Agriculture in Africa: Science and Research Can’t Make an Impact Without Investment and Good Policies
Science can only change the world when societies decide to give it the means to do so.
Sustainability
Ghana’s Transport System Is Chaotic: How It Can Move More People With Fewer Vehicles – Research
As cities grow, it would be better to have more efficient, higher-capacity transport than more vehicles on the road.
Is the MyCiTi Bus System, and the Expansion of It, at Risk if Treasury Pulls the Plug?
The City of Cape Town BRT (Bus Rapid Transit - MyCiTi) public transport system is regarded as one of the best-performing Bus systems in South Africa.
The post IS THE MYCITI BUS SYSTEM, AND THE EXPANSION OF IT, AT RISK IF TREASURY PULLS THE PLUG? appeared first on For Good.
Public Gets Three More Weeks to Comment on Eskom Nuclear Site — But Critics Say It’s Not Enough
The deadline for public comment on the 2,700-page draft environmental scoping report and appendices has been extended to 25 May
Cameroon’s Sacred and Royal Animals: Could Literature and Futures Thinking Help Save Them?
Literature about royal animals was used in workshops to imagine better futures.
Joburg’s Financial Woes Laid Bare in Scathing Letter From Finance Minister Godongwana
Mayor Dada Morero insists there is “no cause for concern”
We Have Warned of Johannesburg’s Looming Bankruptcy for a Long Time
For years, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned Johannesburg’s ANC administration that exorbitant salary negotiations and a culture of non-payment would steer the City straight into bankruptcy. These warnings fell on deaf ears, though, and the consequences are now evident. The controversial R10,3 billion salary increase offered to workers last year to avert labour […]
The post Freedom Front Plus has warned of Johannesburg’s looming bankruptcy for a long time appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
The Need to Grow Food in Informal Settlements
Government must take food security into account when upgrading informal settlements like Slovo Park, says SERI
Young Africans Will Inherit a Climate Crisis: How Kids in Sierra Leone Are Getting Ready
Young people in Bo City, Sierra Leone became youth climate leaders after turning a low-cost Climate Science Hub into a space for science-informed action.
Small Businesses That Go Green Could Make a Big Impact in South Africa: Study Analyses What’s in Their Way
When up to 3.5 million small businesses go green, this will benefit South Africa’s environment and help the businesses survive in a changing climate.
Mogale City Sewerage Crisis
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) today requested the Gauteng MEC for Environmental Affairs, Evan Botha, to immediately and decisively intervene in the ongoing sewerage crisis in the Mogale City Local Municipality (Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift). The situation has become progressively worse over time with serious and frequent untreated sewage spills occurring at the pump station […]
The post Mogale City sewerage crisis warrants urgent intervention appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Disputes Over Africa’s Ocean Resources: Here’s What Could Help Avoid Them
As ocean uses expand, it will be necessary to reduce disputes because they disrupt the environmental sustainability and equity central to a blue economy.
Quota Bungle: Small-Scale Fishers Battle to Survive
Several West Coast cooperatives given even lower allocations than they had before their appeals
NMBM’s Proposed 11,2% Electricity Increase Places an Unsustainable Burden on Residents
The 11,2% electricity tariff increase proposed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM), which has been submitted to NERSA for approval, will place an unfair and unsustainable burden on residents and businesses who are already under severe financial pressure. Households are already contending with rising living costs and such a tariff hike will exacerbate the […]
The post NMBM’s proposed 11,2% electricity increase places an unsustainable burden on residents appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Documentary Reveals SA’s Skewed Food System
With nearly one in five households being food insecure, activists call for urgent action
We Support the Release of Tshwane’s Draft Fully Funded Budget for the 2026/27 Financial Year
In October 2024, our multi-party coalition government promised the residents of Tshwane that financial sustainability was a priority.
The post GOOD SUPPORTS THE RELEASE OF THE DRAFT FULLY FUNDED BUDGET FOR THE 2026/27 FINANCIAL YEAR FOR TSHWANE appeared first on For Good.
Tshwane’s Unrealistic Tariff Hikes Could See Households Shelling out up to R450 More per Month
The Tshwane Metro’s proposed 2026/27 draft budget could drive up residents’ monthly household expenses by an estimated R300 to R450. These sharp increases were announced on Thursday during the tabling of the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) to the Council. The proposed increases are as follows: • Water: +10,0%• Electricity: +8,8%• Sanitation: +5,0%• Property […]
The post Tshwane’s unrealistic tariff hikes could see households shelling out up to R450 more per month appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Mining Company Linked to Zimbabwean President Is Destroying Famous Landmarks
Chenxi Investments has been fined but continues stripping vegetation and polluting rivers
City of Cape Town Is Selling “Relief” While Locking in Higher Bills
The GOOD Party is calling out a consistent pattern under the current administration: saying one thing to residents but implementing another, then presenting it as if nothing has changed.
The post CITY OF CAPE TOWN IS SELLING “RELIEF” WHILE LOCKING IN HIGHER BILLS appeared first on For Good.
Human Rights on Paper Don’t Cut the Mustard
Thirty years ago, South Africans’ centuries-long struggle for equal rights and justice was technically concluded with the adoption of a progressive Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The post HUMAN RIGHTS ON PAPER DON’T CUT THE MUSTARD appeared first on For Good.
