Talk Cents
Fintech/banking analyst writing on payments, banking M&A, digital banking strategy, and regulation (e.g., South Africa, Capitec/Walletdoc).
Thailand's Policehub: Crackdown Replaces Online Logging
You won’t believe this 🇹🇭 But in Thailand, they have a Policehub. They are cracking down instead of logging in.
Taxi Fares to Rise About R6 per Ride
As reported verbatim, by SABC NEWS; “The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) says commuters can expect a fare increase of around R6 per trip from Wednesday as a result of the fuel price increase”
South Africa's Fuel Prices Rise Tomorrow, Including R3 Levy Cut
Here are the new amounts that fuel will rise by in South Africa, tomorrow. These new amounts already include the temporary R3 deductions in the fuel levy, that was announced by the National Treasury earlier today.
Delta A330 Engine Failure Returns Safely, Cause Unclear
The scariest video you will watch today A Delta Air Line Airbus to Atlanta, coming from Brazil, experienced left engine failure shortly after takeoff. Fire and debris were visible to panicking passengers. The exact cause of the engine failure on Delta...
Houthis Threaten Bab El-Mandeb Closure, Endangering Global Food Supply
Yemeni Houthis has entered the Iran War, they are now considering closing Bab El Mandeb Strait. It is estimated that 12% of the world's trade passes through here. The FAO chief economist has already warned of potential global risks to...
US Deploys 3,500 Troops, Conflict Risks Prolonged War
Ground Troops Arrive in Middle East It’s been reported that 3500 US ground troops arrived in the Middle East, Friday 27th March. The war in the Middle East has now passed the one month mark with no immediate signs of...
Fuel Price Spike to Raise Living Costs Nationwide
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; “Higher fuel prices will affect every sector, beginning the 1st of April we are going to see a spike in fuel prices” “𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲”
Netflix Price Hikes Outpace Inflation, Costing Double
Here is the real story, Netflix has raised prices faster than inflation, making it more expensive in real terms. If prices had only kept up with inflation, the standard plan in 2026 would be around $11.86 Instead, it’s $19.99.
Check Diesel Prices Before Filling to Avoid Overcharges
Alert Warning ‼️🚨 TrafficSA has advised motorists to check the price before just pouring diesel into your vehicle. R33.30 a litre is just insane. 🤯 We need to advise each other about prices at petrol stations so we do not fall victim...
SARB’s Short
𝗪𝗮𝗿, 𝗢𝗶𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱 🇿🇦 The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) just mapped out two possible futures for South Africa's economy. 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸 If the conflict ends within 2 months, oil averages just under $100/barrel, and the...
Africa's Riches Fuel Western Wealth, Not Local Prosperity
Africa has all the wealth, however, once extracted, it lands on the balance sheets of Western Entities and the benefits accrue to foreign powers.
Happy Pay Secures $5M Seed to Expand BNPL Across Africa
𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿” 🇿🇦 South African fintech Happy Pay has raised $5 million in seed funding, in a round led by global venture capital firm Partech, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀...
Oil Price Spikes Drive Food Price Hikes
This one is intuitive and goes without saying. But let’s say it anyway; “When oil spikes, food prices tend to follow” Do you know why?
Oil Volatility Shifts: From Demand Collapse to Supply Risk
Both the COVID-19 oil shock and the current Middle East oil shock (has) caused big moves in oil prices (Volatility), but for opposite reasons though. In 2020, demand absolutely collapsed because nobody was using or wanted as much oil as...
Eskom to Harness Surplus Renewable Power for Bitcoin Mining
This is exactly what South Africa's State owned Electricity utility (Eskom) is planning to do. 𝗧𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻 These miners will use energy that is stranded in time, which means, the energy that...
Retail Shifts to Banking Amid Margin Pressure
𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 Pepkor Holdings stepping into financial services tells me two things: 1️⃣ Landscape is getting competitive 2️⃣ Retail margins are under pressure To achieve margin expansion, retail is shifting into banking, further fueling financialization. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, SA’s banking/fintech space is...
Shell Exits South Africa, Selling 600 Petrol Stations
Farewell Shell, this marks the end of their petrol stations in South Africa. 🇿🇦 Shell will be selling their downstream assets, which includes a network of roughly 600 petrol stations across the country.
