Ghost Stories #93: Budget Speech 2026 - a pivot to stability

South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech announced a mix of bold, interesting and ultimately positive changes - especially for small businesses and South African investors. With pro-business policies that signal economic stability, could this be a turning point for the country?

Described affectionately by Tertius Troost (Associate Director - Tax Consulting at Forvis Mazars) as a "boring" budget, this is the first time in years that we've seen any kind of tax relief for South Africa's middle class. In his words, it's a pivot to stability - and at a time when things are really looking up for South Africa.

He joined me on this podcast to break down the budget basics and to specifically comment on areas like:

• How the budget addresses "bracket creep" by adjusting personal income tax brackets for inflation.
• The increase in the VAT registration threshold and how this assists small businesses.
• A boost for investors in the form of a higher annual limit for Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA).
• The approach taken to online gambling and whether education and regulation should precede taxes.
• Other changes aimed at helping South Africans with retirements savings and even global investments.

You can connect with Tertius on LinkedIn here.

As always, please discuss the impact of the tax changes on your affairs with your personal financial advisor. Nothing you hear on this podcast should be interpreted as advice.