News
Budget Speech 2026: What’s at stake?
2+ hour, 50+ min ago (92+ words) Budget Speech 2026: What's at stake?Daily Maverick South Africa's 2026 Budget arrives at a pivotal moment. Debt is hovering near 78% of GDP. Growth is forecast at just 1.5%. Debt-servicing costs absorb around 5% of GDP. And yet, bond yields have fallen, sentiment has…...
Unemployment data at a glance — and what the experts say
1+ week, 4+ hour ago (78+ words) Unemployment data at a glance " and what the experts say'Daily Maverick While signs of stabilisation are emerging, the latest unemployment data shows that significant challenges remain, particularly for vulnerable groups. The key takeout here is that unemployment numbers are moving…...
Ramaphosa must reconcile economic gains with SA’s harsh reality in his Sona
1+ week, 5+ day ago (14+ words) Ramaphosa must reconcile economic gains with SA's harsh reality in his Sona'Daily Maverick...
This might be the rand-backed stablecoin we’ve been waiting for
2+ week, 2+ day ago (1004+ words) Luno has partnered with Sanlam, EasyEquities and Lesaka to double down on stablecoins with rand-backed Zaru, but will this one actually stick? Luno is making another stablecoin bet, but at least its not with a gambling company this time. The…...
Sassa suspends 70,000 payments and steps up grant reviews under stricter Treasury rules
2+ week, 5+ day ago (579+ words) Close to 400,000 beneficiaries have been notified that their social grants are under review as oversight tightens. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it has stepped up its social grant review programme as part of a broader push to…...
A new and potentially hazardous bet at the Fed
3+ week, 9+ hour ago (582+ words) Markets faced a jolt as Trump nominated Kevin Warsh for Fed chair, hinting at an end to easy monetary policy. Critics question his credibility, while his ideas on AI-driven growth remain untested. The trajectory of markets in 2026 was always likely…...
Sarb keeps repo rate steady to anchor inflation at ‘new normal’ of 3% target
3+ week, 5+ day ago (818+ words) The South African Reserve Bank maintains its repo rate at 6.75%, aiming for a stable inflation target amid global uncertainties and economic growth challenges. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) kept the repo rate unchanged…...
Five economic and business factors to watch for SA in 2026
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (650+ words) Here are five key economic and business factors to keep an eye out for in 2026. Gold's price smashed new records in 2025, reaching over $4,000 an ounce " double the price it was fetching just two years before. Over the course of the…...
The GDP disconnect — why South Africa’s 2025 growth didn’t feel like relief
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (493+ words) South Africa's 2025 GDP growth showed technical improvement, but the benefits have largely bypassed households. Rising unemployment, sluggish per-capita gains and the persistent cost of essentials explain why headline growth doesn't translate into lived economic relief. As December 2025 draws to a…...
The quiet January shock — why household budgets tighten before salaries do
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (570+ words) South African households face a predictable post-festive squeeze as debt, school fees and transport costs converge in early January, amplified by high household debt and structural timing gaps between income and essential expenses. As the final week of December 2025 draws…...