Rates are crippling businesses in South Africa – and consumers are paying the price

Loading player...
GUEST – Waldo Marcus, head of marketing at TPN Credit Bureau

Commercial property landlords face mounting municipal costs – including rates, taxes and metered utility costs – which are often passed on to consumers through higher prices. The TPN Credit Bureau’s latest Rental Monitor Report for the first quarter of 2023 found that municipal costs now make up 61% of the total operating cost and 26.2% of the gross income generated by commercial property. “A staggering 29% of total operating costs go towards electricity, 25% towards rates and taxes and 6.7% towards water, sewerage and effluent,” reported the financial services company. As a result, businesses have been hiking prices which are reflected in increased consumer costs.
4 Jul 2023 5PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SANEDI on Key AEF Takeaways critical for South Africa's Energy Future

Prof. Sampson Mamphweli, the Head of the Energy Secretariat at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), joins us for his view on South Africa's future. He unpacks policy and project-based initiatives that came to the fore on the agenda at this week's Africa Energy Forum.
18 Jun 3PM 11 min

Africa’s Power Market Is Learning to Share: AEF 2026 Highlights

From Uganda’s first independent transmission project to South Africa’s R440bn grid expansion plan, AEF 2026 showcased a continent shifting toward private‑sector participation and distributed energy. Absa CIB's Nikhil Kasiram breaks down the biggest trends shaping Africa’s power future.
18 Jun 3PM 12 min

Pivot Point: BrightRock at 15 and CEO Stevens on Leading the Next Chapter

BrightRock celebrates 15 years of disrupting the life insurance industry with its needs‑matched model. CEO Suzanne Stevens reflects on her leadership journey, the company’s growth to over 12% market share, and the future of life insurance in a rapidly changing consumer landscape.
18 Jun 3PM 18 min