---
title: "Watch — What the budget means for your wallet"
description: "In this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi sits down with economist and director of Inani Strategies Xhanti Payi to unpack what the national budget really means for ordinary families. From food prices and interest rates to service delivery and the decision to hold back further VAT increases, the conversation cuts through the policy jargon to focus on our realities."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "THE READINESS REPORT"
author: "Redi Thlabi"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/redi-thlabi/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-26-watch-what-the-budget-means-for-your-wallet/"
published: "2026-02-26T14:43:45"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 83
---

# Watch — What the budget means for your wallet

> In this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi sits down with economist and director of Inani Strategies Xhanti Payi to unpack what the national budget really means for ordinary families. From food prices and interest rates to service delivery and the decision to hold back further VAT increases, the conversation cuts through the policy jargon to focus on our realities.

By Redi Thlabi · Published 26 February 2026, 16:43 SAST

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4psHCErjaE)

[Media](https://player.simplecast.com/0bd95233-e8a1-4db2-a5c8-7daf0bf64565?dark=false)

This episode was made possible thanks to [The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom](https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa).

![Image](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/xfGUULIHbGJUQm6h3Xsw7muUaLM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/FNF_Englisch_Farbe_Screen_362244.jpg)

You can listen to the [Let’s Talk Human Rights podcast on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/59LYbrnDnmsupzBh9Sb9dH?si=9ea830a251094765) and here on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/lets-talk-human-rights/id1532706038 ).

Hosted by: Redi Tlhabi
Guest: Economist and Director of Inani Strategies Xhanti Payi
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

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