New entity will manage R155 billion property portfolio, support urban renewal, and create jobs. South Africa is positioning its vast state property portfolio as the foundation for a potential sovereign wealth fund, with the creation of a new government-owned property management company. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the formation of the South African National Property Company during the country’s recent State of the Nation Address, outlining plans to transform underutilized public assets into a long-term driver

South Africa’s 2026 Budget, delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, signals a disciplined approach to fiscal management. Despite ongoing concerns about revenue, government spending, and public debt, the budget introduces measured adjustments aimed at stabilising debt, moderating sin taxes, and strengthening enforcement against illicit trade. For an economy facing slow growth and mounting fiscal pressure, these policy decisions represent a pragmatic step in the right direction. One of the most encouraging elements of the 2026

The SPAR Group has announced a significant leadership overhaul, with Group CEO Angelo Swartz set to step down at the end of the month. He will be succeeded by current Group CFO Reeza Isaacs. At the same time, Chief Operating Officer Megan Pydigadu will move into the CFO role, while the company begins the search for a new Managing Director to lead its core Groceries and Liquor division in Southern Africa. A Difficult Chapter Closes

Cape Town has edged ahead of Johannesburg in the number of assessed taxpayers, adding weight to the view that South Africa’s economic centre of gravity is gradually shifting south. Recent data from the South African Revenue Service, covering assessed taxpayers across the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, show that Cape Town has now surpassed Johannesburg in absolute terms. In 2023, Cape Town recorded 912,168 assessed taxpayers, slightly behind Johannesburg’s 915,311. By 2024, however, Cape Town had

South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago has warned that the rapid rise of stablecoins could pose risks to financial stability, particularly in the absence of comprehensive regulation. Speaking at the 2026 Warwick Economics Summit on Saturday, Kganyago said central banks have a responsibility “to protect the oneness of money and the affordability of money to the public,” cautioning that stablecoins risk fragmenting the monetary system. “The truth of the matter is that these things