{"doc_desc":{"title":"zaf-statssa-ccb-1985-2025","producers":[{"name":"DataFirst","abbr":"","affiliation":"University of Cape Town","role":"Metadata producer"}],"prod_date":"2025-12-26","version_statement":{"version":"Version 1"}},"study_desc":{"title_statement":{"idno":"zaf-statssa-ccd-1985-2025-v1","title":"Civil Cases of Debt 1985-2025","alternate_title":"CCD 1985-2025"},"authoring_entity":[{"name":"Statistics South Africa","affiliation":"Government of South Africa"}],"distribution_statement":{"contact":[{"name":"DataFirst Support","affiliation":"University of Cape Town","email":"support@data1st.org","uri":"www.support.data1st.org"}]},"series_statement":{"series_name":"Other"},"version_statement":{"version":"v1.1: Edited data for public distribution","version_date":"2025-12-28"},"study_info":{"abstract":"Statistics South Africa collects administrative information of civil cases recorded, civil summonses and civil judgements recorded for debt issued in South Africa. This is done for the purposes of providing users with information on the extent of unpaid debt in South Africa. This information is obtained from selected magistrates\u2019 offices. Except for cases recorded, all other information relates to debt cases only, therefore claims for damages, ejectment orders and other non-debt cases are excluded.","coll_dates":[{"start":"1985","end":"2025","cycle":"monthly"}],"nation":[{"name":"South Africa","abbreviation":"zaf"}],"geog_coverage":"This data is at the national coverage.","geog_unit":"The statistical unit for collection of information is a magistrate\u2019s office. Magistrates\u2019 offices include the small claims courts.","analysis_unit":"Individuals and establishments","universe":"This data covers all civil cases recorded and civil summonses for debt issued in 203 magistrates offices in South Africa. This represents approximately 98% of all cases in South Africa.","data_kind":"Administrative records","notes":"This data covers the number of civil cases recorded; number of civil summonses issued for debt; number of civil judgements recorded for debt; and value of civil judgements recorded for debt."},"method":{"data_collection":{"data_collectors":[{"name":"Statistics South Africa","abbr":"StatsSA","role":"","affiliation":"Government of South Africa"}],"coll_mode":["Internet and telephone"],"sources":[{"name":"","origin":"","characteristics":""}],"cleaning_operations":"The dataset combines monthly civil debt case statistics from three source files covering the periods 1985\u20131989, 1990\u20131999, and 2000\u20132025. Each source file was reshaped from wide to long format so that monthly values appear in a single column. A proper date variable was created from the original month and year indicators, using the first day of each month. The data were then sorted by date and ID, and all text variables were converted to lowercase for consistency. Additional cleaning was applied to standardise category names, fix spelling inconsistencies, and harmonise units of measurement. Monetary values originally recorded in thousands of rands were converted to rands. Value labels were attached to each coded variable to preserve the original meanings. Descriptive variable labels were also added to improve clarity and usability.The final cleaned and labelled dataset was exported in Stata (.dta) format for public use."},"analysis_info":{"data_appraisal":"Between 1990 and 1999, some debt categories are less detailed than in other years. In particular, \u201cgoods sold\u201d and \u201cservices\u201d cannot be split into their more specific subcategories."}},"data_access":{"dataset_use":{"contact":[{"name":"DataFirst","affiliation":"University of Cape Town","email":"support@data1st.org","uri":"support.data1st.org"}],"cit_req":"Statistics South Africa. 2025. Civil Cases of Debt 1985-2025 [dataset]. Version 1. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa  [producer], 2025. Cape Town: DataFirst [distributor], 2025. DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25828\/QMGV-5930","conditions":"Public access data for use under a Creative Commons CC-BY (Attribution-only) License"}}},"schematype":"survey"}