Minimum Wage Increase Alone Won't Solve South Africa's Debt Crisis, Warns National Debt Advisors

6 August 2026: As South Africa prepares for another national minimum wage increase in 2027, financial experts are cautioning that higher wages alone will not be enough to protect millions of households from mounting financial pressure.The National Minimum Wage Commission has opened the public participation process for the 2027 adjustment, with economists expecting the hourly minimum wage to rise above R31.50 per hour, following projected inflation of approximately 4.4%. While the increase will provide some relief to low-income workers, National Debt Advisors (NDA) says it is unlikely to offset the relentless rise in the cost of living.South Africans continue to…