“The 2026 Budget marks an important turning point for South Africa.” (Dr Duncan Pieterse, Director-General, National Treasury) Some of the best news in Budget 2026 is the real GDP growth of an estimated 1.4% for 2025, rising to 2% in 2028, and a debt ratio that will stabilise during this financial year and decline thereafter. Inflation also declined to 3.2% in 2025 (from 4.4% in 2024), improving affordability for households and keeping interest rates down.