Use the given exchange rate to convert R14 800 to US Dollars.

The exchange rate is $1 = \text{R}16.53$.

$$\text{Amount in USD} = \frac{\text{Amount in ZAR}}{\text{Exchange rate}}$$ $$\text{Amount in USD} = \frac{\text{R}14\,800}{\text{R}16.53/\text{USD}} \approx \text{USD } 895.34$$

Sipho's budgeted R14 800 is approximately $\boxed{\text{USD } 895.34}$.

1.3.2

The laptop costs $820, and the exchange rate is$1 = R16.53$.

$$\text{Price in ZAR} = \text{Price in USD} \times \text{Exchange rate}$$ $$\text{Price in ZAR} = \text{USD } 820 \times \text{R}16.53/\text{USD} = \text{R}13\,554.60$$

The price of the laptop in South African rand is $\boxed{\text{R}13\,554.60}$.

1.3.3
A weak rand means that one US Dollar (or any foreign currency) costs more South African Rands. Therefore, when South African consumers buy imported goods, they have to pay more Rands for the same item, making imported goods more expensive.