logo
Celebrate the VAT freeze with a braai this weekend...

Celebrate the VAT freeze with a braai this weekend...

Planning a braai this weekend? You can breathe a sigh of relief!
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's decision to freeze the VAT means your braai budget just got a little less squeezed for future weekends.
While you'll still want to shop around for the best deals on meat, drinks, and charcoal, this news is a welcome break for braai lovers across South Africa.
Despite the likelihood of rain dampening outdoor plans for some this weekend, braai enthusiasts can still enjoy indoors.
To help you save money, The South African website compared the prices of key braai items at Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths.
Our price comparison reveals that Shoprite is currently the most budget-friendly option for braai essentials, while Woolworths remains the most expensive. Pick n Pay and Checkers fall somewhere in between, offering competitive prices on select items. Product Checkers Shoprite Pick n Pay Woolworths Traditional Boerewors (per kg) R99.99 R92.99 R109.99 R159.99 Lamb Braai Chops (per kg) R179.99 R162.99 R179.99 R229.00 250g Garlic Bread R39.99 R19.99 R39.99 R59.99 4kg Charcoal R79.99 R79.99 R69.99 R104.99 Baked Beans (can) R17.99 R17.99 R16.99 R25.99 Firelighters R39.99 R29.99 R37.99 R29.99 KWV Five-Year-Old Brandy (750ml) R229.99 R229.99 R229.99 R229.99 Savanna Light Cider (6x330ml) R124.99 R124.99 R124.99 R124.99 Castle Lite Bottles (6x330ml) R94.99 R94.99 R94.99 R89.99 Coca-Cola No Sugar (1.5L) R15.99 R15.99 R21.99 R19.99 Total Cost R923.90 R869.90 R926.90 R1 074.91 *Please note prices are subject to change and were accurate at the time of publishing
If you're looking to save the most money, Shoprite comes out on top with a total of R869.90 for all the listed braai essentials. Checkers follows closely behind at R923.90, while Pick n Pay is slightly higher at R926.90. Woolworths is the most expensive at R1,074.91.
If you're looking to stock up on more essentials, Shoprite also offers some of the lowest prices on cooking oil to complement your braai.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences' in spending bill row
Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences' in spending bill row

eNCA

time5 hours ago

  • eNCA

Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences' in spending bill row

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump threatened his former advisor Elon Musk with "serious consequences" Saturday if the tech billionaire seeks to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill. The comments by Trump to NBC News come after the relationship between the world's most powerful person and the world's richest imploded in bitter and spectacular fashion this week. The blistering break-up -- largely carried out on social media before a riveted public on Thursday -- was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress. Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk -- one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election -- to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation. "He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also branded Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be. He also said he had "no" desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has "no intention of speaking to him." Just last week, Trump gave Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But their relationship cracked within days as Musk described as an "abomination" the spending bill that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump's second term in office. Trump hit back in an Oval Office diatribe and from, there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned. With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both had appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters "I just wish him well," and Musk responding on X: "Likewise." - 'Old news' - Trump spoke to NBC Saturday after Musk deleted one of the explosive allegations he had made during their fallout, linking the president with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Musk had alleged that the Republican leader is featured in unreleased government files on former associates of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while he faced sex trafficking charges. The Trump administration has acknowledged it is reviewing tens of thousands of documents, videos and investigative material that his "MAGA" movement says will unmask public figures complicit in Epstein's crimes. Trump was named in a trove of deposition and statements linked to Epstein that were unsealed by a New York judge in early 2024. The president has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case. "Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files," Musk posted on his social media platform, X. "That is the real reason they have not been made public." Musk did not reveal which files he was talking about and offered no evidence for his claim. He initially doubled down on the claim, writing in a follow-up message: "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out." However, he appeared to have deleted both tweets by Saturday morning. Trump dismissed the claim as "old news" in his comments to NBC on Saturday, adding: "Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it." Supporters on the conspiratorial end of Trump's "Make America Great Again" base allege that Epstein's associates had their roles in his crimes covered up by government officials and others. They point the finger at Democrats and Hollywood celebrities, although not at Trump himself. No official source has ever confirmed that the president appears in any of the as yet unreleased material. Trump knew and socialized with Epstein but has denied spending time on Little Saint James, the private redoubt in the US Virgin Islands where prosecutors alleged Epstein trafficked underage girls for sex. "Terrific guy," Trump, who was Epstein's neighbor in both Florida and New York, said in an early 2000s profile of the financier. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."

Financial tips for UK expats moving back to South Africa
Financial tips for UK expats moving back to South Africa

