SARB Repo Rate History

Figures current at 27 September 2026. Source: TradeAnswers.

Recent decisions
Effective fromChangeRepo ratePrime
24 September 2026+25 bps7.25%10.75%
29 May 2026+25 bps7.00%10.50%
30 January 2026No change6.75%10.25%
20 November 2025-25 bps6.75%10.25%
31 July 2025-25 bps7.00%10.50%
29 May 2025-25 bps7.25%10.75%
30 January 2025-25 bps7.50%11.00%
21 November 2024-25 bps7.75%11.25%
19 September 2024-25 bps8.00%11.50%
The cycle in shape
PeriodDirectionRange
2020, pandemic responseCut sharply6.25% down to 3.50%
2021 to 2023Raised through the inflation surge3.50% up to 8.25%
2024 into 2025Cut as inflation eased8.25% down to 6.75%
2026Raised again6.75% up to 7.25%
The cycle by year
YearStarted atEnded atDirection
20266.75%7.25%Raised twice
20257.75%6.75%Cut four times
20248.25%7.75%Began cutting
20237.00%8.25%Raised to the cycle peak
20223.75%7.00%Raised sharply
20213.50%3.75%First increase
20206.25%3.50%Cut through the pandemic
What each 25 basis point move costs on a bond
Bond sizeInstalment changeOver 20 years
R750,000about R125 a monthabout R30,000
R1,000,000about R170 a monthabout R41,000
R1,500,000about R250 a monthabout R60,000
R2,000,000about R335 a monthabout R80,000
Repo rate at each year end, 2000 to 2026
YearRepo at year endPrimeChange over the yearWhat drove it
20267.25%10.75%+50 bpsFuel shock from the Middle East conflict
20256.75%10.25%-100 bpsDisinflation allowed a full cutting cycle
20247.75%11.25%-50 bpsCutting began in September
20238.25%11.75%+125 bpsPeak of the hiking cycle
20227.00%10.50%+325 bpsGlobal inflation surge
20213.75%7.25%+25 bpsFirst increase after the pandemic floor
20203.50%7.00%-275 bpsEmergency cuts through the pandemic
20196.50%10.00%-25 bpsWeak growth, contained inflation
20186.75%10.25%0Held through a volatile rand year
20176.75%10.25%-50 bpsInflation back inside the band
20167.00%10.50%+75 bpsDrought and rand weakness
20156.25%9.75%+50 bpsStart of the tightening cycle
20145.75%9.25%+75 bpsRand under pressure
20135.00%8.50%0Held through the taper tantrum
20125.00%8.50%-50 bpsGrowth concerns
20115.50%9.00%0Held
20105.50%9.00%-150 bpsPost-crisis easing continued
20097.00%10.50%-500 bpsGlobal financial crisis response
200812.00%15.50%+150 bpsInflation peak before the crisis hit
200711.00%14.50%+200 bpsCredit boom and rising inflation
20069.00%12.50%+200 bpsTightening began
20057.00%10.50%-50 bpsLow inflation
20047.50%11.00%-50 bpsStrong rand, easing
20038.00%11.50%-550 bpsSharp easing as inflation collapsed
200213.50%17.00%+400 bpsRand crisis of late 2001
20019.50%13.00%-150 bpsBefore the currency collapse
200012.00%14.50%-175 bpsInflation targeting introduced
The three series together, at each year end
YearRepoPrimeHeadline CPIReal repo rate
20267.25%10.75%4.2%3.05%
20256.75%10.25%3.2%3.55%
20247.75%11.25%4.4%3.35%
20238.25%11.75%5.9%2.35%
20227.00%10.50%6.9%0.10%
20213.75%7.25%4.5%-0.75%
20203.50%7.00%3.3%0.20%

Data maintained by TradeAnswers · updated as the figures change