It’s here!

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Faster, smarter, fresher. Here’s why you need to download it ASAP!

 Groceries at your door in 60 minutes

With fast delivery, your groceries come to you, fresh and fast, just the way you like it.

Over 35 000 products at your fingertips

From your daily essentials to last-minute cravings, the asap! app puts the entire store in your pocket. 

 Pay with your Smart Shopper points! 

Earn and spend your Smart Shopper points directly in the app when you place orders. 

 Schedule deliveries 

Need it now or later?

You decide. Plan your delivery around your life, not the other way around.

 Choose your favourite store & track your driver live

Prefer shopping from a specific Pick n Pay?

Select your store, place your order, and watch your delivery in real time.

 Smarter search, powered by AI

Looking for that one ingredient or your go-to snacks?

The app’s new AI-powered search helps you find what you need, fast. No scrolling, no stress.

 Limited-Time Offer

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Code valid until 31 August 2025, on the new app only. Ts&Cs apply.

Pick n Pay asap! Get it delivered fresher, faster, smarter.

The post SPONSORED | Pick n Pay asap! just got better: 60-Min delivery magic appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

It’s here!

The All-New Pick n Pay asap! Fresh features, fast delivery, and smarter shopping.

Faster, smarter, fresher. Here’s why you need to download it ASAP!

 Groceries at your door in 60 minutes

With fast delivery, your groceries come to you, fresh and fast, just the way you like it.

Over 35 000 products at your fingertips

From your daily essentials to last-minute cravings, the asap! app puts the entire store in your pocket. 

 Pay with your Smart Shopper points! 

Earn and spend your Smart Shopper points directly in the app when you place orders. 

 Schedule deliveries 

Need it now or later?

You decide. Plan your delivery around your life, not the other way around.

 Choose your favourite store & track your driver live

Prefer shopping from a specific Pick n Pay?

Select your store, place your order, and watch your delivery in real time.

 Smarter search, powered by AI

Looking for that one ingredient or your go-to snacks?

The app’s new AI-powered search helps you find what you need, fast. No scrolling, no stress.

 Limited-Time Offer

Download the NEW Pick n Pay asap! app and use the code TAPFRESH for UNLIMITED FREE delivery.

Code valid until 31 August 2025, on the new app only. Ts&Cs apply.

Pick n Pay asap! Get it delivered fresher, faster, smarter.

The post SPONSORED | Pick n Pay asap! just got better: 60-Min delivery magic appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

As global trade tensions escalate, particularly with the looming imposition of a 30% tariff on South African exports to the United States, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) finds its monetary policy options constrained. While inflation figures may appear benign – remaining within or below target levels – economic realities suggest that increasing interest rates in response to rising inflation could be both ineffective and damaging.

In recent months, South Africa has experienced a modest trade surplus with the US, totalling R37 billion, thanks largely to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Nonetheless, the country endures a significant R253 billion deficit within the broader BRICS trade sphere. The proposed US tariffs threaten to create a cascade of economic adversities, especially given South Africa’s dependence on exports, notably in manufacturing sectors such as automotive, which employs over 100,000 workers nationwide.

Trade disruptions and economic growth risks

The US’s threat to impose a 30% tariff on South African goods initially announced amidst ongoing trade tensions between the US and China poses a clear risk to economic stability. As detailed in recent trade briefs, the automotive sector has already suffered an 82% decline in exports to the US in the first half of 2025 due to existing tariffs. A further escalation, especially with a potential additional 10% tariff targeting BRICS countries opposing US policies, could plunge this vital industry into deeper crisis, leading to factory closures and significant job losses.

South Africa’s prominent export markets, such as automotive and mineral commodities, are particularly vulnerable. With these sectors already under stress, additional tariffs threaten to hinder economic growth, exacerbate unemployment, and diminish investor confidence. The decline in export volumes, particularly in premium vehicle exports, hampers job creation and economic dynamism crucial factors for a nation grappling with historically high unemployment rates exceeding 30%.

The limitations of the SARB’s policy tools

In this context, the SARB faces a constrained path. Conventional wisdom suggests that raising interest rates can curb inflation, yet in the current environment, where inflation remains subdued but economic growth is threatened, tightening monetary policy may exact an economic toll without addressing the underlying trade issues. As SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago has noted, inflation is expected to stay within the target range, but global trade war uncertainties loom large.

Increasing interest rates in such a fragile environment risk stifling growth further, especially as global economic slowdown cues stemming from China’s potential slowdown and trade tensions compound the problem. Given that South Africa’s economy is highly reliant on exports and sensitive to external shocks, the restrictive monetary stance could deepen recessionary pressures without equipping the economy to withstand the imminent trade disruptions.

