IMF Staff Country Reports

This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that South Africa’s vulnerabilities have become more pronounced and are set to increase further unless economic growth revives. Following near-standstill in economic activity in 2016, growth is projected to increase to 1.0 percent in 2017 and 1.2 percent in 2018. The current account deficit is projected to decline to 3 percent of GDP in 2017, boosted by mining and agricultural exports. Consumer price inflation recently returned below 6 percent, owing in part to the easing of the drought, and is projected to remain marginally below the upper threshold of the 3–6 percent target band for the remainder of 2017 and in 2018.