Liable for debt after years!!

Good day. I used to have a good job just before the first covid lockdown. I was retrenched, 2018. in the same year, my wife went for an operation that went wrong, she is medically disabled now. Permanent brain damage and her only income is Sassa. We don't have our own home. Absa repossessed my vehicle. I was without work for 3 years. Did find a job but minimum wage. I have to take care of my wife, daughter. I don't have a vehicle. Now all off a sudden I'm getting contacted by attorneys, i have a judgement against me. i cannot do anything. I cant even help my family financially. Borrowing money from family weekly! We stay with my mother. Isn't old debt supposed to be written off? i have send letters, documents to all by previous credit providers explaining my situation, my wife's situation. why suddenly after years!! now i am getting contacted and threatened?? It appears that debt only gets written off to some people.