Contributing more than $15bn per year to the national economy, South Africa’s agriculture sector has historically been one of the strongest on the continent. Diversified and increasingly export-oriented, it enjoyed a strong year in 2014, on the back of a healthy maize crop and demand from abroad. However, 2015 looks set to be a more difficult year for parts of the sector, particularly maize...
South Africa’s tourism sector has come to rival the country’s mining industry in terms of overall contribution to GDP, with 2014 witnessing record levels of foreign arrivals, drawn in by the country’s natural beauty, outdoor attractions, food and culture – and increasingly by its business and conference facilities. The sector faced a significant decline in 2015, however, with stringent new...
Despite facing fierce competition and slowing revenues in 2015, South Africa’s telecoms operators are well placed to see growth in the near to medium term. The mobile market is approaching saturation and a shift from traditional voice and SMS to data is expected to drive future growth, particularly in 4G long-term evolution (LTE) services, which are slated to expand significantly in the next...
Although South Africa’s construction industry remains a major economic engine, the industry has struggled to maintain pre-2010 highs, when work related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup propelled sector growth into the double digits. The interim has been marked by project delays, labour unrest and a subdued macroeconomic environment, which saw employment figures, profits and new projects decline in...
With the most energy-intensive economy on the continent, South Africa has undergone a spate of load shedding in recent years as demand for electricity continues to outstrip supply. While faltering output and poorly maintained infrastructure have had an adverse effect on the country’s economic performance, a range of government initiatives – notably the country’s independent power producer (IPP...
One of the world’s more open economies, South Africa’s commercial activity and economic performance are closely linked to its ability to transport goods both within and beyond its borders. Although South Africa’s transport infrastructure is among the best on the continent, lack of investment in recent years has led to high usage costs and bottlenecks. The government is seeking to address the...
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