Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Headline inflation eased to 4.3% in July from 5% in June, while food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation fell to 0.9%, the lowest in more than 16 years.

Stats SA linked the slowdown to lower food inflation, smaller municipal tariff hikes and cheaper fuel; maize meal, bread and beef prices all eased, with food relief especially significant for low-income households.

Momentum expects the Reserve Bank to keep the repo rate at 7% next month despite the softer CPI, warning the Middle East conflict, diesel costs and weather risks could still push inflation higher.

Eskom will not fine or disconnect households that miss the 30 September rooftop-solar registration deadline, but SAPIA said registration remains a legal requirement and wants one streamlined system across distributors.

Namibia’s Walfvis Bay green-hydrogen facility was presented as a potential blueprint for Africa: a shipping-linked hub using solar, storage and hydrogen to decarbonise transport, logistics and industrial use.