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Insights and News
Insights and Perspectives from
Maano Capital
Explore financial insights, market updates, and strategic perspectives from the team at Maano Capital. Our articles delve into the trends shaping investment decisions, treasury management, and sustainable business growth. Stay informed with practical guidance and expert analysis designed to help you make confident, informed financial choices.
All Posts
Finance News Update | 30 Mar 2026
General Headlines Great news for Capitec customers in South Africa Capitec, South Africa’s biggest bank by customer numbers, has expanded its self-service Smart ID terminals to branches in every province. After starting with seven branches earlier this month, the bank quickly added 40 more, giving it the widest national reach among banks. Currently, the service is only for Smart ID replacements—such as lost, stolen, or damaged cards, or swapping a green ID book for a Smart I
Masego M
8 hours ago2 min read
Finance News Update | 27 March 2026
General Headlines Reserve Bank pauses interest rate cuts amid global uncertainty The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank has decided to keep interest rates unchanged, citing heightened uncertainty stemming from the Middle East conflict. Rising oil prices and a weaker rand are expected to place upward pressure on inflation in the near term. As a result, the repo rate remains at 6.75%, while the prime lending rate stays at 10.25% until the next MPC
Phophi K
3 days ago2 min read
Finance News Update | 23 March 2026
General Headlines Interest rate hold expected Rising oil prices, driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict, have likely diminished the chances of an interest rate cut at the South African Reserve Bank’s upcoming meeting. While a hold appears increasingly likely in the short term, the monetary policy trajectory for the remainder of the year remains uncertain. BusinessDay Government explores emergency access to pension funds The National Treasury is considering allowing limite
Phophi K
Mar 232 min read
Finance News Update | 20 Mar 2026
General Headlines SARS is coming hard after government officials in South Africa The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is intensifying its fight against corruption and fraud, especially within government departments and among its own staff. Its Illicit Economy Strategy focuses on rooting out bribery and collusion in customs and tax processes. Investigations revealed that some customs officials worked with clearing agents and importers to manipulate inspections in exchange
Masego M
Mar 203 min read
Finance News Update | 18 Mar 2026
General Headlines Standard Bank fraud warning for South Africans Standard Bank is warning South Africans to be especially careful this Easter as digital banking scams are becoming more advanced with the use of AI. Criminals are now combining different tactics such as spoofing, phishing, and vishing, making their schemes harder to spot. They can impersonate bank staff or trusted individuals with convincing voices, emails, and even deepfake content. These scams often look iden
Masego M
Mar 183 min read
Finance News Update | 16 Mar 2026
General Headlines Big changes for debit orders in South Africa next month From 13 April 2026, South Africans will have up to 60 days to dispute debit orders, depending on the rules of their service provider. This change, confirmed by the South African Reserve Bank and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, comes after years of dealing with fraudulent debit orders, especially a surge around 2015 when many were set at R99 to avoid bank alerts. Banks responded by making disput
Masego M
Mar 163 min read
Finance News Update | 09 March 2026
General Headlines South African fruit exports face rising costs and route disruptions South African fruit exporters are facing mounting pressure as regional conflict disrupts traditional shipping routes. Producers are exploring alternative export pathways to India and Middle Eastern markets via Saudi Arabia to maintain supply chains. However, these diversions may add approximately $4,000 (R67,189) in additional surcharges per shipment. Exporters of citrus, grapes, pome fruit,
Phophi K
Mar 92 min read
Finance News Update | 06 Mar 2026
General Headlines New tax could force some South African businesses to close The SA Bookmakers Association says the proposed 20% gambling tax could shut down many businesses already struggling with small profits. CEO Sean Coleman argues the tax won’t stop vulnerable people from gambling but will instead push them to illegal online platforms, reducing government revenue. He explains that the 20% figure is misleading because bookmakers already pay VAT and provincial gambling t
Masego M
Mar 63 min read
Finance News Update | 04 Mar 2026
General Headlines FMD outbreak reaches all provinces, with almost 1,000 cases reported South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease has spread to all nine provinces, with 935 cases reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The government has launched a nationwide vaccination program. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said vaccinations are now happening everywhere after new vaccine shipments arrived. One million doses from Argentina are already in use, with 90,000 ca
Masego M
Mar 43 min read
Finance News Update | 02 Mar 2026
General Headlines Budget 2026 | R370 SRD grant continues for another year, but value is frozen President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent state of the nation address promised continued support for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, and National Treasury has now allocated an extra R36.4 billion to fund it for another year. The grant amount remains fixed at R370, even though other welfare grants are rising in line with inflation. Originally introduced in 2020 to help poor hous
