Business Day reports on the expected increase in the interest rate:
“THE Reserve Bank raised its key repo rate by half a percentage point to 8,5% today, and warned inflation pressures were building in the economy.
“The monetary policy committee remains concerned about the outlook for inflation going forward and is of the view that the risks to the inflation outlook are still on the upside,” Bank Governor Tito Mboweni said.

A Business Report article points to the effects of lower interest rates and cheaper imports:
“The Consumer Profile Bureau said there was a strong 5.2-percent increase in civil summonses for debt, and Statistics South Africa data show there has also been an 11.8 percent increase in the value of civil judgements, showing that debts had grown in size compared to last year.