Trouble for Eskom over its new electricity meters, and Good news for people with a Capitec bank account
The rand traded at 16.16 against the dollar, 0.3% stronger than its previous close on the markets last week.
Global investors are focused on US inflation data on Friday, which outlined the case for a Federal Reserve rate hike next week.
On Wednesday, data showed that U.S. producer prices increased by 0.4% in August, meeting market expectations, driven by a rebound in energy prices. The US dollar last traded flat against a basket of currencies.
Oil prices fell on Friday, but both major benchmarks are on track to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May.
This is attributed to increasing attacks along key shipping routes in the Middle East, which fuel fears of a prolonged disruption to supplies.
Like other risk-sensitive currencies, the rand often takes cues from global factors such as US economic indicators and monetary policy. On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Top-40 index was up 0.3%.
On Monday, 14 September 2026, the rand was trading at R15.99 to the dollar, R21.67 to the pound, and R18.59 to the euro. Gold is trading at $4,385.52, while oil prices were at $99.07 a barrel.
5 important things happening in South Africa today
Trouble for Eskom: Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that public resistance has been a challenge in efforts to end load reduction in South Africa, with over 122,000 planned smart meter installations disrupted to date. [MyBroadband]
Good news for Capitec customers: Capitec prevented R699 million in fraud losses by stopping over 394,000 fraudulent payments within a year. From July 2025 to June 2026, the bank flagged transactions for 113,410 clients, blocking more than 131,000 suspicious beneficiary accounts and shutting down over 64,000 mule accounts used for illegal money transfers. [Daily Investor]
A town with top private schools and a university is collapsing: The town of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape has suffered from years of poor management, resulting in frequent water outages and deteriorating infrastructure. Home to top schools like St Andrew’s Prep and Rhodes University, Makhanda’s prestige contrasts sharply with its disrepair, characterised by crumbling buildings, pothole-filled roads, and roaming animals. [Newsday]
Medical aid warning to new parents: Many new parents in South Africa assume that because their medical aid covers the expecting mother’s pregnancy and maternity care, their newborn babies would be covered automatically after birth. [BusinessTech]
South African nurses have had enough: Gauteng’s public healthcare system, with the highest health expenditure and bed count in the country, is losing at least 100 nurses monthly, hindering the rollout of the National Health Insurance (NHI). [Business Day]
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