Positive GDP growth in the second quarter of 2016

South Africa’s economy grew by 3,3% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted and annualised), according to estimates of real gross domestic product (measured by production). This is the fastest quarter-on-quarter rise in economic activity since the fourth quarter of 2014. Year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2016 was 0,6%.

South African manufacturing production and the rand (an update)

Industry growth rates depend on many factors, and the South African manufacturing industry is no exception. The state of the local and global economy and the rand exchange rate are some of the factors that are watched closely when assessing the performance of manufacturing production

A breakdown of the EBA financial pie

You might be surprised to learn that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is not a national government department. It is in fact an extra-budgetary account (EBA), together with other entities such as the Public Protector and the Gautrain Management Agency. Read further to find out how the financial pie is divided amongst this diverse group of 232 organisations.

Counting the institutionalised population in South Africa

The institutionalised population represents a unique population subset in the country, although it makes up a relatively small proportion of the total population (about 776 495 in 1996 and 1 763 582 in 2011). Persons in institutions constitute a special group, most of whom are there for a specific purpose or life circumstances.