The total number of civil summonses issued for debt for the second quarter of 2008 decreased by 9.1 percent compared with the second quarter of 2007, Statistics SA said on Thursday.

However, there was an increase of 7.8 percent between June 2007 and June 2008, the first year-on-year increase since April 2007.

The civil service strike during June 2007 was partially responsible for this year-on-year increase of 7.8 percent – due to the low base effect.

The major contributors to the decrease in civil summonses between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2008 were civil summonses issued in respect of money lent (-9.9 percentage points), other services (-2 percentage points) and goods sold on open account (-1.5 percentage points).

Two categories that counteracted the decrease of 9.1 percent were "other debts"(1.6 percentage points) and promissory notes and other acknowledgements of debt – this category includes credit cards – (1.4 percentage points).

Following the trend in the number of summonses issued for debt, the total number of civil judgements recorded for debt for the second quarter of 2008 decreased by 12 percent compared with the second quarter of 2007.

Civil judgements in respect of money lent (-11.1 percentage points) and promissory notes and other acknowledgements of debt (-4.7 percentage points) were the main drivers behind the 12 percent decrease in the number of judgements. The total value of civil judgements recorded for the second quarter of 2008 decreased by nine percent compared with the second quarter of 2007.

The major contributors to this decrease were civil judgements in respect of money lent (-5.5 percentage points), "other debts" (-3.5 percentage points) and judgements recorded for promissory notes and other acknowledgements of debt (-2.9 percentage points).

During June 2008, 57 306 civil judgements for debt, amounting to R546.4-million, were recorded.

The largest contributors to the R546.4-million were: Civil judgements relating to money lent (R208.4-million); "Other debts" (R93.2-million); Goods sold on open account (R61.8-million); and promissory notes and other acknowledgements for debt (R60.4-million).

Sapa