Interest rates
The price of credit.
Where the repo rate and prime stand, every recent Reserve Bank decision, when the next one is and what the market expects. Then what a move would do to your own repayment.
- Repo rate
- 7.25%
- Prime lending rate
- 10.75%
- Next decision
- –
- Market forecast
- Not out yet
In South Africa, prime is set at the repo rate plus 3.5 percentage points, so it moves with every Reserve Bank decision.
Your repaymentWhat a move costs you.
- Monthly repayment
- R15,228
- Total interest over the term
- R2m
| If rates move | Rate | Monthly repayment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| -100 basis points | 9.75% | R14,228 | -R1,001 a month |
| -50 basis points | 10.25% | R14,725 | -R504 a month |
| -25 basis points | 10.50% | R14,976 | -R253 a month |
| +25 basis points | 11.00% | R15,483 | +R254 a month |
| +50 basis points | 11.25% | R15,739 | +R510 a month |
| +100 basis points | 11.75% | R16,256 | +R1,027 a month |
SARBRecent decisions
| Date | Repo rate | Change | Forecast was |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | 7.25% | Raised 25 basis points | 7.25% |
| 2026-07-23 | 7.00% | Held | 7.25% |
| 2026-05-28 | 7.00% | Raised 25 basis points | 7.00% |
| 2026-03-26 | 6.75% | Held | 6.75% |
| 2026-01-29 | 6.75% | Held | 6.75% |
| 2025-11-20 | 6.75% | Cut 25 basis points | 6.75% |
| 2025-09-18 | 7.00% | Held | 7.00% |
MPC dates this year: 2026-01-29, 2026-03-26, 2026-05-28, 2026-07-23, 2026-09-23
Get an email before the next decision
Rates from the South African Reserve Bank; decisions and the market forecast from the TradingView economic calendar. Repayments are estimates on a standard amortising loan with monthly payments and no fees. Information, not advice.
QuestionsGood to know.
The rate at which the Reserve Bank lends to commercial banks. Its Monetary Policy Committee sets it to keep inflation near the target.
Prime, the rate banks use as the base for most loans, is set at the repo rate plus 3.5 percentage points.
The Monetary Policy Committee meets six times a year. The decision is announced in the afternoon, usually around 15:00 SAST.
One hundredth of a percentage point. A 25 basis point cut takes a 7.50% rate to 7.25%.
The Monday briefCommerce, in your inbox.
Every Monday: last week’s moves in JSE commerce, your own shares, and the results and numbers due this week. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
We don’t take outside money, but we always like talking markets and commerce.
For media, research and partnership questions, send us an email.