Economy

With an economy worth roughly one-third of a trillion dollars, South Africa only accounts for 0.5% of global GDP. Nevertheless, the trillion-dollar market capitalisation of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) makes the country’s bourse the 19th-largest exchange worldwide. South Africa has one of the highest equity capitalisation-to-GDP ratios globally, a unique phenomenon by...

FirstRand is the third-largest South African bank by balance sheet size, holding total assets of R895bn ($84.8bn) as of December 31, 2013. It operates three primary brands: First National Bank, with a retail and commercial focus; Rand Merchant Bank, which competes in the corporate and investment banking markets; and Wesbank, providing vehicle and asset finance...

Kumba is a listed iron ore mining company and 70% subsidiary of global diversified miner Anglo American, benefitting from group procurement and mine optimisation strategies. Kumba was formed in a 2001 demerger from South African integrated steel company Iscor and a subsequent demerger of coal mining operations in 2006 to form a separately listed company, Exxaro....

MTN is a multi-national telecommunications company headquartered in South Africa, with operations in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. MTN’s offerings include voice services through 2G or GSM networks and data services through 3G networks. Incorporated in 1994 under the name M-Cell, the company was awarded the second national licence in South Africa,...

Sasol is an integrated oil and gas company with substantial chemical interests based in South Africa, where it enjoys a leading 35% share of the liquid fuels market. Its core business is the production of liquid fuels and chemicals from coal using Fischer Tropsch technology. The company has also developed natural gas reserves in Mozambique in partnership with the...