African Nations Trade Oil in Rands, US Mockingly Reacts
Nigeria and South Africa strike a deal to sell oil in Rands. United States responds; “Nigeria needs freedom” - Satire -
South Africa Sources 69% of Oil Imports From Africa
South Africa’s Crude oil imports Here are the historical amounts of crude oil South Africa imports in for each respective month. Total = 9.5 billion liters (2024) Nigeria accounted for 48% Angola accounted for 15% Ghana accounted for 6% 69%...
Tyre Maker Invented Michelin Stars for Restaurants
This is pretty incredible. Here is how a tyre company came up with the idea of Michelin Stars for restaurants.
SA Military Deploys to Eldorado Park to Tackle Gang Violence
News Just in 🇿🇦‼️ The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to Eldorado Park in Johannesburg to support the South African Police Service in combating gangsterism and violent crime in affected areas.
Iran Attacks Thai Vessel in Strait of Hormuz
News Just In, Thailand 🇹🇭 Iran has hit a Thai ship that was attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Standard Bank Posted R57.3bn Net Interest Income in 2024
Standard Bank is set to report their 2025 Financial Results on the 12th of March. Full Year result for 2024 showed that Standard Bank made R57.3 billion in Net Interest Income. (NII) Interest Income = R157.9 bn Interest Expense = R100.5 bn
SARB MPC Schedules Five Additional 2026 Meetings
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🇿🇦 The SARB’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will meet 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 more times in 2026. Bookmark these dates 🔻 🇿🇦2̶9̶t̶h̶ ̶J̶a̶n̶u̶a̶r̶y̶ ( Unchanged ) ✅ 🇿🇦26th March 🇿🇦28th May 🇿🇦23rd July 🇿🇦23rd September 🇿🇦19th November
SARB Rules Out Rate Cuts, Hikes Possible Amid Tensions
South Africa is an oil-importing economy. The South African Reserve Bank is indirectly telling you that interest rate cuts are now off the table, and that if the tension in the Middle East continues, then interest rate hikes can’t be...
South Africa Leads African Valuations, Nigeria Trails Closely
South Africa Dominates Africa 🇿🇦 🇳🇬 Nigeria also dominates the list, a close second when it comes to valuations.
Middle East Tensions Likely Push Rand Lower, Fuel Costs Up
Prolonged tension in the Middle East. Rising oil prices, if sustained, and a weaker Rand. Add the increased fuel levies announced in the budget speech on top of macro concerns, and taking the governor’s conservative nature and the new 3% inflation...
Nedbank's Low P/E, High Yield Made It a No‑Brainer
Nedbank absolutely crushing it lately. It was at bargain levels at around the R200 level at a P/E ratio of around 5 and an even lower forward P/E. And people were selling. 😂 It also came with a dividend yield of...
VAT Threshold Unchanged Since 2009 Hurts Small Businesses
The last time they increased the compulsory VAT registration was circa 2009. Fun Fact: R1 million Rand in 2009 ( the last time they adjusted VAT registration ) is roughly equivalent to R2.2-R2.3 million. Inflation adjusted it’s now about the...
Federal Reserve Born From Private Politicians' Secret Meeting
The Creature from Jekyll Island is a must read book. It helps you understand the creation of the federal reserve banking system in the states. The truth is that, The U.S. central banking system was conceived in private by a...
South Africa's Record Real Rates Prompt Slow, Steady Cuts
South African rates are restrictive. The real policy rate is the highest it’s been in 20 years, and they expect growth. They are suffocating the economy with high real rates. However, we can expect more rate cuts throughout the year,...
38% of Clients Drive 75% of Capitec Revenue
𝟯𝟴% 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟳𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 Capitec’s interim results for the period ending August 2025 show a very clear picture of where the bank’s income is really coming from: 🔸Non-interest income = R13,358 bn 🔸Net interest income = R...
Treasury’s Cash Boost Saves Debt, Costs SARB
The state accessed funds held in the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account (GFECRA). When Treasury spent the funds, liquidity surged through the banking system, forcing the SARB to manage (“sterilize”) the excess cash, so short-term rates didn’t fall below...