Gold price today in South Africa (ZAR)
Today's gold rate in South African rands per gram, per troy ounce and per ounce for 24k and lower karats: the international price converted at the latest USD/ZAR exchange rate, refreshed automatically. Education only, not a quote.
1 USD = 16.578 ZAR (mid-market). Gold price change today: -50.4 USD (-1.24%) per ounce. International spot price converted to ZAR; local taxes, duty and premiums are not included.
Gold price by karat in ZAR (per gram, per troy ounce, per ounce)
| Karat | Purity · fineness | Per gram | Per troy ounce | Per troy ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 100.00% · 999 | 2,137 | 66,478 | 66,478 |
| 22K | 91.67% · 916 | 1,959 | 60,941 | 60,941 |
| 18K | 75.00% · 750 | 1,603 | 49,859 | 49,859 |
Purity multipliers: 24k = 1.000, 22k = 0.9167, 21k = 0.875, 18k = 0.750. Many bars are 999 or 999.9 fine rather than exactly 24k, which changes the value by 0.1% or less.
Gold price in ZAR: last 7 trading days (24k, at today's exchange rate)
| Date | USD close / oz | ZAR per gram | ZAR per troy ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 | 4,007.9 | 2,136 | 66,443 |
| 2026-10-22 | 4,060.4 | 2,164 | 67,314 |
| 2026-10-21 | 4,150.0 | 2,212 | 68,799 |
| 2026-10-20 | 4,142.6 | 2,208 | 68,676 |
| 2026-10-19 | 4,160.1 | 2,217 | 68,967 |
| 2026-10-16 | 4,181.1 | 2,229 | 69,315 |
| 2026-10-15 | 4,170.1 | 2,223 | 69,132 |
Each row uses that day's COMEX closing price in US dollars converted at today's USD/ZAR rate (16.578), not the exchange rate on that date. It isolates the gold move from the currency move.
Gold price: last 30 sessions (USD per ounce, COMEX closes)
Multiply by the USD/ZAR rate for the local price. A longer history and performance table is on the XAUUSD price page.
Gold: COMEX gold futures (GC=F) via Yahoo Finance, updated . Exchange rates: Rates by Exchange Rate API (open.er-api.com), updated . Both refresh automatically several times a day; the numbers on this page re-check the data when it loads.
Gold price in South Africa: per ounce and per gram in rand
South Africa quotes gold per troy ounce and per gram in rand, and it has a special relationship with the metal: the Witwatersrand produced more gold than any other field in history, and the Krugerrand, first struck in 1967, was the world's first modern bullion coin. Today's conversion gives R66,478 per ounce and R2,137 per gram for pure gold. Jewellery is usually 9ct and 18ct, with 22k found in Indian and Muslim communities, and the Krugerrand remains the default way for South Africans to hold bullion.
VAT on jewellery, Krugerrands and the Reserve Bank
Krugerrands and other gold coins issued by the South African Mint are zero-rated for VAT when sold by a dealer, which makes them the cheapest way to buy gold locally, at a premium of a few percent over spot. Jewellery and most bars attract 15% VAT and making costs. Capital gains on gold sold at a profit are taxable in the normal way. Exchange-control rules limit how much gold and currency residents can take out of the country, so anyone planning to hold metal abroad should check the South African Reserve Bank's allowances first.
Miners, the JSE and where South Africans buy
Gold is bought from the Mint, from Rand Refinery's retail products, from bullion dealers and from coin shops, and jewellery from retailers in every mall. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange lists gold producers and a physically backed gold ETF that has been popular with investors seeking a rand hedge. Mining output has declined for decades as the deep-level mines aged, but the industry still shapes employment, wages and politics, so strikes, electricity shortages and policy news feed through to the gold shares even when they do not touch the gold price.
What moves the rand gold price
The rand is one of the most traded and most volatile emerging-market currencies, and that volatility is the main reason the rand gold price swings more than the dollar one. Risk-off episodes tend to weaken the rand and lift the dollar gold price at the same time, so rand gold can jump sharply; calm, risk-on periods do the reverse. South African Reserve Bank decisions, power-supply news, the budget and commodity prices move the currency; US rate expectations, real yields, central-bank buying and geopolitics move gold. Read what moves gold prices for the global side.