Trade tensions and socioeconomic impact

The potential for escalating tariffs and retaliatory measures primarily threaten to slow South Africa’s economic recovery. A decline in exports, especially in key sectors like mining and manufacturing, risks reducing employment and income levels, thereby amplifying the already severe unemployment crisis.
The socio-economic repercussions are profound. Job losses in manufacturing sectors, declining foreign direct investment, and suppressed growth could perpetuate inequality and social instability. The government’s fiscal space remains limited, and an over-reliance on monetary policy to counteract trade barriers is neither prudent nor effective.

A conservative position on policy response

From a conservative perspective, the focus should plausibly remain on defending economic stability through fiscal prudence and resistance to over-tightening monetary policy in reaction to inflation. South Africa’s policymakers should prioritise diplomatic engagement and trade negotiations over transient interest rate hikes, which may do more harm than good in an already strained economy.
In conclusion, while efforts to curb inflation are vital, the scope for interest rate hikes in response to global trade tensions and tariffs is limited. Such measures risk further slowing economic growth, increasing unemployment, and undermining investor confidence.

A prudent approach would involve safeguarding industry competitiveness and fostering diplomatic solutions, recognising that the health of South Africa’s economy hinges on resilient trade relations and sound fiscal management rather than aggressive rate hikes amid uncertain international conditions.

• Frederick Mitchell is a Chief Economist at Aluma Capital.

The post South Africa’s interest rate dilemma amidst global trade winds appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

If you’ve been doom-scrolling through news about SARS’s fancy new artificial intelligence tools hunting down tax dodgers, take a deep breath. Sure, the South African taxman is getting smarter, but that doesn’t mean you need to panic.

Here’s the thing: in a country where only 7.4 million people out of 64 million actually pay personal income tax (while 28 million rely on social grants), SARS is obviously feeling the pressure to collect every rand they can. But instead of running for the hills, why not flip the script and make tax season work for you?

“Whether you have an accountant, a tax practitioner or file your own tax return, look out for the following points to legally reduce what you owe SARS, maximise refunds, and combat tax debt in 2025,” says Roxanna Naidoo, Head of Global Strategy at Latita Africa.

Stop panicking, start planning

“It’s true that SARS is increasing scrutiny and ramping up tax collection measures,” admits Naidoo, who’s been seeing more clients getting those dreaded final demand letters and verification requests lately. “But don’t panic. Tax season is an annual opportunity to assess your finances – a tool for getting your tax affairs in order.”

Her advice? “Go have a look at what you owe SARS; you may be surprised that SARS actually owes you money.”

Plot twist of the year, right?

Get your digital house in order

First things first – update your details on SARS’s eFiling system. We’re talking email address, phone number, banking details – the works. Get this wrong and you’ll be hit with penalties faster than you can say “auto-assessment.”

Plus, having accurate details unlocks SARS’s newer tools like the express filing feature, which basically pre-fills your tax return using data from your employer, bank, and medical aid. It’s like having a personal assistant, except it’s free and works for the government.

Don’t trust, always verify

Here’s where things get interesting. That shiny auto-assessment might look tempting to just click and submit, but Naidoo has a warning: “Don’t simply accept your auto-assessment without verifying it.”

Why? Because SARS’s AI might miss the nuances of your financial life – like rental income, your side-hustle selling succulents on Facebook Marketplace, or other income streams. Even if the mistake isn’t technically your fault, guess who’s liable for penalties later? (Spoiler: it’s you.)

“Check everything carefully,” Naidoo emphasises. “If you’re unhappy with the auto-assessment, click on ‘request amendment’ and submit the corrections via eFiling.”

Turn SARS into your refund machine

Here’s where the magic happens. Yes, you need to declare every income stream – even that cryptocurrency windfall or your overseas earnings that were already taxed abroad. But here’s the kicker: after declaring everything, you can start claiming back through deductions, exemptions, and credits.

Naidoo’s hit list includes:

– Medical expenses
– Retirement annuity contributions
– Charitable donations (with those precious s18A certificates)
– Home office and travel expenses
– Tax-free savings accounts
– Capital gains tax benefits

The paper trail that could save you

Remember that shoebox of receipts gathering dust? Time to become best friends with it. “It doesn’t matter how and where you file these, as long as you keep them for five years,” says Naidoo. “SARS often requests back-dated documentation, so make sure you have the paperwork to prove your filing was compliant.”