Freedom Front Plus in Ekurhuleni Opposed to Writing off Billions in Debt
The Ekurhuleni Metro’s ANC-led administration’s decision to write off approximately R2,24 billion in utility debt comes at a time when the Metro is already facing a severe financial crisis. This debt write-off applies to households registered as indigent or deemed indigent that have consumed more than the free basic utilities allowance. The debt accumulated between […]
The post Freedom Front Plus in Ekurhuleni opposed to writing off billions in debt appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Tourist Visits to Madagascar Help Conserve Some Forests, but Others Suffer: Study Suggests What to Do
Madagascar’s protected area forests have 2.5km buffer zone forests surrounding them that also need urgent protection.
Adjustment Budget Prioritises Internal Costs Over Crumbling Infrastructure
Speaker, the adjustment operating budget before Council today raises several serious concerns about the financial direction of the City of Johannesburg.
The post JOHANNESBURG’S ADJUSTMENT BUDGET PRIORITISES INTERNAL COSTS OVER CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE appeared first on For Good.
Affordability Drives South Africa’s Strongest New Car Sales in Over a Decade
- Passenger car sales reached 114,246 in Q4 2025 (up 15.3% year over year), bringing the full-year total to 422,103 – the highest since 2014
- Chinese brands now account for over 17% of total sales, signalling a structural shift in consumer buying behaviour
- Younger buyers and affordability-led demand continue to drive momentum as high-income demand normalises
South Africa’s automotive market closed 2025 at its strongest level in more than a decade, supported by easing interest rates, improving vehicle pricing, and a decisive shift in how consumers evaluate vehicle affordability. While headline sales reflect a clear recovery, underlying patterns reveal a market increasingly shaped by value, sharper segmentation and intensifying competition.
According to the TransUnion South Africa Q4 2025 Mobility Insights Report, new passenger vehicle sales reached 422,103 units in 2025, representing 20.1% year-on-year growth. Momentum remained firm into the final quarter, with 114,246 vehicles sold in Q4, making it the strongest quarterly performance based on volume of the post-pandemic period.
“This recovery is real, but it is far from uniform,” says Ayesha Hatea, Senior Director of Research and Consulting at TransUnion Africa. “What we’re seeing is not a return to old buying patterns, but a more deliberate, affordability-driven market where consumers are weighing value, monthly repayments and long-term ownership costs far more carefully.”
Value Brands Cement a Structural Shift
One of the standout trends of 2025 has been the continued rise of Chinese manufacturers. These Chinese brands expanded at nearly nine times the pace of the overall market, lifting their share to more than 17% of total new passenger vehicle sales, up from less than 5% just four years ago.
Aggressive pricing of enhanced specifications, extended warranties and growing consumer trust have fuelled intensifying competitive pressure across all segments of the market.
“This is no longer a short-term disruption,” Hatea explains. “Value brands are now firmly embedded in South Africa’s automotive ecosystem, and their success highlights how decisively affordability and perceived value are influencing purchasing decisions.”
New Vehicles Regain Ground as Pricing Gaps Narrow
Improved affordability conditions shifted demand back toward new vehicles in Q4. New vehicle registrations rose 30.1% year-on-year, compared with just 0.7% growth in used vehicle registrations, narrowing the gap between the two segments. The used-to-new ratio declined to 2.9, down from approximately 3.8 in 2024.
This shift was supported by record-low new vehicle inflation of 1.2%, alongside 1.9% deflation in used vehicle prices, making monthly repayments on new vehicles increasingly competitive.
These trends align with a broader macroeconomic environment focused on easing pressure on household finances, as reinforced in South Africa’s 2026 National Budget delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, which emphasised fiscal stability and moderating inflation. Against this backdrop, TransUnion’s data shows vehicle demand remains highly sensitive to interest rates, fuel costs and financing conditions.
“When repayment gaps narrow, buyer behaviour changes quickly,” says Hatea. “But affordability remains the single most powerful lever in sustaining demand.”
Younger Buyers Drive Momentum as Premium Demand Cools
Consumer sentiment showed modest improvement in Q4, with the share of consumers planning to buy a vehicle in the next three months rising from 17% in Q3 to 19% in Q4, according to the TransUnion Consumer Pulse Survey.
That improvement was driven primarily by younger consumers. Gen Z (ages 18-29) purchase intent increased to 25%, while Millennials (ages 30-45) rose to 21%, compared to 14% for Gen X (ages 46-61) and 7% for Baby Boomers (ages 62-80), underscoring a clear generational divide in demand.
At the same time, demand among high-income households has begun to normalise. While consumers in the highest income segment continued to show the strongest purchase intent at 20%, this marked a notable decline from 34% in Q3, indicating a cooling in premium-led purchasing.
“The centre of gravity is shifting,” Hatea notes. “Growth is increasingly coming from younger, more price-sensitive buyers rather than the top end of the market.”
Electrification Advances, on Practical Terms
Electrified mobility continued to gain traction in 2025, with new energy vehicle (NEV) sales reaching approximately 16,700 units, representing 4% of new passenger vehicle sales, up from just 0.3% in 2021.
Growth remains firmly hybrid-led, with traditional hybrids representing nearly three-quarters of NEV sales, reflecting consumer preference for lower upfront costs and limited reliance on charging infrastructure. Battery-electric vehicles remain concentrated among higher-income buyers.
“South Africa’s electrification journey is progressing, but it is pragmatic rather than aggressive,” says Hatea. “Hybrids are bridging the gap between affordability and sustainability.”
A Market Rebalanced, Not Recovered
As the industry looks ahead to 2026, TransUnion’s data suggests a market that has stabilised but remains finely balanced. “The next phase of growth will be incremental and affordability-driven,” Hatea concludes. “Manufacturers, dealers and financiers that align closely with how South Africans are actually buying, not how they bought a decade ago will be best positioned to compete.”
Read the full Q4 2025 TransUnion South Africa Mobility Insights Report here.