Tuesday, 29 September 2026
ZAR/USDR16.390.61%. Rand weaker against the US dollarZAR/EURR18.650.37%. Rand weaker against the euroZAR/GBPR21.740.70%. Rand weaker against the poundSA markets ›

Investing

Investing in South Africa, and from it

Where capital comes in, what the rules are, and what your own money can earn. Every guide here is checked against the official source and dated, so you can see how current it is.

For foreign investors and entrepreneursBring capital into South Africa1 guide

Today’s numbers, and what they mean for an investor

Reserve Bank data, refreshed hourly. Yields are benchmarks, not the rate a bank will pay you. See the full South Africa markets dashboard for charts.

Repo rate7.25%Set by the Reserve Bank · 29 Sep 2026Prime lending rate10.75%What an overdraft follows · 29 Sep 2026364-day Treasury bill7.50%Safe short-term benchmark · 28 Sep 2026Long government bond yield9.08%Bonds of 10 years and longer · 28 Sep 2026Consumer inflation4.40%Twelve-month change · 31 Aug 2026

Real return on safe short-term money

+3.10 pp

The 364-day Treasury bill yield of 7.50% minus inflation of 4.40%. Safe short-term money is currently ahead of inflation, before tax and fees.

Real return on long government bonds

+4.68 pp

The long bond yield of 9.08% minus inflation of 4.40%. Bond prices move, so this is a yield, not a guaranteed return.

The overdraft gap

3.25 pp

Prime of 10.75% against the 364-day Treasury bill at 7.50%. A business that holds R1 million in safe short-term paper while carrying a R1 million overdraft loses about R32 500 a year on the difference, so repaying debt often beats parking cash.

For foreign investors and entrepreneurs

Bring capital into South Africa

Visas, company set-up, money rules and incentives sit on four different government sites. These guides put them in one order.

How to register a company in South Africa: a step-by-step guideRegistering with the CIPC is the point a business idea becomes a legal entity that can bank, contract and trade in its own name, and the process itself is simpler than most founders expect.5 min read · reviewed 24 August 2026

Capital that comes in, and contracts that pay

Fund and grow the business you back

Government funding, development finance and the credit record behind them.

A guide to government funding for small businesses in South AfricaGrants, incentives and equity funding are spread across the dtic, the IDC, SEFA, the NEF, the NYDA and TIA. Which one fits your business depends on sector, stage and ownership profile.5 min read · reviewed 16 September 2026NEF funding explained: 10 ways to get R250,000 to R75 million for a black-owned businessThe National Empowerment Fund runs ten distinct funding products, from R250,000 start-up loans to R75 million acquisition finance, plus a dedicated Women Empowerment Fund. Here is what each one actually covers and what the application requires.4 min read · reviewed 17 September 2026Government tenders for small businesses in South AfricaGovernment tenders are not reserved for large enterprises. How to find them, what a compliant submission actually requires, and why most losses come from paperwork, not price.4 min read · reviewed 16 September 2026How to export your products or services from South AfricaFrom market research to customs clearance: the eight-step process for taking a South African product or service into a new market.4 min read · reviewed 24 August 2026How to improve your credit score in South AfricaA weak credit score can mean a declined funding application even when the business behind it is sound. How the score is actually calculated, and what genuinely moves it.5 min read · reviewed 16 September 2026

The obligations that come with owning a business here

Tax, compliance and structure

Whoever invests, the company still has to register, file and comply.

Key business compliance requirements every South African small business needsRegistering a company is the easy part. Tax, employment, health and safety, consumer protection and data privacy all apply from day one, not once a business gets bigger.5 min read · reviewed 24 August 2026Beginner’s guide to tax filing in South AfricaWho actually needs to file, which documents matter, eFiling versus a SARS branch, and the deadlines that turn a routine task into a penalty if missed.5 min read · reviewed 16 September 2026Nail your BEE scorecard: a 10-step guide to B-BBEE complianceA structured, ten-step approach to B-BBEE compliance built around understanding the scorecard early, not reconstructing one under deadline pressure for a tender.5 min read · reviewed 16 September 2026The VAT threshold has more than doubled to R2.3 million: what that means for your small businessFrom 1 April 2026 the compulsory VAT threshold rose from R1 million to R2.3 million, the first change since 2009. Here is who can deregister, who should not, and the VAT bill deregistering can trigger.4 min read · reviewed 25 September 2026

How we research this section

Each guide is built from primary sources: the Department of Home Affairs, the dtic, SARS, the Reserve Bank and National Treasury, and every figure and link is checked before publication. Where an official source is silent, the guide says so rather than guessing. Guides are re-reviewed at least every quarter and whenever a rule changes. This section was last reviewed on 29 September 2026.

General information only. Nothing here is legal, immigration, tax or investment advice: confirm your own situation with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act.