GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

Data released by the South African Reserve Bank shows that, during the first quarter of 2026, the surplus on South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments widened markedly, to R190.7 billion, up from R50.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. This makes it the largest surplus record...

South Africa records its sixth consecutive quarterly growth in Q1-2026

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 09 Jun 2026

Real quarterly GDP increased by 0.5% q/q in the first quarter of 2026, following an expansion of 0.4% q/q during the fourth quarter of 2025. This, meanwhile, represents the sixth consecutive positive quarterly growth rate. The latest GDP print indicates that the South African economy maintained i...

South Africa’s economic outlook: resilience amid rising global uncertainty

SOUTH AFRICA · Forecast · 01 Jun 2026

South African growth: South Africa’s economic growth in 2025 accelerated from 2024’s anemic growth. However, relative to forecasts at the start of 2025, GDP growth still surprised on the downside—once again. The South African National Treasury had forecast 2025 GDP to expand by 1.4% during Budget...

South African President tripped by the "Farmgate Saga",- with his back against the ropes , fighting for political survival

SOUTH AFRICA · In Brief · 12 May 2026

On May 8th the Constitutional Court, the highest court in the land, issued a rare verdict instructing the Parliament to commence an inquiry into the conduct of the President by establishing an Impeachment Committee based on the findings of the 2022 Phala Phala Report produced by Parliament's Inde...

South Africa’s investment in infrastructure and shift to sustainable growth

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 24 Apr 2026

South Africa’s infrastructure investment trajectory has steadily weakened over the past decade, both in absolute terms and relative to peers. From a relatively stable range of around 18–19% of GDP between 2010 and 2015, investment began to trend downward from 2016, falling to just 13.4% by 2025. ...

An expected pause in interest rate cuts by the SA Reserve Bank

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 26 Mar 2026

The South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced that it is leaving the benchmark interest rate unchanged following another halt in January 2026. As we have highlighted in recent reports, the likelihood of the Reserve Bank cutting rates has declined considerably, ...

The current account shows an improved external position in a volatile global environment

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 16 Mar 2026

Data released by the South African Reserve Bank indicates that the South African current account balance recorded a surplus for the first time since Q3-2023, as it switched from a deficit of R72 billion in the third quarter of 2025 to a surplus of R50.2 billion in the fourth quarter. As a ratio o...

Slow but steady: South Africa records its fifth consecutive positive GDP growth rate in Q4-2025

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 11 Mar 2026

Real GDP figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) indicate that South Africa’s economy registered its fifth consecutive quarterly expansion, as it increased by 0.4% q/q in the final quarter of 2025. As in previous quarters, Q4-2025 growth was mainly fueled by strong household consum...

South Africa’s economy: gradual stabilization amid persistent structural constraints

SOUTH AFRICA · Forecast · 06 Mar 2026

• Bonds: The South African bond market strengthened considerably through 2025 and into early 2026, marking a clear shift from the volatility and risk discounting that characterized the prior years, with several positive domestic developments underpinning the improvement. However, rising geopolit...

Budget 2026: from fiscal strain to stabilization and consolidation through growth rather than taxation

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 26 Feb 2026

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled Budget 2026 in an environment marked by cautious macroeconomic stabilization, ongoing fiscal consolidation, and a more complex political landscape under the Government of National Unity (GNU). Whereas Budget 2025 was shaped by political disagreement and th...

President Ramaphosa delivers SONA 2026 amid economic strain and reform pressures in an election year

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 17 Feb 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the 2026 State of the Nation Address against a complex domestic and global backdrop, marked by subdued economic growth, infrastructure constraints, geopolitical tensions and rising pressure on the government to demonstrate tangible progress under the Government...

The South African Reserve Bank starts the year by holding rates steady

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 29 Jan 2026

Having convened for its first meeting of 2026 this week, the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced its interest rate decision today. Mostly in line with market expectations, the MPC voted to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.75%. As such, the prime l...

The 2026 ANC January 8th Statement: renewed emphasis on local government ahead of municipal elections

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 13 Jan 2026

In his 2026 January 8th Statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated the ANC’s political and policy priorities against the backdrop of growing public dissatisfaction and ahead of municipal elections later in 2026. This address also comes in the wake of the 2024 general elections, in which the ...

South Africa’s current account deficit declines in Q3-2025

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 04 Dec 2025

Current account data released by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) today indicates that, in the third quarter of 2025, the deficit on South Africa’s current account narrowed from R72.2 billion in the second quarter to R57 billion. Relative to GDP, the current account deficit narrowed from 1% ...

GDP grows for four consecutive quarters

SOUTH AFRICA · Report · 02 Dec 2025

The South African economy registered its fourth consecutive quarterly expansion during the third quarter of 2025, as real GDP increased by 0.5% q/q following another rise of 0.9% q/q in the second quarter. The recent growth momentum has been supported by a more stable electricity supply and impro...