IOL News

time10 hours ago

  • IOL News

Financial tips for UK expats moving back to South Africa

Explore the financial implications for UK expats returning to South Africa, including tax residency, pension arrangements, and property considerations. Learn how to optimise your finances for a smooth transition back home. Image: Supplied. South Africa faces many challenges, but a clear trend is emerging of expats returning home. Stats SA's Migration Profile Report for South Africa, released last year, shows that since 2000, the number of South Africans in the UK has grown from 136,720 to 247,336. But in a move that some have dubbed 'reverse emigration', many are heading back. The top reasons for coming back range from missing the South African lifestyle and family and friends, to the bad weather and high cost of living in the UK. The UK is significantly more expensive than South Africa, especially when it comes to housing, eating out, and labour costs. For the same income, South Africa offers families better homes, an affordable lifestyle, and access to good schools. Here are the financial implications for expats returning to South Africa. Ensure your finances are in order before you move back A move between countries shifts tax residency, so you will need to determine your tax residency status in both the UK and South Africa, as this will impact how your income and worldwide assets are taxed. Be aware that South Africa taxes residents on their worldwide income while non-residents are taxed only on South African-sourced income. It is important to familiarise yourself with the UK-South Africa DTA to avoid being taxed twice on the same income. It is a good idea to monitor the GBP/ZAR exchange rate to plan the timing of your transfers. The Rand can be volatile, so it may be a good idea to work out your income and capital needs in South Africa and transfer only the amount that you are planning to spend there. Remember that retaining funds offshore can hedge against a weakening currency. Make sure you review your UK pension arrangements before you leave. Several UK pension providers will not accept SA residents on their platform or, when you become a non-resident in the UK, will not allow you to make further changes to your existing UK pension. This could have a material impact on your retirement planning. It's also a good idea to make sure you understand the tax treatment of your UK investments in South Africa, including potential liabilities for Capital Gains Tax or foreign dividends. A question that comes up often is 'Should I retain my ISAs?' Unfortunately, ISAs are not tax-free in South Africa, which has its own version of an ISA called a Tax-Free Savings Account. When moving to a new country, it's best to review the product wrappers you are currently using, as well as what options you have available in South Africa. Many clients benefit from restructuring their investments and tax optimising strategies when it comes to cross-border financial planning. If you have a UK property, you will need to decide whether to sell, rent out, or retain your UK property. Be aware of tax implications, such as Capital Gains Tax and rental income tax in both countries. Buying property in South Africa is fairly straightforward, but make sure that you do your due diligence before any large purchase. Getting set up with a bank account can be difficult without being physically present and able to provide proof of residence in South Africa. Once you have the required supporting documents, the process of opening an account is relatively easy. Many South African bank providers offer offshore accounts. The money required to be held in these accounts is much higher than a local bank account, but it can provide additional flexibility for holding non-Rand assets. * Adshade is the wealth advisor at Sable International. PERSONAL FINANCE

Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future
Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future

TimesLIVE

time16 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future

Illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to undermine the future of Africa, hampering the ability of governments to adequately fund education, healthcare and development projects essential for lifting people out of poverty and fostering sustainable economic growth. As business leaders, politicians, academics and citizens, we cannot sit back. We must help curb the illegal flow of money out of our country through a cohesive effort by all stakeholders, both local and international, to ensure safeguards are put in place, laws are harmonised, and all enforcement agencies work together to address the problem. At the same time, we must not do anything that will deter investment. Ahead of G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, as well precursor meetings — such as the G20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting and the T20 midterm conference held this month — we must formulate proposals that integrate the perspectives of public and private sector institutions, nonprofit organisations, think-tanks and universities. Together we can make valuable policy recommendations, such as using AI to turn vast amounts of data into information for developing strategic interventions. Working alongside each other, we can identify gaps in current legal frameworks and areas where greater co-operation is required. We must seek ways to stem illicit money flows. When individuals or companies evade their tax obligations, deliberately falsify import or export documents, or misappropriate funds intended for development projects, they are not committing victimless crimes. These outflows not only weaken our reputation in the eyes of the international markets, but also make it harder for the government to raise capital at manageable interest rates. We already owe too much: the National Treasury predicts that debt on our national balance sheet will be 77% of GDP this year. IFFs directly undermine economic growth, costing the South African economy the equivalent of almost 5% of annual collected tax revenue — losses of about R92.5bn. On the African continent, the numbers are more alarming, with between $50bn (about R889bn) and $90bn stolen annually, according to the UN. A 2020 report from a UN conference on trade and development states that IFFs represent as much as 3.7% of Africa's GDP. This figure has almost certainly grown since then, given that those who break laws will keep doing so if they are not held accountable. We recently convened a G20 multi-stakeholder dialogue to better understand this challenge, quantify its impact, assess current solutions, and identify new ones . One of our speakers, deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes, spelt out what this theft means: countries with high IFFs spend at least 25% less on healthcare and 50% less on education compared with their peers. IFFs wipe out any good the $65bn in aid Africa receives each year might do. They reduce progress made in making people's lives better. There are initiatives under way to address IFFs. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) collaborates with the UN to strengthen countries' financial systems and prevent illicit outflows. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. We are also seeing prosecutions of high-level fraudsters, especially those who use dubious accounting methods to move money around and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. It is gratifying to see that action has been taken in this regard. Other UN entities have developed discussion platforms and measurement systems. There are 10 asset-recovery inter-agency networks that have 178 member countries, allowing illicit money flows to be traced across borders. In addition, Interpol supports national and international law enforcement agencies to investigate, trace and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. We must all strive towards expanding such interventions, as well as advocate for and enable closer alignment between government departments and between local law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts. However, our solutions must not cause more harm than good by discouraging legitimate investment. We should not, for example, implement unfair tax regimes that could result in capital flight. We must also not inhibit international investment inflows by making it nearly impossible to comply with legislation and regulations. Such a state of affairs would merely encourage companies to operate businesses in sectors such as import and export under the radar. Through working together by sharing data, harmonising laws and holding those responsible for IFFs accountable, we can strengthen the economy by plugging the holes through which money leaks and encouraging investment. Our people deserve nothing less.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store