formal financial system.
SA CPS Q2 KEY STATS ON CREDIT AWARENESS : Interesting Stats
- 93% believe access to credit and lending products is important to be able to achieve your financial goals
- 70% agree that credit can give them access to new opportunities that can lead to a better quality of life
- 55% of consumers are actively trying to improve their credit score, while 32% leverage their report to protect against fraud.
- 72% agree that credit is widely available and is easy to apply for as long as they demonstrate good financial management
- 42% agree that they have sufficient access to credit
- 55% believe alternative data could improve their credit scores
When people understand how credit scores work, how to create budgets, and what savings options are available to them, they make fundamentally different financial decisions.
On 26 August, to expand the movement beyond Johannesburg, TransUnion will launch a digital peelable billboard experience, allowing a further 4,500 South Africans to engage with the platform online. In total, over R10 million in free e-learning credit education, training and prizes will be made available through this nationwide campaign.
“Visibility is power,” says Amy Beck, CMO TransUnion Africa. “When people understand how credit works, they gain the confidence to change their future, and lenders gain the insights to see them clearly. This campaign is about breaking down the barriers that hold people back and empowering them to take control of their financial story.”
This initiative forms part of TransUnion’s ‘Be the Reason Things Change’ campaign and is supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. It unites individuals and institutions around a shared purpose: expanding access to knowledge, tools, and confidence in credit.
Leading the launch are South African icons Springbok Lukhanyo Am, and fashion entrepreneur, Tshepo Mohlala, who will peel the first layers and share their own personal journeys, from adversity to achievement, showing the power of visibility, support, and opportunity.
This campaign is about more than credit education. It’s about unlocking opportunity. When people understand their credit profiles, they make better decisions, recover from setbacks, and access life-changing possibilities, from buying a car to starting a business.
‘Be the Reason Things Change’ empowers people with more than knowledge. It gives them the confidence to shape their financial future. For consumers, it’s a chance to feel seen, included, and in control. For lenders, it’s a call to see potential where others saw risk, and to serve those long overlooked.