One of the top manufacturing powerhouses on the continent, South Africa has a strong industrial tradition dating back 150 years. The past few decades, however, have posed challenges to the industry, with external and domestic factors weighing on sector growth. To help revitalise the industry, the government and industry leaders have been working to stoke growth and develop value-added...
With an estimated $2.5trn worth of proven mineral reserves, the mining sector accounts for around 8% of South Africa’s GDP and 14% of total employment, making it the second-largest employer in the country. However, the industry’s output and performance have been under pressure in recent years, as bottlenecks in labour relations, uncertainty in policy direction and power shortages have weighed...
The South African insurance market stands as one of the most advanced in the world, with one of the highest premium-to-GDP ratios and a wide cross section of well-regulated and innovative insurers. Although the market is set to become more sophisticated with the introduction of new legislation, much of the country remains unbanked and either uninsured or underinsured. Financial inclusion is...
South Africa’s capital markets are continuing to enjoy relatively healthy growth on the back of improved regulation and supervision. The authorities are working to strengthen the market's regulatory framework, particularly in terms of settlement cycles and systemic risk related to over-the-counter securities. Technical and regulatory improvements at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) are...
While South Africa’s banking sector already ranks as one of the best regulated and well capitalised in the region, regulatory changes are set to bring further improvements to the industry’s soundness and stability, as well as the treatment of its customers. The sector does, however, continue to face headwinds. As expansion of the broader economy has slowed, loan growth for banks has also eased...
South Africa’s economy has experienced relatively slow expansion in recent years, with GDP growth still short of the rates recorded prior to the global financial crisis of 2008-09. Like many of its emerging market peers, the country has been affected by falling commodity prices and the prospect of rising interest rates. However, South Africa continues to benefit from a series of comparative...
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