Phikolomzi Ncayiyana

As time passes I'm keeping the faith, composing my thoughts and re-arranging my place.

¬God😇
¬Musician🎹
¬Civil Engineer 👨‍🎓

[Minga @KillaMinga]

This is why every man want a son , another nigga that understands 😭😭

[Daily Loud @DailyLoud]

Someone made this cartoon of Boosie and he was not happy about it 🤣

[SON @I_am____HIM]

South Africans are so unserious. Like what kinda adults are we? A pipe burst and folks started lining up like at an express acr wash 😭😭😭😂

[Trevor Noah @Trevornoah]

I completely understand where you’re coming from, but for a lot of gamers physical discs are the only way they could afford to play games because they could get them secondhand. You can also give games to your younger siblings Which is a great way to introduce them to the games you were playing.

Most importantly though, as we saw from PlayStation this past week, if the media we buy is only digital, it can be taken away from us at a moment’s notice with no recourse. Imagine that, one day your entire library of games could be deleted overnight because technically you don’t own it.

[Marvin the Paranoid Android @Boboye_Ak]

He has been to the final twice. They should have come to meet him there

[LERRY @_AsiwajuLerry]

Knowing that midget, he might go ahead and drop a brace or hattrick against Algeria

[Sky Sports News @SkySportsNews]

Africa's top referee will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup after he was refused entry to the USA, FIFA has confirmed 🚨

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

Damn😩

[Mr Charles @MrCharlesky]

If you're a student or a graduate with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, I have a remote opportunity for you.

$1,200 per month depending on your input.

However, it's night shift.

[Natzanann 🇦🇷🇪🇸 @Random_d__guy]

How you know Madrid had a bad season

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

Vanguard?

[Africa Research Desk @MightiJamie]

Blackrock?

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

For somebody so intelligent I find it hard sometimes that you tweet such things.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Hard truth

[Karim Wafa-Al Hussaini @DrKarimWafa]

For Indigenous people, we feel this scene. We carry the ghosts our elders endured. Whether it’s North America, South Africa, Palestine, or Australia, this moment haunts our souls. For you, it’s just ships. But for us it’s the last moment of freedom before history changed forever.

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

@MattMokone Where is this Ntate Mokone?

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

@BeritaAfroSoul Yiza ndik’phuze🥰

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

Alex

[❎e k ℹ️ @XekiHlongwane]

Guess the township?

[Phikolomzi Ncayiyana @ELOMZI_ZA]

It’s a n affirmation of respect while motivating what we are. Kings

[Rolling Stone @RollingStone]

Elon Musk has spread false claims about 'white genocide' in South Africa, and now his chatbot Grok keeps bringing it up on X. https://t.co/D7QAzyPdF1

[Dan Corder 📺 @DanCorderOnAir]

Elon Musk manipulated Grok into spreading falsehoods about South Africa, and then Grok told on him in a savage put down of the conspiracy theories 😂

[Sizwe SikaMusi @SizweLo]

South Africans have been subsidising Europe’s luxury car pricing model for decades now.

Luxury European car brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi have always been seen as high-status in South Africa. But sales of these cars have dropped by 68% since 2014, raising questions about why they’re still so expensive when fewer people are buying them.

A clear indicator of the price differences lies in the pricing of identical models across different regions.

Consider the BMW 330i (2025 model). It costs $45 000 (approx. R850 000 including taxes) in the United States and R1 035 000 in South Africa.

The Mercedes-Benz C200 sells for roughly R780 000 in Germany but upwards of R961 000 in South Africa.

These figures show that South African consumers are paying a significant premium, not merely due to import duties and taxes, but as part of a deliberate pricing structure that treats the SA market as high-margin. (These numbers look exponentially worse for South African buyers when you adjust for Purchasing Power Parity, which we won’t get into here.)

According to automotive analyst Gugu Mhlongo, “South Africa’s automotive market has become a captive pricing zone, where prestige pricing meets low elasticity of demand. The brand loyalty and perceived status of ownership have, for decades, allowed manufacturers to charge more without pushback.”

In simple terms, South Africa’s car market has become a place where luxury brands can charge high prices without worrying about losing customers—even when those prices are unfair. This status-based pricing has created an environment where price is detached from production or shipping costs.

Economists like Dr Themba Moyo argue that these pricing dynamics mirror colonial-era extractive economics—where global brands extract value from high-status segments in developing markets without reinvesting locally.

Luxury carmakers often justify the price premium by pointing to higher logistical, operational, and compliance costs in South Africa. BMW South Africa, for instance, argues that prices reflect “local operating conditions, including taxes, dealer infrastructure, and customer service expectations.”

However, as the local economy contracts and competition grows, these justifications are getting boring.

The numbers are clear: In 2014, premium brands like Audi, BMW, Mini, and Mercedes-Benz, collectively sold over 74000 vehicles in South Africa. By 2024, that number had dropped to just under 24000—a 68% decline.📉
Mercedes-Benz saw an 82% reduction, Audi 70%, and BMW/Mini 50%.

The problem has gotten so bad that Audi South Africa is begging for support from the government, blaming falling sales, tough economic conditions, and cheap imported cars. The same companies that used to charge premium prices are now fighting to survive in a market that’s changing fast.

At the same time, Chinese and other Asian brands—like Haval, Chery, and Kia—have gained good market share with technologically superior, price-accessible models.

This European-style pricing strategy is not confined to automobiles. Luxury fashion, tech, and cosmetic brands often charge far more in South Africa than in their home or North American markets. A Chanel No. 5 bottle, for example, can cost up to 40% more in Johannesburg than in Paris.

These patterns suggest South Africa has served as a ‘prestige pricing buffer’ for brands seeking to balance global profit margins.

South Africans are becoming more cost-conscious, especially with economic stagnation, high unemployment, and rising living costs. The new middle class is broke and less concerned with buying for status.

Chinese manufacturers have capitalised on this with stylish, well-equipped products that offer better warranties, modern tech, and significantly lower price tags.

The Europeans don’t have too many choices. They might have to drop their prices or start selling directly online instead of through dealerships to save money.

Whatever happens, things are changing. So, either the prices come down or people will stop buying these overpriced cars altogether.

The Germans argue that the South African pricing model provides better after-sales service, prestige, and superior resale value. While this was historically true, the declining brand loyalty and growing trust in Asian after-sales service are eroding this advantage. South Africans still want to drive Beemers and Benzes, but not at these prices though.

In summation, for decades, South Africans have unknowingly subsidised European luxury car pricing strategies, paying more than their global counterparts while receiving diminishing relative value.

But as money gets tighter and buyers want more for their cash, South Africa’s luxury car market is in trouble. These brands must either change or fail. One thing is clear—people won’t keep paying sky-high prices just for a fancy badge much longer. No, Sir.