Assets & Investments

Most parents assume that leaving money to their children is enough to secure their future. However, how an inheritance is structured matters just as much as what is left behind. Without careful planning, children can become financially vulnerable. This vulnerability often stems from how assets are managed after a parent’s death, rather than from a lack of assets.

South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition published revised merger notification thresholds and filing fees under the Competition Act 89 of 1998 (Competition Act). These changes take effect on 1 May 2026. The updated thresholds raise turnover and asset values. These values determine whether a transaction qualifies as a small, intermediate or large merger. As a result, some deals previously requiring mandatory notification may now fall below the filing threshold.

Africa is entering a defining period for virtual asset regulation. As adoption accelerates, driven by fintech innovation, remittance demand and a digitally savvy youth population, governments across the continent are recalibrating their regulatory posture.

There's a peculiar kind of blindness that sets in when a constraint disappears. You keep solving for it anyway. You build institutions around it, develop disciplines to manage it, hire people whose entire expertise is navigating it. The constraint becomes invisible and not because it's gone, but because it's been so thoroughly baked into how you operate that questioning it feels like questioning gravity.

Our philosophy has not changed; the environment in which we execute it has. For over two decades, our investment philosophy has been grounded in a simple principle. High-quality companies that can reliably grow dividends tend to deliver more predictable long-term outcomes. This principle remains the foundation of how we invest. However, the environment in which we apply this philosophy has changed.

For the better part of a decade, the property conversation in South Africa has followed a predictable pattern. The Western Cape leads. The Cape Town market outperforms. Semigrants head south. Foreign buyers favour the Atlantic Seaboard. Meanwhile, everyone else watches from the sidelines. However, that narrative is shifting.

For years, a familiar narrative has shaped our understanding of South African consumers. It suggests they are over-indebted, under-saving and prone to conspicuous consumption. Statistics often reinforce this view. These include low household savings rates, rising unsecured lending and high levels of personal debt. On the surface, the conclusion seems obvious. However, it remains incomplete.

Retirement planning is often framed as a question of how much you save. Most people contribute to a Maximising. However, very few understand how to use it strategically. For many investors, retirement annuities function as a routine savings vehicle. People contribute consistently without considering the structural role these products play in a broader wealth strategy.

Read our exclusive cover story titled The innovation factory – built for famine, not a feast? by Lauren Drake, Co-founder & Director, FiftyKnots, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.

The 2026 Budget Speech, delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in February 2026, has generally been described as a “good news” budget. At a macro level, the strides toward fiscal consolidation are notable. Additionally, the increase in VAT for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) reflects a shift in revenue strategy. These developments support key socio-economic measures, including employment.