JOHANNESBURG - Two very different pressures shape South Africa this week: one playing out in shopping aisles, and the other on the global diplomatic stage. Yet both expose how vulnerable households and nations can be when driven by hype, uncertainty, or political theatrics.
The first pressure point is Black Friday, which has moved from an imported novelty to a defining fixture of the South African retail calendar. Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd’s highlight the duality at the heart of this phenomenon: while retailers benefit from higher volumes, consumers often fall into cycles of overspending and credit dependence. Francis recalls how retailers initially resisted Black Friday because it disrupted the December sales cycle. Now they have embraced it fully, often increasing prices before November and then dropping them dramatically to create the appearance of deep discounts.
This strategy drives sales, but not necessarily financial wellness. Gareth’s concern reflects a broader reality: many households rely on credit to participate in Black Friday, even as interest-free instalments and instant loans create a false sense of affordability. A purchase that feels harmless in November becomes a burden in January when school fees, transport, and annual expenses collide. South Africa’s debt environment, though moderated by improving interest rates, remains fragile enough that one impulsive decision can have lasting consequences.
The second pressure point comes from Donald Trump’s announcement that South Africa “will not be invited” to the G20 Leaders Summit in Miami in 2026. The statement raises big questions about how global narratives shape local anxieties. Francis contextualises the claim, noting that the G20 operates by consensus rather than presidential decree. While Trump has influence over visas and bilateral matters, removing South Africa from the summit is not a unilateral decision.
Still, the concern is not imaginary. The United States has already imposed 30 percent tariffs on certain South African goods while Agoa remains suspended. Trump’s past decisions, such as the reduction of emergency HIV funding, show that signals of intent can translate into action. Yet despite the drama, markets remain stable, and global leaders have not echoed his rhetoric. They attended the recent summit in South Africa in full, quietly reinforcing their confidence in the country’s position.
Taken together, these two stories reveal the spectrum of vulnerabilities; from household budgets strained by manufactured urgency to national confidence tested by political theatrics. For South Africans, the takeaway is clear: clarity, not panic, is the most powerful tool in both retail and global politics.