The further decline in the consumer price index (CPI) to just above the mid-point of the Reserve Bank’s target range is exceptionally good news for debt-laden households.

The appointment of South Africa’s first Cabinet under the new government of national unity (GNU) has been met with overwhelming positive response by business leaders, whilst also receiving a thumbs-up from global capital markets.

After three decades of ANC rule, South Africa’s national elections have made headlines again – mostly for good reasons. The ANC’s monopoly over socio-economic policy has been broken and around three-quarters of the votes were garnered by parties that remain committed to the constitution. 

Although debt servicing costs as percentage of household incomes has risen to 9% since the Reserve Bank’s decision to follow a restrictive monetary policy approach, higher employment and salary levels have boosted the AFHRI. 

A large measure of divergence in the performance of global currencies against the US dollar was evident in March, clearly as a result of key US economic data sets sending out conflicting signals – a trend that has continued to baffle capital markets over the past two years.

This year’s national budget, tabled in Parliament on 21 February, will probably be best remembered for the wide-ranging differences of opinion on National Treasury’s decision to tap into the country’s foreign exchange reserves. 

FEBRUARY is always a big political and economic month in South Africa. The SONA is the speech that outlines the government’s political priorities for the year.

Homeowners would have been relieved at the resumption of a downward trend in the consumer price index (CPI), which dropped from 5.9% in October to 5.5% in November. Motorists can also look forward to some savings in the New Year, with lower petrol and diesel prices having been announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy in 2024. At the same time, the country goes to elections which may see the ruling ANC voted out of power or forced into a national coalition. 

JUSTICE MALALA outlines the main political and economic trends for the year ahead.

During October, the annualised rate of consumer inflation rose marginally to 5.9% (from 5.4% in September), but there should be no need for alarm over any further significant increases in the general price level. It should be noted that October was a difficult month for the rand/US dollar exchange rate, with the average hitting a level of marginally above R19.