Interest Rates Stayed the Same – What Should You Do?

On 23 July 2026, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) kept the repo rate on hold at 7%, which means the prime lending rate stays at 10.5%. For anyone paying off a home loan, credit card, or personal loan, that’s a small sigh of relief. But the decision was far from unanimous, and it’s worth understanding why, because the story isn’t over yet.

A Split Decision, Not a Confident One

The Monetary Policy Committee was split 4-2, with two members pushing for a 25 basis point hike. Inflation climbed to 5% in June, driven largely by rising fuel prices linked to global conflict in the Middle East. That’s not the kind of pause that comes with confidence attached. It’s a pause with a warning label. If you want a closer look at how a repo rate change actually filters through to your accounts, we’ve broken it down before.

Why This Pause Won’t Last Forever

Rates staying flat this month doesn’t mean they’ll stay flat next month, or the month after. Inflation pressure, fuel costs, and global uncertainty are all still on the table, and the SARB has made it clear it’s watching closely.

If you’re already stretched thin, every future increase lands directly on your monthly instalments. The good news is that there are proven ways to bring your interest rate down, and you don’t have to wait for SARB to make the first move.

How Debt Review Locks In Your Rate

Here’s the part most people miss: once you’re under debt review with Debtco Group, your debt counsellor negotiates a fixed, reduced interest rate directly with your creditors. That rate doesn’t move every time the repo rate does. Whether SARB hikes, holds, or cuts, you keep paying the same manageable instalment. It’s one of the clearest benefits of going under debt review, and it gives you something rare in this economy: certainty.

This process is regulated by the National Credit Regulator under the National Credit Act, so creditors are legally required to negotiate in good faith on reduced payments and rates.

It’s not a loophole. It’s the law working in your favour. For a full picture of the process, take a look at what debt review actually involves.

What This Means Long-Term

Locking in a fixed rate now also protects your credit profile down the line. Consumers often worry about what debt review does to their credit score, but a structured, consistent repayment history is exactly what rebuilds it. And once you’re through the process, you’re not locked out of credit forever. We’ve covered how soon you can qualify for a loan again after completing debt review, so you know what to expect on the other side.

Don’t Wait for the Next Announcement

No one can predict exactly what SARB will do next quarter. What you can control is whether your own repayments are still at the mercy of that decision. Come under debt review with Debtco Group, and let us negotiate you a fixed rate that stays fixed, no matter what the repo rate does next.