South Africa is facing an unprecedented payment crisis where 85% of people refuse to pay TV licenses, municipalities are owed R416 billion, and universities can't collect R14 billion in student fees. But this isn't just about people being difficult—it's about a society split between those who genuinely can't afford to pay and those who've lost all faith in broken institutions. This deep dive into the data reveals how quickly a country's payment system can completely collapse.

What is seductive simplicity? Well, picture this: You're scrolling through your favorite online store, eyeing that perfect pair of sneakers or even that latest tech gadget that you know you don’t need. You check your bank account, and there is dololo in there—nothing, nada, zero. But wait, there’s a little button at checkout that whispers, "Yes" you can afford it—just pay in 3 interest-free installments. No credit checks, no paperwork; you can be approved in seconds. Well, my dear South African, you have just entered the world of the Buy Now Pay Later revolution, a world that's reshaping South Africa's financial landscape for the good if you're a company offering these services and not so great if you’re the impulse buyer taking the deal.See, the thing is that beneath this frictionless façade of ease of payment lies a very complex web of regulatory grey zones, mounting SA credit consumer debt, and a question that's becoming increasingly urgent: Are BNPL credit service providers empowering consumers or quietly indebting an entire generation?Well, I’m not going to answer this for you, but I’m going to rather unpack a few key observations and facts, and you can be the judge.

You walk into a car dealership in South Africa, fall in love with that shiny new Toyota Corolla Cross, and the salesperson tells you it's only R9,000 per month. Already that Sounds unaffordable, right?. Coz as a south African who understands the value of your rand, you know amount is before insurance and fuel and maintenance. So by the end of this video, you'll understand why 90% of South Africans can't actually afford the cars they're driving – and how the automotive industry has been keeping this financial illusion alive."Truth be told, there's a massive disconnect happening in South Africa right now. Car prices are skyrocketing faster than inflation, while salaries remain stagnant. The result of all this? A financial trap, a trap that's caught millions of South Africans in a cycle of debt they never saw coming, or they did and that new TSI was just too enticing, enticing. Today, we're going to break down exactly how much money you ACTUALLY need to afford a car in South Africa – and spoiler alert: it's probably way more than you think.

Have you seen the image of what Durban North looked like 24 years ago…Tens of billions of rands have been pumped into development, just in this area… In fact, it's one of the fastest-growing population nodes in South Africa… The Durban North region of KwaZulu-Natal has experienced a remarkable surge in property development and economic growth over the last 25 years; a lot of this was largely catalyzed by the establishment and expansion of this place, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping. Although not the only thing, this retail and commercial space transformed the landscape, and it set the stage for a wave of other multi-billion-rand property and real estate investments to become a reality. All this made the north of Durban area a highly sought-after destination for residents and investors alike.

Here's a reality check that might make your wallet weep: South Africa spends more on voluntary private health insurance (42%) as a share of total health expenditure than any other country in the world. Yes, you read that right—we're world champions in expensive medical aid, and it's not a trophy anyone wants.Only 16% of South Africans can actually afford private healthcare at all. To put this in perspective, that means roughly 8 out of 10 people in the country simply cannot access private medical care. Even for those who can technically afford it, the squeeze is real. Medical aid premiums have been increasing by an average of 10.7% annually—way above the inflation rate of under 4%. That's a 6.7% real increase while salaries are barely keeping up with inflation.Medical aid can cost up to R6,000+ per month for a family of four. That's more than many people's rent! If you're wondering why medical aid feels like a luxury reserved for the ultra-wealthy, you're not alone. Let's dive in!

The South African National Health Department's total budget will increase from R277 billion in the 2024/25 financial year to R296 billion in 2025/26. That's a massive jump, in fact, for context.When you take into consideration how our public health facilities look, you would think that this would be higher.Now these numbers are very important for us to understand. Because when you isolate national health funding in South Africa as a singular focus and as a department. It is the 4th most funded department after education at R508BN, social development at R427BN, and R424BN debt servicing costs.Further to that, there are now times in South Africa where we have conversations around who we are or who or what we aspire to be as a nation; we have these conversations from the perspective of how we feel and more often than not from our opinions. Opinions that might at times be shaped by incorrect or outdated data.So in this video, we are going to look at one aspect that is disproportionately taking up the airtime in South African discourse.I want to talk about healthcare, especially when it comes to undocumented immigrants accessing precious and limited healthcare in South Africa. It's a pretty heated issue, I know, and it's often overshadowed by strong debates, and Zimbabwean & Nigerian illegal immigrants frequently become the focal point due to our shared border and significant migration patterns.

