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 disputes easier through ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps, which increased consumer awareness but did not reduce the number of disputes. To strengthen the system, DebiCheck was introduced in 2021, requiring customers to approve debit order mandates directly through their bank before payments can be collected. Once approved, the bank records the agreement, and as long as the business follows the agreed terms, those transactions cannot be disputed-even under the new 60-day rule. (BusinessTech)

SA banks lose more than R200bn in value as Middle East conflict persists

South Africa’s biggest banks have lost over R200 billion in market value since the Middle East conflict began, with the Public Investment Corporation taking the hardest hit due to its large exposure. FirstRand dropped more than R52 billion, Standard Bank R50 billion, Capitec R53 billion, Absa R30 billion, and Nedbank R22 billion. Together, these five banks control over 90% of the country’s banking assets, highlighting how global tensions are affecting local financial markets. The concern is that prolonged conflict could push oil prices higher, leading to inflation, rising fuel and food costs, and reduced consumer spending power—making it harder for people to repay debt. Insurance giants Sanlam, Discovery, Old Mutual, and Momentum have also suffered, losing more than R40 billion in value during the same period. (BusinessDay)

Markets and Investments Standard Bank still sees interest rate cuts in South Africa Standard Bank still expects interest rates to be cut by a total of 75 basis points across 2026 and 2027, even with uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict. The South African Reserve Bank had been expected to lower rates this year as inflation eased, but rising oil prices from the conflict have clouded the outlook. Higher fuel costs are likely to push up food prices, making near-term cuts less likely. However, Standard Bank’s 2025 results project inflation averaging 3.6% in 2026 and 3.3% in 2027, supporting gradual rate reductions. The bank forecasts two 25 basis point cuts in May and September 2026, followed by another in 2027, which would bring the repo rate down to 6.0%. Alongside this, South Africa’s GDP growth is expected to reach 1.5% in 2026 and improve to 1.8% in 2027.(BusinessTech)

Property and Real Estates City of Joburg uncovers 18 cases of property fraud The City of Johannesburg Property Company has uncovered cases where municipal properties were fraudulently transferred to private individuals without approval. These irregular transfers were first flagged by the City’s GIS department, which monitors property changes for billing purposes. Further investigation revealed forged documents with fake signatures pretending to be from City officials, the Property Company, and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. In response, the Property Intelligence and Asset Management Unit has opened 18 criminal cases with the police. At the same time, the Property Company’s legal team is in the Gauteng High Court seeking interdicts and orders to return the affected properties to the City. (PropertyWheel)

SA property market enters new growth cycle: Viruly, SAPOA insights

South Africa’s property market may be entering a new growth phase, according to economist Professor Francois Viruly. Speaking at an industry event, he noted early signs of recovery after years of difficulty, with industrial property leading the way thanks to strong demand for logistics and e-commerce facilities. Data from the first half of 2025 shows this positive trend continuing. However, property performance differs widely across regions, depending on infrastructure, local economic activity, and urban conditions. The residential market is also gaining momentum, supported by lower interest rates, with Cape Town showing particularly strong growth. Viruly added that political and governance factors remain crucial, as upcoming municipal elections will influence investor confidence through decisions on infrastructure, service delivery, planning approvals, and property rates. (PropertyWheel)