In conversation with Stat SA SG, Risenga Maluleke

Ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s National Budget Speech on 25 February, new research suggests that while policymakers debate deficits and growth forecasts, South Africans are focused on something far more immediate, what they refuse to cut from their own household budgets. What does this tell us about how households view…

More than a decade after their introduction, tax-free investment accounts were designed to encourage South Africans to save, offering a unique opportunity to build long-term wealth without the erosion of tax. Yet, according to Lizl Budhram, Head of Advice at Old Mutual Personal Finance, the current framework is in need…

South Africa’s business confidence remains at levels not seen in more than a decade, according to the latest SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI). The index sits at 131.4 in January 2026, up 11.4 points year-on-year, reflecting optimism among businesses as the country enters a new fiscal year. Joining Gugulethu to…

Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB explores why some staples remain deflationary while protein sources surge, how seasonal and structural factors influence prices and what strategies the agricultural sector and policymakers can adopt to stabilise the market and support both producers and consumers.

South Africa’s inflation rate ticked slightly lower in January 2026, offering modest relief for consumers but masking persistent price pressures in essential categories. Data released by Statistics South Africa shows annual consumer price inflation at 3.5% in January, down from 3.6% in December. On a monthly basis, prices increased by…