Interest rates in South Africa, like most countries, are based on the prime interest rate.  The prime interest rate at the moment is 9% and then depending on how a bank rates you as a risk they add onto that 9%.  The better the risk you are considered to be, the lower your loading on top of that 9% will be.  That rate is about as low as one can expect in South Africa and by all accounts it is going to rise over the next few years and when one makes purchases, whether of a car or of a house one must always budget for that.  The Reserve Bank in America has indicated that it is looking increasing interest rates, most probably at the beginning of next year and when it does so, so will most of the rest of the world begin to increase interest rates.  At the moment our inflation is at 5,9% and the Repo rate is at 5,5% and so we are likely to see a prime rate of at least 11% in the future, and possibly 12% and if the Rand weakens over the next few years there is always the possibility of it going higher.  What does that mean for you?  Well, it would obviously depend on the agreement that you have with your bank, but if one is looking at the interest prime rate going up about 2% to 3% over the next two years, and possibly more, then you can assume that whatever interest rate you are paying will also increase by a further 2% to 3%.