Pro tip: go digital. Scan everything, back it up, and thank yourself later when SARS comes knocking with questions about your 2022 filing.

When you actually owe money

If you do end up owing SARS money, don’t sell your kidney to pay them immediately. “Taxpayers have legal recourse to avoid sinking further into debt,” Naidoo points out.

Your options include:

– Negotiating to reduce the amount owed
– Deferring payments to ease cash flow
– Submitting a suspension of payment if you think SARS got it wrong
– Mediation to settle disputes without breaking the bank

The bottom line

“If you’re smart about it, you can still turn this tax season from a compliance burden into financial opportunity,” says Naidoo.

So while everyone else is complaining about SARS’s new AI overlords, you could be the one laughing all the way to the bank – or at least not crying all the way to the poor house.

The choice is yours: stress about tax season or strategise through it. We know which one sounds better.

The post Tax season got you stressed? Here’s how to turn SARS into your friend appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

CAPE TOWN – South Africa is scrambling to negotiate a new trade deal with the United States after President Donald Trump announced punishing 30% tariffs on exports, threatening to destroy thousands of jobs across the country.

The shock announcement, delivered in a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, will see the new tariffs kick in from 1 August – hitting among others the vital citrus industry particularly hard.

Rural communities to bear the brunt

The Citrus Growers’ Association warned that 35 000 jobs could be lost in the citrus sector alone, with small farming communities in rural areas facing the worst impact.

“These are communities that are already vulnerable to economic shocks,” said association CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele. “If we lose access to the US market, we’ll flood other markets, creating oversupply and potentially collapsing prices.”

South Africa is the world’s second-largest citrus exporter after Spain, making the industry crucial to the agricultural economy.

Fighting back with diplomacy

President Ramaphosa hit back at Trump’s justification for the tariffs, calling it a “contested interpretation” of trade figures between the two countries.

“South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States,” Ramaphosa said in a statement released Tuesday.

The presidency argues that South African data shows US exports to SA face an average duty of just 7.6%, with 77% of American goods entering South Africa tariff-free.

Car industry already feeling the pain

The automotive sector is already reeling from separate 25% tariffs imposed in April. Vehicle exports plummeted by more than 12% in June compared to the same period last year, with Mercedes-Benz’s C-class model exports to the US particularly affected.

The German carmaker has temporarily shut down production at one of its Eastern Cape plants for “volume adjustments” – a move the company says is partly due to assessing the impact of US tariffs.

Wine industry also under threat

The South African wine industry also faces a crisis with these heavy Trump tariffs. Industry leaders warn this decision threatens a vital export channel worth more than R650 million annually.

“This is a major blow,” said South Africa Wines (SA Wine), in a letter to their members.

The timing couldn’t be worse for an industry already under pressure. “Wine, as a discretionary and price-sensitive product, is particularly exposed,” SA Wine noted. “The industry is already dealing with uncertainty and tough cost pressures including inflation, logistics, and rising excise duties. This tariff adds yet another burden.”

The 30% increase would likely place South African wines at a significant price disadvantage, potentially pushing many labels beyond key psychological price points for American consumers who have numerous alternatives available.

A key worry is how this tariff affects South Africa’s position relative to competitors. “The tariffs imposed on our main competitors is still an unknown factor, but if these are significantly lower then South Africa will lose huge competitive advantage,” SA Wine warned.

Industry response

Despite the challenge, the wine sector is adapting quickly. “Our industry will push forward with our export diversification strategy, strengthening relationships in other key global markets, sharpening local marketing, and improving supply chain efficiency,” the statement explained.

Immediate responses are underway: “Exporters and brand owners are already looking at how to absorb some of the costs, adapt price points, or redirect stock. None of these are easy choices, but they’re necessary.”

Government action needed

SA Wine has called for urgent government intervention: “We call on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and DIRCO to continue their engagement with the US but with urgency. It’s crucial that we understand the full picture behind this decision, and explore every avenue for reversal or exemption.”

“Over the past 30 years, South African wine has earned a strong and respected presence in the US. We offer a unique story of terroir, resilience, sustainability, and diversity,” SA Wine emphasised. “This abrupt move threatens that progress, and the thousands of jobs tied to it.”

What’s at stake

The United States is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, buying agricultural products, precious metals, and vehicles. The relationship has been governed partly by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allowed certain South African goods to enter the US duty-free.

President Ramaphosa has urged local companies to start diversifying their markets and reduce dependence on US trade, signalling that the government expects a prolonged trade dispute.

The new tariffs come as South Africa’s economy continues to struggle with high unemployment and slow growth, making the potential job losses even more devastating for affected communities.

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