VW Polo Vivo Recall 25,729 Cars Explained | Number of the Day

Petrol rises by 20c a litre from Wednesday, 4 March 2026. Francis Herd explains what drove the increase, why diesel is climbing faster, and how fuel prices can ripple into transport, food and inflation.

R2.3 Trillion Budget 2026 Explained: Fuel Levy, Taxes & Who Pays | Number of the Day

22c of every rand South Africans pay in tax goes to servicing debt. We unpack SA’s R6 trillion debt load, the daily interest bill, and why the Budget matters?

Two days before the Budget, we unpack why the tax base is so narrow, why that is risky, and what needs to change to stop the pressure piling onto the same taxpayers.

Brent crude has climbed above $71 as US–Iran tensions raise supply fears. We explain the Strait of Hormuz risk and what it could mean for South Africa’s fuel price outlook.

Wine prices in South Africa are up 5% (4.9% exactly). Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd unpack what’s driving it and why the real impact could show up in exports and jobs.

South Africa’s unemployment rate dipped to 31.4% in Q4. We unpack what changed, what did not, and why it still matters to households.

Number of the Day: 25 million. Telkom has crossed a mobile milestone that feels bigger than the brand’s old reputation. Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd unpack what is driving the surge, why data has become the real battlefield, and what stronger competition could mean for prepaid prices and fibre rollout in South Africa.

In today’s Number of the Day, Gareth Edwards and Rofhiwa Madzena unpack what that figure actually covers, why it is lower than previous years, and whether it still makes sense in a strained economy. Is it ceremony, infrastructure, or constitutional necessity?

Beef prices in South Africa have surged by 19% over the past year. In today’s Number of the Day, Rofhiwa Madzena unpacks what’s driving the increase, how long it could last, and what it means for your next braai.

The Post Office is turning 234; but it may not be heading for 235. Aakash Bramdeo and Rofhiwa Madzena break down why the business rescue plan is wobbling, what happens when expected funding falls away, and why changes to the parcels landscape could squeeze future revenue.

Electricity is getting more expensive; again. Nersa has approved an 8.76% hike after correcting a major tariff calculation error. We break down what changed, why it happened, and why the knock-on effects don’t stop at your prepaid meter.

99% is today’s Number of the Day. Francis Herd and Aakash Bramdeo explain why Sasol’s earnings collapsed, why the headline number is not the full story, and how a strong rand and cheaper oil can quietly hurt one of South Africa’s biggest employers.

A R150,000 default judgment against DA leader John Steenhuisen has resurfaced as he exits the leadership race.

Gold doesn’t usually behave like a meme stock; which is exactly why a move of more than 10% in a few days lands like a slap.

SARB hits pause: repo stays at 6.75% and prime holds at 10.25%. Francis Herd unpacks why rates stayed flat, what services inflation and electricity prices have to do with it, and what to watch before the next decision.

South Africa is considering raising import tariffs on vehicles from China and India to as high as 50%.

Barloworld has delisted from the JSE after 86 years following a Saudi-led acquisition. Francis Herd and Gareth Edwards unpack what the exit means for the market, why delistings matter, and what this deal signals about investor appetite for South African assets.

5000: Gold Smashes $5,000 and the Rand Follows

Gold has crossed $5,000 an ounce for the first time, marking a dramatic acceleration in the global “fear trade”; the rush into assets seen as safer when the world feels unstable.

For South Africa, that headline matters for two reasons. First, gold’s rally is not happening in isolation: it’s part of a broader precious-metals surge that can buoy sentiment around resource exporters. Second, the currency has responded; with the rand strengthening to around R16/$ territory for the first time since 2022 [and even briefly trading at R15.99], helped by strong commodity prices and improved investor appetite.

A stronger rand isn’t just a nice-looking number on a trading screen. South Africa imports fuel, and currency moves feed directly into transport costs and inflation pressure. When the rand firms up, the economy can get a rare bit of breathing room: lower fuel price pressure, slightly cheaper imports, and a more stable environment for households already stretched by everyday costs.

The episode also explores what’s underneath the gold spike: uncertainty, geopolitical shocks, tariff threats, and a market that’s re-pricing risk fast. When investors stop trusting the “usual” safe places, they reach for the physical stuff and gold is the oldest receipt in the world.

In Number of the Day, Francis translates that global chaos into a local read: why this moment could be supportive for mining confidence, how the rand’s move can affect affordability, and what to watch next if volatility keeps driving capital into safe-haven trades.

R16 is in sight. In today’s Number of the Day, Francis Herd and Gareth Edwards break down why the rand is suddenly stronger; from global market sentiment to Trump/Greenland tariff jitters; and what it could mean for fuel, imports, and your cost of living.

In this episode of Number of the Day, Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd examine why 200% has rattled global markets.

The number of the day is €93 billion — the scale of retaliatory tariffs the European Union is considering if the United States moves ahead with new trade penalties. T

In this episode of Number of the Day, Francis Herd and Gareth Edwards examine the scale of South Africa’s illicit cigarette trade, now estimated at 75% of daily sales.

Francis Herd and Gareth Edwards unpack why a 2.6% global growth forecast from the World Bank is both reassuring and worrying and what it means for South Africa.

In this episode of Number of the Day, Francis Herd unpacks why 284 words spoken by the chair of the US Federal Reserve were enough to unsettle global markets.

Today’s Number of the Day is 0, the number of letters the Post Office delivered from Francis Herd’s test. After mailing seven letters across the country two months ago, none arrived. This episode unpacks what the result says about SAPO’s service collapse, why the Post Office is in business rescue, and whether South Africa still needs a national mail system.

The Federal Reserve’s anticipated 25 basis point interest rate cut marks a significant moment for global financial markets and for emerging economies like South Africa.

Today’s Number of the Day is –9, the latest Consumer Confidence Index reading from FNB and the BER. Francis Herd and Rofhiwa Madzena explain why confidence remains negative, how households are coping with high living costs, and what this means for festive spending and economic recovery. A sharp, data-driven snapshot of the financial mood across South Africa.

The Number of the Day is 18 600; the number of Kia vehicles recalled in South Africa due to braking and safety defects. Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd explain what models are affected, why 2025 recalls have surged, and what this means for motorists. A clear, urgent breakdown of a fast-growing consumer safety concern.

Here's a view of the numbers that highlight South Africa's political economy in the last week.

South Africa’s rand traded at R17 to the dollar, marking one of its strongest levels in nearly three years.

South Africans are paying 29 cents more for petrol after a price increase took effect at one minute past midnight.

South Africa’s retail economy has seen November rise in importance, with the month contributing 9.7 percent of all annual retail trade sales in 2024.

Pinkfong, the South Korean company behind Baby Shark, made a very strong market debut when its shares jumped 60 percent on the first day of trading in Seoul.