Trading hours in South African time
South Africa is on SAST (UTC+2) all year, close to London, so the European session is the local morning and the London–New York overlap, the busiest window, falls today at about 14:00–18:00 SAST. The JSE trades during the local day and COMEX futures continue almost around the clock. Retail gold CFDs are offered by brokers licensed by the FSCA, with leverage rules set locally; the South Africa gold trading guide explains what to check. The market hours tool shows every session in your time.
How this ZAR gold price is calculated
Three numbers decide everything on this page. First, the international gold price in US dollars per troy ounce: $4,010.0 at the last update. Second, the exchange rate: 1 USD = 16.578 ZAR. Third, the weight: one troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, and one tola is 11.6638 grams.
- Price per gram in USD = $4,010.0 ÷ 31.1035 = $128.92.
- Price per gram in ZAR = $128.92 × 16.578 = 2,137 ZAR (24k, pure gold).
- Price per troy ounce = 2,137 × 31.1035 = 66,478 ZAR.
- For a lower purity, multiply by the fineness: 22k = 0.9167, 21k = 0.875, 18k = 0.750.
The gold price comes from COMEX gold futures, which track spot XAUUSD closely but are not identical to it. The exchange rate is a mid-market rate; the rate your bank or money changer gives you will be slightly different. If you want to do the maths yourself, our guide to converting the gold price per gram, tola and kilo walks through every step with worked examples.
What this price does not include
The figures above are the international spot price converted into local currency. They are the starting point for every retail price in South Africa, but they are not the price you will pay or receive at a shop. The retail or "jeweller" price adds some or all of these on top:
- Import duty or customs charges, where the country imports most of its gold.
- Sales tax, GST or VAT, which may apply to jewellery, to bars and coins, or to both, depending on local law.
- Dealer premium: the margin a bullion dealer or bank adds to the spot price for bars and coins, usually larger on small pieces.
- Making charges (labour) on jewellery, often a percentage of the gold value or a fixed amount per gram.
- Local supply and demand, which can push the physical price to a premium or a discount against the international price for weeks at a time.
When you sell, the buyer usually quotes below the spot-based number and deducts for purity testing, wear and sometimes stones. The gap between the buying and the selling price is the real cost of owning physical gold, and it varies a lot between shops, so it is worth asking several.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gold rate today in South Africa?
At the last update, pure (24k) gold was about 2,137 ZAR per gram and 66,478 ZAR per troy ounce, based on the international price converted at the latest exchange rate. The numbers at the top of this page refresh automatically. Local retail rates published by jewellers’ associations and bullion dealers will be higher because they add 15% VAT on jewellery, premiums and making charges.
What is the difference between 22k and 24k gold?
Karat (k) measures purity in 24ths. 24k is pure gold (99.9% or more), 22k is 91.67% gold (fineness 916), 21k is 87.5% (875) and 18k is 75% (750). The rest is other metals such as copper or silver, which make the alloy harder. Because you pay for the gold content, 22k gold costs about 8.3% less per gram than 24k, and 18k costs 25% less. Bars and coins are usually 24k; jewellery is usually 22k, 21k or 18k so that it does not bend or scratch easily.
Why is the price at my jeweller different from the price on this page?
This page shows the international spot price converted into ZAR. A jeweller’s rate adds 15% VAT on jewellery, a dealer premium, making charges on jewellery, and the shop’s own margin. It may also be based on a local association rate set once or twice a day rather than the live international price, so it lags on volatile days. A difference of a few percent is normal; a very large gap deserves questions.
Is it a good time to buy gold in South Africa?
We cannot tell you that, and nobody can with certainty. The local price depends on two things that are both hard to forecast: the international gold price and the ZAR exchange rate. What you can do is compare today’s price with the 30-day chart and the 7-day table on this page, decide why you want gold (savings, a gift, a wedding, trading) and how long you plan to hold it, and avoid buying all at once if the timing worries you. This page is education, not financial advice.
Is VAT charged on Krugerrands?
Krugerrands and other South African Mint gold coins are zero-rated for VAT when bought from a dealer, so you pay spot plus a small premium. Jewellery and most gold bars attract 15% VAT. The prices on this page exclude VAT, premiums and making charges.
Why does the rand gold price move so much?
Because the rand is volatile. The rand price equals the dollar price times USD/ZAR, and the rand can move several percent in a week on local or global news. When risk aversion rises, the rand often weakens and gold often strengthens together, which amplifies the move in rand terms.