Yes, I know that Gauteng isn’t for love and it’s more for business, but let’s start off by looking at what it takes to find love in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town alike. We’re going to use subjective data at times (don’t spoil the comments; this isn’t from a research paper, it’s just banter). This piece isn’t for married people. You guys and girls can hang around for the rest of the video, though; don’t click away, but also don’t judge those who are trying to get where you are or even though we’re trying to leave where you are. I’m joking.Speaking on that, we know people are marrying later (men around **37**, women around **33; this is according to Stats SA), meaning more years are spent navigating the dating pool. Throw in a cost-of-living crisis, and every coffee date, dinner, or night out requires careful calculation. As many gents might know, dinner and drinks at a decent establishment can cost several hundred... especially disappointing if there's no spark. "Some bigger bills can easily hit R1,000+ on the first date. But the financial considerations run deeper than just the date night tab. Mjolo is in itself financially deeper than the ocean. If you’re not prepared.

South Africa stands at a pivotal juncture in its democratic evolution. The custodian of the nation's electoral integrity, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), has embarked on a significant six-month national consultation process that is set to conclude in September 2025. But wait, why is this even a thing…Behind the very spectacle of voting, the truth here in South Africa and in other places is that democracy flatlined... people seem to be checking out.Take this into account: only 16.3 million—a mere 59% of the registered—bothered to vote. Zoom out further: that's a pitiful 41% of South Africa's entire eligible voting-age population. 6 out of every 10 potential voices? Silenced. This wasn't participation; it was a mass exodus from the ballot box. Turnout didn't just dip from 2019's already concerning 66%—it plummeted.

Starting around 2023-2024, things started to get out of hand for some—insane. The Boks' popularity hit fever pitch. All six home tests in 2024 were sold out completely. Why? It was the first chance for many to see the team since they lifted the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Rassie’s champions were home! The blockbuster series against Ireland and the All Blacks, especially that emphatic win in Mbombela, cemented their status as global powerhouses. Those were instant classics.Basic economics: when something is in crazy high demand (Boks!) and supply is limited (stadiums max out around 55,000), prices go up. That’s one factor. Even though prices crept up in 2024, there wasn't massive pushback. I even saw tickets for the Ellis Park NZ test around R1,500. Doable-ish. Sure, Cape Town was always pricier than Joburg or MP (we kind of accept that, right?), but complaints hit the national stage when Capetonians reportedly paid R4,000 to see the Boks vs. All Blacks.Rugby’s appeal is growing in SA (especially with more Black middle-class fans wanting the live experience). It’s the second most followed sport (~10 million fans), behind soccer (~40 million fans)

Over 500K South Africans earn over R1 million every year. In fact, this figure represents 6.7% of the country’s 7.4 million registered taxpayers. South Africa is without a doubt an economic powerhouse. Yes, it doesn’t feel like that on the ground right now, but we remain a key hub for wealth in Africa and a money generator, despite us facing all the known economic challenges. Then over the past decade, SA has seen a noticeable decline in its ultra-wealthy residents—to be factual, we’ve lost over 11,000 individuals with assets exceeding $1 million (roughly R18-19 million)—but something else happened because there’s a contrasting positive trend at the R1m+ level. The number of South Africans earning over R1 million per year has been and is growing significantly. When looking at more recent tax data, what it shows is that nearly 570,000 people reached the R1m+ income level in the 2025/26 financial tax year, a healthy increase of almost 79,000 from the year before. Now what all of this data suggests is that there is resilience and growth within the upper-income bracket. Actually, while we are here...I have an interesting but unofficial alternate view as well. I feel that these income and tax numbers are still a little skewed. You see, a lot of small business owners and UHNWI actually don’t actually earn an income; they earn with dividends. Basically a share of profits to those who own the shares. In South Africa, for your PIT, you are taxed at the rate of 41% if you earn between 857K and 1.8M, and thereafter it's 45% tax. If these were dividends, then you would only pay about 20%, so many owners pay themselves less actual income and pay dividends 2-4 times a year.So there could be waaaay more San millionaires.

