"The MPC has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged for now," he said. "It will not hesitate to act if risks to inflation outlook deteriorates."

"The next MPC is in November so we will wait until then to see if we will increase the rate or not," he said. "The MPC did move in July without the Fed - we watch what happens in the world and we always look at what the impact is on the South African economy in terms of growth and inflation outlook."

"We have a policy whereby we do not have to move step by step with the US Fed," he said. "Our decisions are more about impacts on the South African economy."

The decision to keep the repo rate unchanged came against the background of a struggling world economy, the Federal Reserve in the US having kept interest rates unchanged last week and the SA economy having contracted in the second quarter on the year, said Jacques du Toit, senior economist at Absa.

“The forecast is for interest rates to be hiked at the last MPC meeting of the year in November and through 2016 in an attempt to contain mounting inflationary pressures from a depreciating rand exchange rate,” he said.

“Currently debt repayments will remain unchanged, which will be a relief to indebted consumers,” said Du Toit. “Banks will continue to monitor economic and consumer-related trends in decisions regarding risk appetite and lending criteria.”

The decision to retain the repo rate at 6% (basic mortgage loan rate of 9.5%) is, while not unexpected, nonetheless a most welcome move according to Samuel Seeff, chair of the Seeff group. This follows on the good news that inflation has held steady at 4.6%.

"Home buyers with mortgages or seeking credit will have greeted with relief the news that the MPC meeting today announced its decision to keep the repo rate steady at six percent instead of implementing a further hike," said Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

Samuel Seeff said the MPC decision should be seen as the appropriate decision for the economy and property market right now. "In any event, the July rate hike did little to stem inflation or protect the rand that went into freefall soon after the announcement," he said.

- News24.com