News in South Africa 22nd November: 1. Inflation rises ahead of SARB decision: South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation (CPI) rose slightly in October, reaching the upper end of the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) target range. StatsSA announced today that annual CPI was 5.9% in October 2023, up from the 5.9% recorded in September […]
News in South Africa 18th October: 1. Water infrastructure collapse: South Africa’s deteriorating water infrastructure threatens to plunge the country into widespread social unrest as taps run dry in some of the country’s largest cities. This is feedback from water expert and University of the Free State professor Dr Anthony Turton, who told Newzroom Afrika that “we […]
News in South Africa 15th August: 1. SA likely to keep AGOA status: South Africa will likely keep its preferential access to US markets because hundreds of American firms are also benefitting, according to the nation’s ambassador to BRICS. “I don’t think there is any serious threat of us losing preferential access to AGOA. AGOA […]
News in South Africa 11th August: 1. SA R500 billion in debt: South Africa will need to borrow R500 billion over the next year, or R2 billion per weekday on average, to fund its current fiscal deficit and refinance maturing debt. This increases the risk of investing in the country and increases borrowing costs for […]
News in South Africa 2nd August: 1. US stripped of AAA rating: The US was stripped of its top-tier sovereign credit grade by Fitch Ratings, which criticized the country’s ballooning fiscal deficits and an “erosion of governance” that’s led to repeated debt limit clashes over the past two decades. The credit grader cut the US […]
News in South Africa 25th July: 1. Rand makes a comeback: The rand is looking set for a tough week ahead, with US rate hikes likely to weaken the local currency. The rand has been one of the worst-performing major currencies in the world and reached a record high of nearly $20.00/$ in May. The […]
News in South Africa 24th July: 1. Good week tainted by 2 industries: South Africa had a great week on the economic front last week, with Stats SA reporting a significant drop in inflation, the Reserve Bank holding on interest rates and the rand ending stronger against the dollar. However, economists at the Bureau for […]
News in South Africa 20th July: 1. Division over interest rate hikes: Economists are divided over whether South Africa’s central bank will pause interest-rate increases on Thursday, or extend its longest phase of monetary tightening since 2006. Deteriorating inflation expectations, currency risks and enhancements to the South African Reserve Bank’s quarterly projection model, used to […]
News in South Africa 8th June: 1. Deadline for new BEE rules approaches: Members of public in South Africa have just five days left to comment on the Draft Employment Equity (EE) Regulations 2023 on the proposed setting of sector EE targets. The public was given 30 days to comment on the Draft EE Regulations […]
News in South Africa 9th May: 1. Rand remains weak: South Africa’s rand remains in a weak position as it awaits a shift in global markets, says Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop. Despite firming slightly on Monday (8 May) amid a softer dollar, the local unit has been sitting around R18.30/USD for some time. According […]