Beyond the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, there's a powerful force quietly shaping South Africa's economy, one that shapes our narratives and is starting to tell our stories to the world. The South African film and television industry contributes significantly to the country's economy, more than some might be aware of. In fact, I tend to not see the industry in isolation but as a part of film, with the most recent survey by the National Film and Video Foundation estimating a contribution of around R3.5 billion annually. The sector also employs over 25,000 people. The industry is projected to see continued growth, with the TV & Video market expected to reach US$3.90 billion in 2025. The film industry's direct contribution alone is estimated at R3.86 billion, with an additional R3.31 billion generated through indirect and induced impacts, according to the National Film and Video Foundation. This results in a total economic contribution of R7.18 billion. Cape Town has become a major filming hub, with their Film Permits Office issuing 3,900 permits in a single year. KZN has also gotten in on the action, having hosted the now critically acclaimed Shaka iLembe season 1, which had an undisclosed budget of R400m just for the first season. Shaka iLembe Production impactJust the retelling of the Shaka story amassed a reported staggering R5 billion in global revenue. Not a bad investment.

Africa stands at a pivotal moment; we all know that it's got loads of potential, it's brimming with entrepreneurial spirit and untapped economic potential. From Cape to Cairo. Kinshasa to Abuja. Combined, the nominal GDP of Africa’s 1.4bn+ population stands at $2.82 trillion. This was in 2025. A significant portion of this GDP is contributed by the "Big Five" African economies: South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, with Morocco getting a special mention there as the 6th. Collectively these countries account for about half of the continent's GDP. The rest of Africa's 47-odd countries make up the other half.But that doesn’t mean there isn’t growth or opportunities in those other countries, but it just means we’re not getting a lot of people, by people I mean businesspeople, going to and exploring other countries in Africa that have the potential to create more wealth through converting opportunities.For those who have travelled the continent, you would understand this; for those who haven’t, it’s likely because of the cost and a lot more barriers. It's just not easy to move around Africa.In fact, the ability to travel in Africa, the movement of people, but more especially the movement of business professionals across the continent, often faces political and bureaucratic hurdles that stifle growth and hinder collaboration. Hurdles that can easily be solved. The very people looking and striving to connect the dots and make things viable for all are the ones who still face just as many travel issues as African tourists.The irony in all this is that Euro & US travelers don’t have as many of these issues when they travel through AFRICA.

South Africa stands at a critical juncture in its development. With the government committing to spend R940 billion for infrastructure over the next three years, all of that new building and maintenance work will need not just tender-preneurs but actual professionals, engineers, to bring it to life.While we boast the most industrialized economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, we as #SouthAfrica are a nation facing significant challenges in areas like infrastructure development, service delivery, technological advancement, and sustainable growth. Addressing these complex issues necessitates a robust and thriving engineering sector that can support us. Now, with us only having around 40-65K across engineering and architecture professionals, we are going to need to up these numbers if we are to meet our infrastructure goals.Engineers are insanely important; they are not merely builders of infrastructure; they are the architects of progress; they are problem-solvers who translate scientific principles into tangible solutions that improve the quality of life for all citizens. They bring things to life and make sure those things stay there for long. So in this essay I am going to put before you an argument as to why South Africa urgently needs a significant increase in its engineering capacity, supported by data I've sourced and professional insights, and also dive into a comparative analysis about how South Africa compares with other leading economies when it comes to engineers. Furthermore, we’ll look at why engineering is a particularly crucial field for South Africa's current development trajectory and consider the ambitious possibility of making engineering education free in South African universities.

This is Makhanda, the Eastern Cape town formerly known as Grahamstown, which stands as a stark testament to the devastating consequences of municipal neglect and alleged maladministration. Once envisioned as a vibrant hub, home to prestigious educational institutions and the renowned National Arts Festival, this town is now grappling with a systemic collapse of basic services, a crumbling infrastructure, and a palpable sense of despair among its residents.The story of Makhanda is not just a local tragedy; it reflects a broader systematic problem afflicting numerous municipalities across South Africa. Granted, there’s a lot that this nation is still striving to fully realize, and the proper running of municipalities like this one in Makana is one of them.

Shell petrol stations are set to disappear in SA—well, not the actual stations, but the branding at least. Because Shell is leaving SA, and we need to have a talk about the why and the lies going around.Lately, there's been a lot of buzz around Shell's announcement that they're pulling out of their downstream operations here in South Africa. Depending on who you listen to, it's either a disaster or… well, that's what we're here to unpack today.Headlines have been screaming about Shell leaving; more often than not, this conversation is framed as a blow to our economy due to company equity rules in SA like BEE. This narrative has gained prominence, especially with the current white right-wing propaganda going around. This narrative is false. But it's important to look at what the actual full story is. I think for all intents and purposes we need to look at this current chatter for what it is and what it is not, fairly so, beyond the political noise.

