Eskom announced earlier this year that it would roll out power cuts to several defaulting municipalities.1 The inability of particular municipalities to honour debt payments has been a thorn in the flesh of local government administration. The following are a few key facts about municipal debt, from Statistics South Africa’s latest Financial census of municipalities   read more »

Service delivery protests in South Africa have become a widespread occurrence in recent years. Residents take to the streets in protest against poor services received in their communities, hoping that their voices will be heard and their problems fixed. Communities are raising their voices about issues such as access to electricity, housing, water and sanitation,   read more »

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will be launching its first commemorative Nelson Mandela banknote series in celebration of the first democratically elected president’s birth centenary. These notes will be issued into circulation by 18 July 2018 and will cover all denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. As part of the celebrations, the   read more »

Fuel, meat, beer and wine. These are products that have increased the most in price over the last year. South Africa’s consumer inflation rate jumped to 4,5% in April after reaching a seven-year low of 3,8% in March. Explore the list of products that you are now paying more for, as well as other stories,   read more »

Press statement                         Embargo: Tuesday 5 June 2018, 11:30   GDP in the first quarter of 2018 contracted by 2,2% Gross domestic product (measured by production) South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 2,2% in the first quarter of 2018.1 The manufacturing industry and the mining and quarrying industry were the largest negative contributors to   read more »

After growing by 3,1% in the fourth quarter of 2017, the South Africa economy wobbled in the first quarter of 2018, shrinking by 2,2% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted and annualised). Agriculture, mining and manufacturing were the main contributors to the slowdown, with the electricity, construction and trade industries also recording negative growth. The 2,2% fall is   read more »

Media Release                                                                                                    04 June 2018   Non-financial census of municipalities, 2017                                                                 The number of consumer units receiving services from municipalities increased between 2016 and 2017. The highest percentage   read more »

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                         30 May 2018 Marriages and divorces 2016 report The Marriages and Divorces report released by Statistics South Africa   read more »

MEDIA INVITE                                                                                            30 May 2018 Statistics South Africa releases the   read more »

South Africa’s consumer inflation rate jumped to 4,5% in April after reaching a seven-year low of 3,8% in March. Much of the increase was a result of price rises in product groups that attract specific taxes, namely alcohol, fuel and sugary drinks. A one percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT) also came into   read more »