The best of Kaya Biz: Nearly 8 out of 10 SA shops sell illicit cigarettes and SA’s youth remain shut out of the credit system

Sinenjabulo Sibeko

This week on Kaya Biz, the brilliant Nzinga Qunta took the helm, and what a week it was.

We began the week by reflecting on South Africa’s trade and economic resilience. With the imminent expiry of President Trump’s 90 days pause on tariffs, exporters and policy experts were left in suspense as the week began, not knowing which direction the US administration would take.

However by midweek, the verdict was clear – South Africa was slapped with a painful 30% tariff on exports to the US, sparking widespread concern across industries.

From unpacking this global trade fallout to zooming in on who’s buying half of Hyde Park Corner, this week’s show traversed macro disruption and microeconomic pressure points.

Here are the standout stories from the week:

1. Trump hits SA with 30% tariffs – How SA businesses should prepare for this.

GUEST: Dylan Govender, Head of Supply Chain at Investec Business Banking

South African exporters are bracing for a 30% tariff blow on goods headed to the US starting August 1st. Dylan Govender joined us to unpack how businesses should prepare for the logistical and financial hit, and why agility in the supply chain will be key for survival.

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2. Getting to know the company buying Hyde Park Corner.

GUESTS – Noah Stanger and Thato Faku – Joint CEOs of Millennium Equity Partners

Hyprop will be offloading half of the iconic Hyde Park Corner, one of Joburg’s premium shopping precincts. We speak to the real estate investment firm behind the acquisition and what this means for the future of retail property investment in South Africa.

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3. Nearly 8 out of 10 retailers sell illicit cigarettes, costing SARS 20bn.

GUEST: Johnny Moloto, Area Head of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs for BAT South Africa

With 76.7% of retailers now reportedly selling cigarettes below the legal tax threshold, the illicit trade is spiralling and the numbers are alarming. Johnny Moloto broke down the implications of these stats what it means for SARS’s ambitious R20 billion tax revenue target.

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4. VW, Volvo & Toyota cars recalled for safety concerns: Is your car affected?

GUEST: Prudence Moilwa, Executive Head at National Consumer Commission

Volkswagen, Volvo, and Toyota are pulling thousands of units back due to safety concerns. The National Consumer Commission’s Prudence Moilwa laid out the urgency for affected consumers to take action and why vehicle owners need to keep an eye on recall notices issued by the commission.

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5. SA sugar faces a double blow: US Tariffs & cheap imports

GUEST: Dr Thomas Funke, CEO at SA Canegrowers

It’s not just the tariffs, cheap sugar imports are compounding the pressure on local producers. Dr Thomas Funke reveals how the industry, which supports over 25,000 growers, is being squeezed from all directions.

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6. SA’s youth face remain shut out of the credit system despite active economic roles

GUEST: Jaco van Jaarsveldt, Head of Commercial Strategy and Innovation at Experian

Experian’s latest Consumer Default Index shows that while young South Africans are actively involved in the economy, they remain shut out of the credit system. Jaco van Jaarsveldt walked us through the data and how a shift in lending strategy is slowly improving youth credit profiles, but deeper barriers remain.

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