Tag: affordability

Each year, medical aid becomes more expensive and slips further out of reach for many South Africans. Annual premium increases continue to outpace inflation far. As a result, staying covered has become an uphill battle. Many consumers are questioning whether their medical aid is worth the cost. Others are being forced to downgrade or abandon it entirely. If you're feeling the financial squeeze, you are not alone.

Astute property buyers are increasingly viewing pre-approval for home loans as the first step in the purchasing process. This step helps each buyer understand their budget. It also makes their offer more attractive to sellers.

More than 30% of South African adventure travellers spend under R500 per person per day. Yet, they demand high-value experiences. This is according to our new traveller insights. The study is the most comprehensive analysis of South Africa's domestic adventure tourism market to date. It surveyed over 4,200 respondents in partnership with Wesgro through the 101 Adventures Western Cape Competition.

The South African Reserve Bank’s recent decision to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to 7.25%, offers a glimmer of hope for prospective homeowners, particularly first-time buyers. This move, aimed at stimulating economic activity amid subdued inflation, presents both opportunities and considerations for those looking to enter the property market.

Over the last couple of years, climate-related disasters have increased in both frequency and intensity. These disasters have accelerated rapidly, creating a physical and socioeconomic divide in risk exposure and protection.

Almost three months after South Africa introduced the long-awaited Remote Work Visa to attract foreign digital nomads who can choose any exotic destination in the world to work from, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) sees an uptick in enquiries from these remote workers who want to move to South Africa, and specifically to Cape Town.

In many African cultures, the conclusion of lobola negotiations marks a major milestone. It symbolises the formal union of two families. While this deeply rooted tradition is widely embraced, fewer people understand its impact on homeownership.

Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, is moving into the workforce and becoming one of the most influential consumer demographics. Retailers will need to adjust their strategies if they are to remain relevant for this highly educated, socially aware and digitally connected cohort.

Whether it is the South African government’s newly signed carbon tax legislation or the EU’s ‘green’ import taxes, South Africa’s manufacturing sector faces significant challenges. These challenges are centered around sustainability and adapting to new environmental regulations.

According to the Facts and Figures 2023 report, just 37% of Africa’s population uses the internet, representing a digital divide for hundreds of millions of people. Only a tiny fraction of the continent’s people have access to a high-speed broadband connection at their homes.