Government has welcomed South Africa’s 0.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2026, which marks the country’s sixth consecutive quarter of economic expansion.
According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the growth was driven by key sectors, including finance, agriculture, trade, transport and communication.
“The finance industry was the largest contributor to growth on the production side of the economy, expanding by 0.9% and contributing 0.2 percentage points to overall GDP growth,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said.
Agriculture also recorded a 3.9% increase, supported by higher production of field crops and horticultural products, particularly fruit.
Government said it will continue implementing structural reforms, attracting investment and supporting key economic sectors to accelerate growth and create more employment opportunities.
Compiled by Clement Matroos
