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Good morning from the QW+ team,
Today’s news is packed with decisions that shape livelihoods in South Africa, from household finances to social protection and climate resilience.
Today, 29 January, the South African Reserve Bank meets to decide the fate of the repo rate (currently 6.75%). Economists might talk in percentages but the impact of rate changes has real impact on people with loans and bonds, as well as people whose businesses and livelihoods depend on their disposable income.
And out today, Statistics South Africa releases its report on Poverty Lines – critical reading to determine whether South Africa’s social safety nets are managing to catch those most at risk.
Meanwhile, the "Save SA Film and TV" campaign moves to Pretoria today, calling on South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to account for stalled industry incentives. Although these incentives are meant to support local productions and create jobs, the board responsible for allocating them has reportedly not met for nearly two years, leaving the sector in limbo.
And in the Western Cape, one of the most severe fire seasons on record has already burned over 100,000 hectares of land. Beyond the smoke and immediate damage lie deeper questions about biodiversity loss, communities at the wildland-urban edge, and how South Africa builds resilience in a warming world.
Meet four QW+ experts ready to share their knowledge on:
Economic indices
Save SA TV and Film
Wildfires
Disaster preparedness
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Today’s experts
Economic indices
What’s the story? Today (29 January), the South African Reserve Bank is expected to decide whether to cut the repo rate from its current 6.75%, a move that would bring much-needed relief to households with loans and bonds. The Reserve Bank uses the repo rate to loan money to commercial banks.
This decision comes as Stats SA releases its latest Poverty Lines report, a key measure of money-metric poverty and living standards in the country. Adding to the moment, the rand has strengthened to its strongest level against the US dollar since 2022.
Quote This Woman+ has an expert available to unpack what these developments mean for South Africans, from household budgets to broader economic trends.
Sanisha Packirisamy
Economist Sanisha Packirisamy has over 15 years of experience in investments. Packirisamy holds degrees in finance (Honours) and is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.
Save SA TV and Film
What’s the story? The Save SA Film and TV campaign gained momentum this week as industry workers took to the streets in Cape Town on Wednesday (28 January), protesting the collapse of government support for the sector. Today, the campaign moves to Pretoria, where it will call on South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to urgently intervene after film and television incentives plunged from an annual average of R520-million between 2016/17 and 2019/20 to just R57-million in 2023/24. Central to the dispute is the fact that the incentives approval board has not met since March 2024, stalling funding decisions and threatening jobs across the industry. QW+ has an expert who can speak on the issue.
Rejoyce Kgabo Legodi
Conservation filmmaker Rejoice Kgabo Legodi has dedicated her career to shedding light on the most pressing issues of our time.
Wildfires
What’s the story? The Western Cape’s fire season has been described as one of the most severe on record. By 22 January, fires had already scorched more than 100,000 hectares of land across the province. Beyond the scale of the destruction, questions remain about the longer-term impacts of fires on people, ecosystems and vegetation. Our expert unpacks what this means and what comes next.
Glynis Humphrey
Naturalist Dr Glynis Humphrey’s main research interests are in fire history, ecology, and people and the use of interdisciplinary research in addressing savanna-woodland fire management in Africa and elsewhere.
Disaster preparedness
What’s the story? Following the floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga in January, QW+ urban and regional planning expert Dr Wendy Tsoriyo explains what can be done to plan for tomorrow's climate.
Dr Tsoriyo’s says:
Many of our towns developed organically, with limited formal planning, as people sought shelter and livelihoods wherever they could. Informal settlements often occupy floodplains not by choice, but due to poverty and land access inequalities. Climate change is now intensifying these vulnerabilities. The historical rainfall patterns of previous generations are shifting, becoming increasingly unpredictable and severe.Towns can better prepare themselves for flooding disasters in three ways:
1. Work with existing communities
Rather than simply relocating people, we need planning that recognises where communities already are. This means retrofitting existing settlements with early warning systems, raised walkways, and community flood shelters. Participatory planning ensures that through local knowledge, people know where water flows and that is able to inform solutions.
2. Plan for tomorrow's climate, not yesteryears'
We need to put aside historical flood patterns and build flood risk maps that account for climate projections, so that growth happens strategically, directing new housing and essential services to lower-risk areas while protecting existing residents.
3. Embrace nature based solutions
Green infrastructure like wetland restoration, permeable surfaces, and community gardens can manage water naturally while creating local jobs and food security. These approaches are often more affordable and maintainable than concrete infrastructure, and they work with our landscapes rather than against them.
Let’s start thinking about climate change as the factor that exposes and exacerbates existing disparities in our region. Let’s build flood resilience by understanding and committing to spatial justice, and ensuring that vulnerable populations are not disproportionately located in high-risk areas. When we rebuild from disaster, we have a unique opportunity to design cities and towns that protect all residents.
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Links we like
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