Paymenow data shows SA workers lose 40% of purchasing power.

Kaya Biz · May 21, 2026 · 10m

A new Paymenow analysis shows South African workers have lost more than 40% of their purchasing power over the past decade—even as headline inflation stayed within target. Rene Richter, Reward & Benefits Lead Advisor at Paymenow, joins Kaya Biz to unpack why wages aren’t keeping up, how transport and utilities are crushing household budgets, and why employers must rethink reward strategies in 2026. Kaya FM