The 5 Billion Rand Question: Can South Africa Afford its Government? In light of the VAT discussions in South Africa and the need for us to find savings across everything that government spends on, I thought it would be interesting to look at the cost associated with our cabinet, parliament, and the perks that befall you when you become an upper-echelon public servant.See, the thing is that South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) promised a new era of collaboration, but for all its promises, it arrived with a staggering price tag that raised urgent questions about our national priorities around our most important public. While we citizens grapple with economic pressures, the cost of maintaining the country's political leadership spirals, with initial estimates suggesting well over R1 billion annually is spent solely on ministers, deputy ministers, and their immediate support systems—even before accounting for luxury homes and extensive security details.The significant expenditure extends beyond the executive branch to the legislative arm of government. The Parliament of South Africa itself operates with a substantial budget, estimated at R1.9 billion for the 2022/2023 financial year, covering operations including crucial oversight committeesThe total annual burden on taxpayers for political leadership in South Africa, based on various articles and sources, exceeds R5.28 billion when combiningExecutive Branch: R1.2 billion. Parliament: R1.9 billion. VIP Protection: R2.18 billion.I know, I was also blown away… Are we honestly getting our money’s worth?

The cost of the crime problem to the South African economy is estimated by the World Bank to be R700 billion in 2023. That’s a really big number; in fact, it’s about 9.6% of our nominal GDP. You’re likely wondering how they got to this number. Well, it combines transfer & other costs associated with stolen property, security & protection costs, and also, most crucially, the lost opportunity cost. The things we rarely speak about post a crime being committed.The truth is that a high crime rate damages the economy and society in various ways and contributes massively to the misallocation and inefficient use of resources. Basically money you or the government could have used for growth and making your life better is used for security against crime and for the consequences of crime. Now the unfortunate truth is that South Africa has a well-documented struggle with high crime ratesSo in this piece, we're going to look at crime, its economic consequences, and how economic growth and employment can make SA safer, and also look at some of the core costs for households due to crime.

R184 billion—that is the amount that the informal grocery sector, including spaza shops and mobile traders, is supposedly valued at in South Africa. According to Trade Intelligence, an FMCG retail research company.The numbers around this sector are very interesting, and what they showcase is the opportunity that exists where spazas are involved. Because 11.1 million South Africans do their grocery shopping at these stores, and they cite convenience and low prices. As much as 40% of food consumers who were surveyed said that each year they bought from informal traders, and around 77% of the population’s calorie consumption is delivered through the informal grocery sector. With all that said, there’s an estimate that of the 150,000–200,000 spaza shops that are in SA, the thought was that most are run by foreign nationals who have come to South Africa to seek economic opportunities. But we never had the numbers to back up that feeling.This became a point of major contention in the build-up to South Africa’s national elections at the end of May last year, and a lot of political parties started calling for shops in local communities to be run by South Africans only. Then something strange started happening: more and more cases of food poisoning started popping up.From the beginning of September 2024, a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses across all provinces were reported.

Operationally managed as one precinct, the UIPs that operate in Umhlanga account for commercial and residential usage that covers over 3000 individually rated properties and 12 kilometers of public roads, servitudes, and promenades, and they represent a combined municipal valuation of approximately R12.8 billion in property and infrastructure.Communities are fighting back to reclaim their streets. How? Through Urban Improvement Precincts (UIPs)—which are fast becoming a powerful tool that’s giving residents control over their streets and neighborhoods.What are your thoughts on this?

The Land Audit reveals that Whites in SA own 26m ha, or 72%, of the total 37m ha of farms and agricultural holdings by individual landowners, followed by Coloureds at 5.3m ha, or 15%; Indians at 2m ha, or roughly 5%; Africans at a paltry 1.3m ha, or 4%; others at 1.2m ha, or 3%; and co-owners at 425K ha, or 1%. Now for those that might click away from this video even before it gets going and might not get to the end and the gist, lets address the Donald Trump comments quick, quick for your benefit…Donald Trump has been lied to by AfriForum & other right-wing machinery organizations about what the Land Expropriation Bill of South Africa is and isn’t.The South African government is NOT repossessing, dispossessing, or confiscating land from certain classes of people.If you have evidence of this, direct us through links in the comments. Now, other than the Afriforum right-wing misinformation machine running at full tilt around this, what I think we should deal with first in this video at least is the land question around South Africa and get into the nuts and bolts of who owns what and what we can do to move forward.The AfriForum/Elon/Silicon Valley/right-wing groups with their global connections and the dangers that they pose to SA are another issue that deserves its own video, but, however, to me at least, their actions will inadvertently unite Black people again by piercing the veil on non-racialism and will make it clear that racist actions in SA are still alive and well. That video we will get to at a later stage. I don’t want to make this issue too complex, at least in one video.