Shineray SBM BH Dealership Offers Free Exhaust Replacement for 250T Model Due to Complaints

Residents of South Africa will face increased payments on vehicle and housing loans starting in October, following a recent interest rate hike. Homeowners and drivers will have to spend more out of pocket due to rising mortgage and vehicle financing payments.

After the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) decided to raise the repo rate by 25 basis points, a homeowner with a R1.5 million mortgage will pay approximately R253 more monthly, and payments on a R500,000 car loan will increase by about R64. This increase raises the base interest rate by 0.25%, bringing it to 10.75%.

Announcing this decision, SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago noted that amid rising fuel prices, overall inflation is projected to reach 5% before slowing down to 3% by the end of 2027. Previously, on Thursday, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that inflation in South Africa rose slightly to 4.4% in August compared to 4.3% in July. Although consumer prices remained largely unchanged during the month, the rise in fuel prices in September and October is expected to impact the inflation forecast.

FNB Chief Economist Mamello Matikinka-Ngwenya stated: 'The MPC's decision to raise the repo rate by 25 basis points reflects the need to strengthen confidence in policy while external inflationary risks intensify and inflation expectations remain above SARB's target of 3%.'

How will a 0.25% increase in the base rate affect your car and home loans?

According to calculations, for a car loan of R250,000, the monthly payment will increase by R32. For a R500,000 loan, the increase will be R64, and for a R1 million loan, it will be R127. These forecasts are based on a six-year term without a deposit, calculated at the base rate.

If you have recently taken out a loan, the 25 basis point increase will add R2,292 to your interest account over six years for a R250,000 car loan and R4,583 for a R500,000 car loan.

Regarding mortgage payments, if you have an R800,000 mortgage at the base rate over 20 years, the monthly installment is expected to increase by approximately R135. Those with R1.5 million mortgages, approaching the average housing price in South Africa, will pay about R253 more, and owners of R3 million loans should find an additional R505.

Additional interest costs over the loan term will amount to about R32,350 for an R800,000 loan, increasing to R60,657 for a R1.5 million debt and R101,094 for a R2.5 million example.

Impact on consumers

Samuel Seeff, Chairman of Seeff Property Group, believes that the interest rate hike will only marginally mitigate cost shocks but will inflict real financial damage on households and businesses. He expressed hope that the Bank will focus on protecting long-term economic stability rather than short-term spikes. Seeff stated that this move unfairly punishes already burdened consumers and will slow down activity in the property and economy markets. He added that household budgets are already strained after the May rate hike and other spending increases, and now monthly mortgage payments will grow even more, threatening mortgage defaults and worsening affordability issues for first-time homebuyers.

Nevertheless, FNB argues that the latest rate hike does not necessarily signal the start of a prolonged tightening cycle. FNB CEO Litania Johnson noted that economic growth remains moderate, unemployment is high, and consumers continue to feel the impact of higher living costs.

Dr. Andrew Golding, CEO of Pam Golding Property Group, reported that while a higher rate will inevitably create additional pressure on potential homeowners, especially first-time buyers, banks continue to support market activity through competitive lending and products designed to lower initial financial barriers to homeownership. Golding mentioned that 'zero deposit and cost-inclusive mortgages remain an important part of this picture.' According to ooba Home Loans, the share of applications from first-time buyers for cost-inclusive loans has increased more than fivefold: from approximately 3% in 2021 to nearly 16% at the beginning of 2026.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 notebook, model AG15-71PT-72EL, is available on Amazon for R$ 4,999, which can be paid in up to 10 interest-free installments. This price represents the lowest value recorded in 2026, according to Zoom, constituting a 38% discount from the original price of R$ 7,999.

This Acer laptop is designed for both professional and academic activities. It comes equipped with a 13th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, which can be expanded up to 32 GB. This configuration allows for multitasking, internet browsing, and using productivity software such as spreadsheets, presentations, and word processing.

For storage, the device features a 512 GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, and its storage slot supports the installation of larger models, up to 1 TB. The pre-installed operating system is Windows 11 Home, known for its wide compatibility with various software programs.

In terms of portability, the notebook's design is compact, weighing only 1.8 kg and having a thickness of 2 cm when closed, making it easy to carry to college, work, or school.

The device's screen is a 15.6-inch IPS panel, offering Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) and a 60 Hz refresh rate, providing good image quality for both content viewing and document reading.

The keyboard features a full layout, including a numeric keypad and a dedicated key to activate the Microsoft Copilot artificial intelligence chatbot. The integrated webcam has HD resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) and includes noise reduction functionality to optimize video calls.

Regarding connections, the Acer Aspire Go 15 (AG15-71PT-72EL) includes two USB 3.2 ports (one powered and one with video support), two USB-A 3.0 ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and a P2 output for headphones or microphones.

Global shipments of artificial intelligence-equipped glasses registered an expressive growth of 263% during the first half of 2026, compared to the same period last year. According to a survey conducted by Counterpoint Research, models without screens accounted for 96% of the total volume shipped.

This category includes devices that incorporate AI functionalities without needing a transparent display on the lenses, citing Ray-Ban Meta as an example. In contrast, models that combine augmented reality (AR) and AI still constitute a smaller share of global shipments.

Counterpoint points out that screenless glasses offer advantages such as being more accessible and lightweight, in addition to using already consolidated technologies. In this segment, Meta concentrated approximately 94% of international shipments in the analyzed period. The company's sales volume grew by 260% in one year, an advance attributed to new versions of Ray-Ban Meta, the introduction of more economical models, and its expansion into new markets.

The dynamic is different when considering glasses that integrate AR and AI. Even starting from a reduced base, shipments of these devices experienced a jump of 449% in one year. These models use optical components and displays to project information directly into the user's field of view.

Manufacturers such as Rokid, Even Realities, Alibaba, and INMO are at the forefront of this niche. China was responsible for 45% of shipments in the first half, followed by North America, with about 41%. The consultancy attributes this Chinese prominence to a more developed local chain of microdisplays and other essential components.

Cameras integrated into glasses continue to raise privacy concerns. Apple, meanwhile, is expected to postpone the launch of its smart glasses while finalizing the development of security and privacy features. Meta, on the other hand, has implemented camera shutdowns in tampered devices to prevent users from bypassing the recording LED indicator.

Finally, Counterpoint signals that the rising cost of components such as memory may put pressure on the sector in the short term. Despite these challenges, the consultancy projects continuous growth in the market, anticipating the arrival of new formats, including AI glasses without cameras.