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A stronger rand is not only about what happens overseas. It is also about confidence at home.

In this BusinessTech article, Investec Chief Economist Annabel Bishop explains why the rand has remained relatively stable despite renewed tension between the United States and Iran, pressure on oil prices, and cautious global markets.

The article looks at a few important moving parts:
- Why Middle East conflict and oil prices can affect the rand
- How global investors react when markets become uncertain
- Why South Africa’s domestic fundamentals still matter
- How Treasury’s action on struggling municipalities could support confidence
- Why the upcoming SARB interest-rate decision remains important

The rand is a useful reminder that personal finances do not exist in isolation. Exchange rates, oil prices, inflation, interest rates and government finances can all filter through to everyday costs over time. But for households, the answer is not to react to every move in the currency. It is to build a financial plan that can absorb uncertainty.

That means keeping your budget realistic, managing debt carefully, maintaining an emergency fund, and making long-term investment decisions with perspective rather than panic. A stronger rand may help ease some pressure, but financial resilience is still built at home, one good decision at a time.

Read the full article on BusinessTech:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/866864/big-win-for-the-rand/

Big win for the rand Despite weakening on the resurgence of war in the Middle East, the rand is again proving to be resilient and beating the odds.

An auto-assessment may make tax season easier, but it does not necessarily mean that every figure has been included or captured correctly.

SARS bases the assessment on information received from employers, medical schemes, financial institutions and retirement funds. This means that certain deductions, additional income or information from previous tax years could still be missing.

What should you do next?
Before accepting your assessment, compare it with your supporting documents and check:
- Your retirement annuity contributions, including any unused contributions carried forward from previous years.
- Your IRP5 and medical aid tax certificate.
- Travel claims supported by a logbook.
- Qualifying home-office expenses.
- Rental, freelance or other income that may not have been reported to SARS by a third party.

A fast refund is welcome, but accuracy matters more than speed. If something is missing or incorrect, you can submit a corrected return through eFiling or the SARS MobiApp before the applicable deadline. Consider speaking to a qualified tax practitioner when you are uncertain about what should be declared or claimed.

Read the full article on BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/866096/important-information-for-anyone-who-was-auto-assessed-by-sars-in-south-africa/

Important information for anyone who was auto-assessed by SARS in South Africa Taxpayers who were auto-assessed can amend their returns, and tax experts warn that one of the easiest mistakes to overlook could cost them valuable deductions.

The differing interest-rate forecasts are a reminder that financial decisions should not be based on a single prediction.

Whether the Reserve Bank raises rates or keeps them unchanged, South African households are likely to remain under pressure for some time. This makes it important to manage expensive debt carefully, leave room in the monthly budget for changing costs and avoid overcommitting based on the hope that relief is just around the corner. A sound financial plan should be able to withstand both rising and falling interest-rate cycles.

Read the full piece on BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/866126/what-to-expect-for-interest-rates-in-south-africa-next-week-5/

What to expect for interest rates in South Africa next week Bank of America expects the Reserve Bank to hike rates at its July Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

The Reserve Bank makes its next interest-rate decision on 23 July and another increase may be on the table.

You cannot control what happens to the repo rate, but you can control how prepared your finances are.

Rather than waiting anxiously for the announcement, use the next few weeks to stress-test your household budget.

Consider what a slightly higher repayment would mean for your home loan, vehicle finance and other variable-rate debt. Check whether your emergency fund could still cover a few months of essential expenses, and be cautious about taking on new debt while conditions remain uncertain.

When money becomes tight, it can be tempting to cancel insurance or pause retirement contributions first. These decisions may provide immediate relief, but they can also weaken the protection and progress you have spent years building.

Start by reviewing discretionary spending and expensive debt. Protect the essentials wherever possible, and get advice before making changes that could have long-term consequences.

Calm, prepared households are better equipped to manage changing rate cycles than those forced to react after the fact.

Read the Moneyweb article:
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/economy/kganyago-signals-sa-could-hike-rates-again-this-month/

Kganyago signals SA could hike rates again this month The Sarb governor defended May’s surprise rate hike and warned that delaying action could require more aggressive tightening later.

That SARS SMS has landed. Before you accept your auto-assessment, take a few minutes to check what SARS may have missed.

SARS is issuing auto-assessments between 1 and 12 July 2026. While the process is convenient, an auto-assessment is based on the information SARS has received from employers, financial institutions, medical schemes and other third parties.

Convenient does not always mean complete.

Before accepting, check that the following information is correct:

• Your income and personal details
• Retirement annuity contributions
• Medical scheme contributions
• Qualifying medical expenses you paid yourself
• Investment, rental, freelance or side-hustle income

Missing income could lead to questions or penalties later, while missing deductions could mean paying more tax than necessary or receiving a smaller refund.

Tax-smart financial planning happens throughout the year, not only when filing season arrives. Keep your certificates and supporting documents organised, review your assessment carefully, and seek professional advice if your circumstances have changed.

Read the Moneyweb article:
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/mymoney/moneyweb-tax/tax-filing-season-lookout-for-auto-assessments/

View the official SARS filing-season information:
https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/changes-for-filing-season-2026/

Tax filing season: Lookout for auto-assessments Revenue service expands its use of third-party data and introduces a pre-verification questionnaire to identify discrepancies before assessments.

SARS starts sending tax notices today (1 July). Two quick checks now can protect your refund and your bank account.

Tax season is here, and many South Africans will receive an auto-assessment notification by SMS or email between 1 and 12 July.

Before you accept anything on autopilot, take five minutes to do two simple checks.

First, log in directly to SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp and make sure your banking and contact details are correct. Outdated details can delay your refund and create unnecessary admin.

Second, review your auto-assessment before accepting it. Check that your information is accurate, especially your retirement annuity contributions, medical aid certificates and other deductions that may affect your final tax outcome.

This is also peak scam season, so be careful. SARS will not ask you to update your banking details through a link in an SMS or email. Go directly to the official SARS site or app instead.

A small admin check now can save you stress later: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/864738/sars-warns-south-africans-to-check-their-banking-details-before-next-week/

Taxpayers in South Africa warned to check their banking details before next week With Tax Season 2026 officially launching next week, taxpayers should make sure their banking and contact details are up to date.