Скачать или смотреть Number of the Day - 13 January 2026:

If you’ve ever taken out a home loan, car finance or a credit card, the prime interest rate affects you directly.

In this episode of Number of the Day, Francis Herd unpacks why South Africa is reviewing the 10.25% prime lending rate, a benchmark used to price trillions of rand in credit across the conomy. The review raises questions about how the rate is calculated, whether it still reflects economic realities, and how closely it should track the repo rate. It has also sparked speculation about whether prime could be changed or even abolished, bringing South Africa closer to countries that operate with a single benchmark rate.

This explainer looks at what prime is, how prime works, why it matters, how it links to the repo rate set by the South African Reserve Bank, and how even small adjustments could ripple through bond repayments, business costs, and consumer spending.

Clear, practical, and focused on impact.

Watch all Number of the Day episodes here: https://www.enca.com/number-day-podcast