Masego M
Mar 23 min read
Finance News Update | 27 Feb 2026
General Headlines Budget 2026 Delivers Relief Enoch Godongwana struck a confident and optimistic tone during his Budget Speech in Cape Town on Wednesday, a noticeable shift from the turbulence that defined the three budgets of 2025. Budget 2026 is widely viewed as a welcome reset. Key highlights include full inflation adjustments to personal income tax brackets and medical tax credits for the first time in three years, effectively eliminating bracket creep. Importantly, no ma
Phophi K
Feb 272 min read
Finance News Update | 25 Feb 2026
General Headlines SA Express Brand to Be Sold for R150,000 as Liquidation Nears Completion The final chapter in the liquidation of former state-owned domestic carrier SA Express is nearing completion. Liquidators are preparing to sell the airline’s name and brand identity for R150,000. This is one of the last remaining steps before the process is concluded. SA Express was placed into liquidation in 2022. A previous rescue effort saw a consortium of former employees acquire th
Phophi K
Feb 252 min read
Finance News Update | 23 Feb 2026
General Headlines Big turn for South Africa coming this week Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to present encouraging improvements in South Africa’s fiscal position when he delivers the national budget in Cape Town on Wednesday at 14h00. According to a Bloomberg survey, National Treasury is likely to outperform its projected consolidated budget deficit of 4.7% of GDP for the 2025–26 fiscal year, with economists forecasting a narrower shortfall of around 4.4%. The
Phophi K
Feb 233 min read
Finance News Update | 20 Feb 2020
General Headlines New social grant for South Africa is coming The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which pays R370 per month, has been extended until March 2027. Originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to help unemployed and struggling South Africans, it started at R350 and later increased to R370. Although meant to be temporary, over 8 million people rely on it, so the government has kept extending it. The Treasury had planned for it to end in March 2026, b
Masego M
Feb 202 min read
Finance News Update | 18 Feb 2026
General Headlines Ramaphosa bullish on data centres as R50bn expected over three years President Cyril Ramaphosa is pushing technology as a driver of economic growth, announcing R50 billion in digital infrastructure investment over the next three years. Since taking office, he has promoted the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as part of his economic agenda, though critics question its impact due to limited access to technology. Ramaphosa said new funding models and public-
Masego M
Feb 183 min read
Finance News Update | 16 Feb 2026
General Headlines Ramaphosa declares foot-and-mouth outbreak a national disaster In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak a national disaster, making it a top government priority. The disease has spread widely, causing serious economic harm, with export bans and trade restrictions hitting farmers and rural communities hard. Critics have said the government’s response has been slow, but Ramaphosa announced a ma
Masego M
Feb 163 min read
Finance News Update | 13 Feb 2026
New State-Owned Water Entity on the Way
In response to South Africa’s escalating water supply crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to establish a new state-owned entity aimed at addressing infrastructure failures and supply disruptions. Residents in several areas, including Johannesburg and Knysna, have endured prolonged water outages.
Phophi K
Feb 132 min read
Summary: Feb 26 IMF Staff Report on South Africa
The IMF Staff Report No. 26/34 is explicit that entrenched bottlenecks—especially inadequate infrastructure and structural rigidities—still constrain South Africa’s ability to achieve its growth potential. It argues that accelerating reforms in electricity and logistics is central to unlocking private investment, raising economic growth and enabling private sector-led job creation.
Maano Capital
Feb 124 min read
Finance News Update | 11 Feb 2026
General Headlines South Africa’s Largest Airline Set for Sale South African private equity firm Harith General Partners has agreed to acquire budget airline FlySafair, marking a significant expansion of its transport portfolio across the continent. The deal, currently at an advanced stage and subject to regulatory approval, will be concluded through Harith Aviation and is expected to close by the fourth quarter. FlySafair, which accounts for more than 60% of South Africa’s do
Phophi K
Feb 112 min read
Finance News Update | 09 Feb 2026
General Headlines Cape Town goes private to boost electricity and water supply Cape Town plans to issue tenders for several large-scale projects aimed at reducing electricity costs and strengthening water security in South Africa’s second-largest city and key tourism hub. The municipality will this month begin the process of appointing an electricity trading company to secure additional power. Later in the year, private firms will be invited to bid on multibillion-rand desali
Phophi K
Feb 92 min read
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Maano Capital Pty Ltd, 2013/181382/07 is an authorized financial services provider (FSP 55112) in terms of section 8 of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Act 37 of 2002. Maano Capital is authorized to provide advice and intermediary services in the following categories: money market instruments, derivative instruments, long and short term deposits, structured deposits, participatory interests in CIS, shares, bonds, debentures and securitized debt and and forex investments. Maano Capital is a registered credit provider NCRCP22459.
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