In conversation With Zanele Sabela-COSATU

South Africans already battling rising living costs are now facing another financial challenge following the South African Reserve Bank’s decision to increase the repo rate by 25 basis points. The move has sparked criticism from labour federation Congress of South African Trade Unions, which argues that higher borrowing costs will place additional pressure on households already struggling with debt, transport costs, electricity prices and everyday expenses. The repo rate is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank lends money to commercial banks. When it increases, banks typically pass those costs on to consumers through higher interest rates on home loans, vehicle finance, personal loans and credit facilities. COSATU argues that the current inflationary pressures are largely driven by global events, particularly rising oil prices linked to instability in the Middle East, rather than excessive spending within South Africa. The federation believes raising interest rates will do little to address these external pressures while making life more difficult for workers and businesses. On the other hand, central banks are tasked with keeping inflation under control and maintaining economic stability. Supporters of tighter monetary policy argue that failing to act against inflation today can create even greater economic challenges tomorrow. The debate raises an important question: when inflation is driven by international factors beyond South Africa’s control, should the Reserve Bank still use interest rates as its primary tool, or does the country need a different approach to protect consumers while maintaining economic stability? Instagram · Twitter