Mbalo Brief – March 2024
South Africa has been experiencing drier and hotter weather in the last few months. According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS) the heatwave that started on Sunday, 19 November 2023 and reached its peak on 27 November, broke records for being the hottest November in the country. On the 27th of November, more than read more »
Metal ores push up mining turnover
The mining industry’s contribution to total turnover in the South African formal business sector has increased over the years. A comprehensive time series, available from the Annual Financial Statistics (AFS) statistical release, provides a breakdown of how the turnover pie has shifted over the years. The survey reference period for the latest AFS (i.e. AFS read more »
Economic wrap-up for November 2023
Stats SA published 25 statistical releases in November. Here is a quick overview of the latest economic indicators. Employment surpasses pre-COVID-19 levels Covering a sample of about 30Â 000 households across the country, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey reported a rise in employment figures in the South African workforce. The economy created 399Â 000 jobs in the read more »
South Africa’s tourism trade balance entered negative territory in 2021
International visitors to South Africa bring much-needed foreign exchange. Dollars, euros and pounds are converted to rands and spent on tourism products like food, accommodation, recreation and transport. This helps drive domestic tourism-related activities within the country. There is often a lot of attention on the amount of money that non-resident visitors, comprising both tourists read more »
Economic wrap-up for October 2023
Stats SA published 25 statistical releases in October. Here is a quick overview of key economic indicators shaping the South African economy. Consumer inflation rises for a second consecutive month Inflation worries were stoked once again in September. The consumer price index (CPI), which reflects the changes in prices of a representative basket of goods read more »
Recent shifts in company income tax
Although the mining industry strengthened company tax collections after the COVID-19 pandemic, its momentum has recently waned. The importance of CIT Company income tax (CIT) was the third largest source of government tax revenue in 2021/22, according to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).1 Personal income tax was the largest contributor (35,5%), followed by value-added read more »
SA economy expands in Q2: 2023
South African real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0,6% in the second quarter (April–June) of 2023.1 This follows a 0,4% rise in the first quarter. Overview Six industries on the supply side of the economy grew in the second quarter, with manufacturing and finance driving much of the upward momentum. On the demand side, read more »
Economic wrap-up for June 2023
Stats SA published 26 statistical releases in June, shedding light on the current state of the economy. SA narrowly averts recession The month began with the release of the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures. After faltering in the fourth quarter of 2022, the South African economy expanded by 0,4% in the first quarter of read more »
Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS)
Tourism has the potential to make a significant contribution to the South African economy and it is targeted by government as one of the industries for future economic growth in the country. Tourism therefore is regarded as a potential sector where large-scale employment opportunities can be created. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 also emphasises read more »
South African economy expands by 0,4%
After contracting by a revised 1,1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) edged higher in the first quarter of 2023 (January‒March), expanding by an estimated 0,4%.1 The manufacturing and finance industries were the major drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy. The demand side was lifted by read more »