{
  "id": 13939115,
  "title": "The true cost of cash is R88.5bn a year, and the poorest pay the biggest price",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/the-true-cost-of-cash-is-r88-5bn-a-year-and-the-poorest-pay-the",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-12T10:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/business/economy/2026-10-12-the-true-cost-of-cash-payments-is-r885bn-a-year-and-the-poorest-pay-the-biggest-price/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Cash still accounts for 56% of consumer transactions in South Africa, but using it comes at a steep price. A SARB study estimates the annual cost at R88.5bn, with poorer households hit hardest.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}