Finance News Update | 10 June 2026

General Headlines

Johannesburg falls short of infrastructure spending targets

The City of Johannesburg spent only 49% of its R8.43 billion capital budget for the 2025/26 financial year by the end of March, well below its 70% spending target. The underperformance comes as residents continue to face recurring water and electricity disruptions linked to ageing and poorly maintained infrastructure. Mayor Dada Morero told Parliament that spending is expected to accelerate as projects move into implementation and funds are reallocated to priority areas. The shortfall has raised concerns about the city's ability to address its growing infrastructure backlog. Business Day

Eskom Green prepares to partner with private investors on renewable energy projects

Eskom Green has officially launched and is preparing to develop an initial pipeline of 2 GW of utility-scale renewable energy projects. The projects will largely be located on land adjacent to Eskom’s coal-fired power stations and will be implemented in partnership with private sector investors. Private participation forms a key condition for Eskom Green’s establishment as a standalone subsidiary under the Public Finance Management Act. The entity has also committed to operating under the same grid-access rules as independent power producers competing for available transmission capacity. Engineering News

South Africa moves toward digital vehicle licensing

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) plans to replace physical vehicle licence discs with an electronic system based on number plate recognition technology. As part of efforts to reduce fraud and modernise road administration, traffic officers will be equipped with digital “e-force” devices capable of instantly accessing vehicle registration information and issuing fines electronically. The new system is expected to support the nationwide rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) framework from 1 July 2026. The initiative forms part of a broader push towards digitising road traffic management in South Africa. MyBroadband

Markets & Investments

Market and Stock Highlight

The rand strengthened after South Africa’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter of 2026, boosting investor confidence. Statistics South Africa reported that GDP expanded by 0.5% quarter-on-quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis during the first three months of the year. The rand traded at 16.4325 against the US dollar, approximately 0.6% stronger than its previous level. However, analysts caution that the economic impact of the ongoing conflict involving Iran may only become visible in future economic data releases. BusinessTech

Property & Real Assets

Young South Africans driving property demand in Gauteng

Gauteng continues to attract a growing number of young homebuyers, supported by stronger employment opportunities and relatively affordable property prices compared to other major regions. Property experts note that banks are increasingly competing for market share by offering more favourable lending terms to first-time buyers. These incentives include lower deposit requirements, cost-inclusive home loans, and more competitive financing options. Improved access to credit is helping offset affordability pressures and supporting renewed activity in the province’s residential property market. Daily Investor