Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Government procurement spends about R7.5 billion annually on clothing and textiles, but only a third reaches compliant local manufacturers; redirecting the balance could create roughly 52,000 jobs.

Brent crude above $100 a barrel is expected to intensify South African inflation through fuel and food costs, increasing pressure on the Reserve Bank despite the rand holding near 16 to the dollar.

Household resilience rose for a seventh consecutive quarter as lower interest rates reduced debt costs, but 190,000 formal jobs were lost and long-term insurance surrenders climbed 24% year on year.

Commercial electric vehicles become cheaper to own once fleets travel about 3,000 kilometres monthly; operators reported 10% to 20% cost savings after 15 million kilometres on South African roads.

Municipalities face a management and implementation crisis rather than simply insufficient funding, with voters urged to judge councillors by delivery, visibility and accountability instead of campaign promises.