Nicola Mawson

Freelance Journalist

How Ramaphosa’s army deployment could protect mining billions

Nicola Mawson|Published

With gold prices hitting record highs, a dramatic new military intervention aims to stop the multi-billion rand " leakage" from illegal mining and finally unlock ...

SONA: Ramaphosa bets on R1 trillion infrastructure blitz to cement economic recovery

Nicola Mawson|Published

Ramaphosa bets R1 trillion on a ‘construction-led’ recovery as investors flood an oversubscribed bond. Is South Africa’s economic tide finally turning?

The State of the Economy: Reforms, resilience, and the long walk to 3%

Nicola Mawson|Published

Is South Africa on the brink of significant economic growth? Explore how Operation Vulindlela could transform the economy and the challenges that lie ahead.

The State of South Africa’s water crisis: A national disaster

Nicola Mawson|Updated

Will South Africans hear President Cyril Ramaphosa call the water crisis a national disaster tonight? That's what The South African Human Rights Commission wants. ...

The taxman is coming for your money

Nicola Mawson|Published

SARS spent its festive period reconciling individual taxpayer accounts, matched third-party data and are preparing for collection.

Can South Africa's beer drinkers protect Heineken jobs amid global cuts?

Nicola Mawson|Published

While Heineken slashes 6,000 global roles, South Africa’s " excellent" 2025 growth has positioned the local market as a protected priority hub.

Raging Bull Awards marks 30 years of recognising SA’s investment excellence

Nicola Mawson|Published

The Raging Bull Awards celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, with South Africa’s top investment managers competing for the ultimate prize: South African Manager ...

Gauteng High Court rules against body corporate in homeowner's R1.4 million levy dispute

Nicola Mawson|Published

A Gauteng sectional title owner faced a body corporate’s multimillion‑rand levy claim. The High Court’s ruling has sparks questions about how far these organisations ...

A look at how South Africans’ debt habits have quietly changed over the past decade

Nicola Mawson|Published

The latest DebtBusters Debt Index highlights a notable shift in consumer behaviour regarding borrowing.

Why a weaker rand is suddenly putting a SARB rate cut at risk

Nicola Mawson|Published

Kristof Kruger, senior fixed income trader at Prescient Securities, said exchange rate movements play a critical role in inflation dynamics and monetary policy decisions. ...

Big salaries, bigger debt: Where some earners spend 85c of every R1 they take home

Nicola Mawson|Published

Are high-income earners in South Africa facing unprecedented debt stress? Discover how 85% of their income is being allocated to repayments and what this means for ...

Generational home affordability: why the 20-year-old today is locked out

Nicola Mawson|Published

While young adults today may earn more in absolute or purchasing-power terms than Boomers did, the minimum income required to buy a first home has increased sharply, ...

Watch VideoInterest rates unchanged despite inflation outlook improving

Nicola Mawson|Published

The South African Reserve Bank has held its policy rate at 6.75%, with two members favouring a cut and four preferring a hold.

Watch VideoWATCH: Interest rate remains unchanged

Nicola Mawson|Published

Will borrowing get cheaper? With the SARB set to announce its latest decision, economists and property leaders hint at a possible 0.25% rate cut - a move that could ...

What South Africans did with their money in 2025

Nicola Mawson|Published

Year-end pressures shaped household spending, credit use, and savings habits, showing how South Africans navigated their finances in 2025.

Widow tackles pension fund over delay in R6,000 death benefit

Nicola Mawson|Published

Adjudicator criticises pension fund’s silence, ordering urgent investigation and payment to beneficiaries.

Debt cases drop, but the average bill still bites at R29,000

Nicola Mawson|Published

Fewer South Africans faced court for unpaid debt in November 2025, according to Statistics South Africa. However, the average civil judgement remains a significant ...

Removing medical aid tax credits could backfire on NHI funding plans

Nicola Mawson|Published

With legal challenges to the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act wending their way through various courts, there continues to not only be a lack of ...

Housing estate ombud got it wrong, Supreme Court rules

Nicola Mawson|Published

The Supreme Court of Appeal found a CSOS adjudicator misread membership rules of housing estates, which distorted levy calculations.

Inside the CPI numbers: Inflation hits 20-year low, but food and rent still squeeze households

Nicola Mawson|Published

South Africa’s 2025 inflation hits 21‑year low, easing household budgets despite rising meat, rent, and utility costs.

Why your January career ambitions die in February

Nicola Mawson|Updated

As the New Year begins, many set ambitious career goals, but why do these resolutions often fade by February? Here's how to maintain momentum and achieve your aspirations. ...

Consumers win big as watchdogs recover R60m in fines and refunds

Nicola Mawson|Published

As last year drew to a close, two key rulings dealing with consumer rights were handed down: one by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) and another by the National ...

Why 2026 is the year of the property market rebound

Nicola Mawson|Published

Is 2026 the turning point for South Africa's property market? After years of stagnation, positive economic indicators are paving the way for a rebound, offering ...

What rising debt means for South Africa’s rental market

Nicola Mawson|Published

According to Africaninvestor, private rental data indicates that tenant demand tends to peak in January and February, driven by students starting university, new ...

The school placement scramble parents can’t ignore

Nicola Mawson|Published

As almost 23,000 South African children still await school places, parents scramble for solutions as the 2026 term fast approaches.