3. Significant accounting policies
3.5 Financial assets
3.5.1 Loans receivable
  Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. These assets are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the statement of financial position date, which are classified as non-current assets. For details related to the ECLs, refer to note 3.1.
2022 
R'000 
2021 
R'000 
Interest-free loans 52 729 45 949
Interest-bearing loans receivable 43 209 37 397
Less: Provision for impairment (14 224) (13 542)
  81 714 69 804
Amounts included in non-current portion of loans receivable 48 913 44 232
Amounts included in current portion of loans receivable 32 801 25 572

All loans receivable are unsecured and repayable within five years. Interest-bearing loans bear interest at a range of between 9.75% and prime plus three percent. The fair value of interest-free loans, which include loans to product distributors, approximates their carrying value. This has been corroborated through discounted cash flow calculations at the effective interest rate the lender would have been able to secure from a financing institution, using an expected payment timeframe.

3.5.2 Trade and other receivables
 

Trade receivables comprise receivables that are due from customers which arise from transactions for the sale of goods, rendering of services and leasing of equipment in the ordinary course of business. Trade receivables are primarily accounted for at amortised cost, in accordance with the accounting policies of the Group. Sundry receivables are accounted for at amortised cost in accordance with the accounting policies of the Group. For details related to the ECLs, refer to note 3.1. Receivables for prepayments and VAT are stated at their nominal values.

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's trade and other receivables, including an analysis of trade receivables by originating transaction type as well as by counterparty:

2022 
R'000 
2021 
R'000 
Trade receivables arising on revenue from contracts with customers 1 328 295 1 413 761
Banks 84 935 102 242
Independent and informal retail customers 627 908 648 391
Formal market retail customers 158 224 244 195
Customers in the petroleum sector 73 538 74 922
Receivables for starter packs 74 085 126 966
Cell C 7 580 16 329
Other cellular networks 122 608 72 877
Municipalities and private utilities 179 417 127 839
Trade receivables arising on financing transactions 2 571 784 1 683 401
Cell C 2 557 395 1 660 864
Other 14 389 22 537
Less: Provision for impairment (66 343) (54 772)
Net trade receivables 3 833 736 3 042 390
Net sundry debtors 219 689 196 062
Receivables from revenue recognised on fixed term contracts 134 036 54 516
Prepayments 463 841 357 636
VAT 92 036 101 415
  4 743 338 3 752 019
Amounts included in non-current portion of trade and other receivables — —
Amounts included in current portion of trade and other receivables 4 743 338 3 752 019

Included in trade receivables are debtors of R84 million (2021: R122 million) which have a cycle period in excess of 12 months but are considered current due to management expecting to realise the assets in their normal operating cycle.

The Group's receivables from revenue recognised on fixed term contracts comprise the following movements for the year:

2022 
R'000 
2021 
R'000 
Balance at the beginning of the year 54 516 30 591
Revenue recognised – Handsets, tablets and other devices 177 130 64 651
Revenue recognised – Finance revenue 13 247 4 031
Amounts becoming due in the period (110 857) (44 757)
Loss allowance* — —
  134 036 54 516

* The loss allowance was deemed to be immaterial.

Included in receivables from revenue recognised on fixed term contracts are amounts of R34.7 million (2021: R13.9 million) which have a cycle period in excess of 12 months but are considered current due to management expecting to realise the assets in their normal operating cycle of 24 months.

There is a cession of trade receivables (including inter-group balances) of R4.148 billion (2021: R4.083 billion) in favour of Investec Bank Limited as security for facilities referred to in note 3.2.

3.5.3 Advances to customers
 

Advances to customers comprise receivables arising on financing transactions where, in substance, the nature of the business activities undertaken by certain subsidiaries of the Group is to engage in the provision of financing. Refer to note 3.1 for further detail.

Advances to customers are primarily accounted for at amortised cost, in accordance with the accounting policies of the Group.

2022 
R'000 
2021 
R'000 
Collateralised handset financing receivables 67 355 612 974
Handset financing and subscription income sharing receivables 1 849 639 1 043 954
Other receivables — 230 979
Less: Provision for impairment (249 456) (75 619)
  1 667 538 1 812 288
Amounts included in non-current portion of advances to customers 547 711 570 456
Amounts included in current portion of advances to customers 1 119 827 1 241 832

Cell C guarantees bad debts and cancellations of customers in terms of the Amended and Restated Product Procurement and Financing Agreement. At 31 May 2022, bad debts and cancellations amounted to R37 million (2021: R151 million). These amounts are included in the trade receivables balance owing from Cell C. In terms of the above agreement, if Cell C is unable or admits inability to make a payment as it falls due, or is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under the applicable law, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, it would be in breach of its agreement. If not remedied, CEC ultimately has a right to port the Cell C base to another network operator.

Under the Supply, Sale and Financing of Products Agreement effective 1 November 2020, Cell C no longer guarantees bad debts and cancellations and this now exposes the Group to the credit risk of the population of the underlying subscribers who are all customers of Cell C Proprietary Limited. In terms of the Amended and Restated Product Procurement and Financing Agreement the Group was only exposed in an indirect manner to the credit risk of Cell C. The guarantees of the previous deal with Cell C remain in place on the portion of the book still operated under this previous business model.

 

3.5.4 Cash and cash equivalents
 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and deposits held on call with banks.

2022 
R'000 
2021 
R'000 
Cash at bank 2 723 365 2 417 224
Cash on hand 226 101
  2 723 591 2 417 325
Bank overdraft (63) (118)
2 723 528 2 417 207

Included in this balance is restricted cash of R45.8 million (2021: R12.1 million), received on behalf of and immediately due to third parties, which may not be utilised in the Group’s ordinary course of business.