This article examines Financial Literacy and Consumer Protection in African Financial Markets: Institutional Dimensions and Reform Pathways with a focused emphasis on South Africa within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a theoretical framework article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.