Editing Economy of South Africa (section)

==Sectors==
South Africa has a comparative advantage in the production of [[agriculture]], [[mining]] and [[manufacturing]] products relating to these sectors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Competitiveness of selected South African agricultural products in the European union market |url=http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Economic_analysis/2011_ER.pdf |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211112102/http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Economic_analysis/2011_ER.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2013 |page=3}}</ref> South Africa has shifted from a [[primary sector of the economy|primary]] and [[secondary sector of the economy|secondary]] economy in the mid-twentieth century to an economy driven primarily by the tertiary sector in the present day which accounts for an estimated 65% of GDP or $230 billion in nominal GDP terms. The country's economy is reasonably diversified with key economic sectors including mining, agriculture and fisheries, vehicle manufacturing and assembly, food processing, clothing and textiles, telecommunication, energy, [[financial services|financial and business services]], real estate, tourism, manufacturing, IT, transportation, and wholesale and retail trade.<ref>{{cite web|last=South Africa's Economy|title=Key Sectors|url=http://www.mediaclub.co.za/economy/37-economy/economy-bg/111-sa-economy-key-sectors|publisher=Media Club South Africa|access-date=1 March 2012|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406152638/http://mediaclub.co.za/economy/37-economy/economy-bg/111-sa-economy-key-sectors}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+Seasonally adjusted and annualised quarterly value added (Q1 2013)<ref>{{cite news|title=Gross Domestic Product, First Quarter 2013|url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0441/P04411stQuarter2013.pdf|work=StatsSA|date=28 May 2013}}</ref>
|-
!Industry || Value added<br />(R billion, 2004 prices)
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing || 43.382
|-
|Mining and quarrying || 97.096
|-
|Manufacturing (incl Space industry) || 296.586
|-
|Electricity, gas and water || 33.951
|-
|Construction || 59.943
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants || 246.584
|-
|Transport, storage and communication || 178.591
|-
|Finance, real estate and business services || 422.850
|-
|General government services || 271.209
|-
|Personal services || 107.690
|-
|Taxes less subsidies on products || 215.668
|-
!GDP at market prices || 1,973.552
|}

===Natural resources===
{{See also|Mining industry of South Africa}}
In 2019, the country was the world's largest producer of [[platinum]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-platinum.pdf| title = USGS Platinum Production Statistics}}</ref> the world's largest producer of [[chromium]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-chromium.pdf| title = USGS Chromium Production Statistics}}</ref> the world's largest producer of [[manganese]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-manganese.pdf| title = USGS Manganese Production Statistics}}</ref> the 2nd largest world producer of [[titanium]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-titanium-minerals.pdf| title = USGS Titanium Production Statistics}}</ref> the world's 11th largest producer of [[gold]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-gold.pdf| title = USGS Gold Production Statistics}}</ref> the 3rd worldwide producer of [[vanadium]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-vanadium.pdf| title = USGS Vanadinum Production Statistics}}</ref> the 6th largest world producer of [[iron ore]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-iron-ore.pdf| title = USGS Iron Ore Production Statistics}}</ref> the 11th largest world producer of [[cobalt]];<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-cobalt.pdf| title = USGS Cobalt Production Statistics}}</ref> and the 15th largest world producer of [[phosphate]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-phosphate.pdf| title = USGS Phosphate Production Statistics}}</ref> It was the world's 12th largest producer of [[uranium]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf23.html| title = World Uranium Mining| access-date = 28 April 2021| archive-date = 26 December 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226012424/http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production.aspx}}</ref>

Mining has been the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced economy. Large-scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the [[Orange River]] in 1867 by Erasmus Jacobs and the subsequent discovery and exploitation of the [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] pipes a few years later. Gold rushes to [[Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga|Pilgrim's Rest]] and [[Barberton, Mpumalanga|Barberton]] were precursors to the biggest discovery of all, the Main Reef/Main Reef Leader on Gerhardus Oosthuizen's farm Langlaagte, Portion C, in 1886, the [[Witwatersrand Gold Rush]] and the subsequent rapid development of the goldfield there, the biggest of them all.

South Africa is one of the world's leading mining and mineral-processing countries.<ref name=usgs>{{cite web|last=Yager |first=Thomas R. |title=The Mineral Industry of South Africa |url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2008/myb3-2008-sf.pdf |publisher=US Geological Survey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407233811/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2008/myb3-2008-sf.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2012 |page=37.1 |date=September 2010}}</ref> Though mining's contribution to the national GDP has fallen from 21% in 1970 to 6% in 2011, it still represents almost 60% of exports.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nationalisation in South Africa: A debate that will persist|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21541040|newspaper=The Economist|date=3 December 2011}}</ref> The mining sector accounts for up to 9% of value added.<ref name=adb-csp>{{cite web|title=Results-Based Country Strategy Paper, 2008–2012 |url=http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/South%20Africa%20Country%20Strategy%20Paper%202008-2010%20Mid%20Term%20Review%20and%20Update____05.pdf |publisher=African Development Bank |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325011033/http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/South%20Africa%20Country%20Strategy%20Paper%202008-2010%20Mid%20Term%20Review%20and%20Update____05.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2012 |page=10 |date=October 2009}}</ref>

In 2008, South Africa's estimated share of world platinum production amounted to 77%; [[kyanite]] and other materials, 55%; chromium, 45%; [[palladium]], 39%; [[vermiculite]], 39%; [[vanadium]], 38%; [[zirconium]], 30%; [[manganese]], 21%; [[rutile]], 20%; [[ilmenite]], 19%; gold, 11%; [[fluorspar]], 6%; aluminium, 2%; [[antimony]], 2%; iron ore, 2%; nickel, 2%; and [[phosphate rock]], 1%.<ref name=usgs/> South Africa also accounted for nearly 5% of the world's polished diamond production by value.<ref name=usgs/> The country's estimated share of world reserves of [[platinum group metals]] amounted to 89%; [[hafnium]], 46%; [[zirconium]], 27%; [[vanadium]], 23%; [[manganese]], 19%; [[rutile]], 18%; [[fluorspar]], 18%; gold, 13%; [[phosphate rock]], 10%; [[ilmenite]], 9%; and nickel, 5%.<ref name=usgs/> It is also the world's third largest coal exporter.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.platts.com/Coal/highlights/2006/coalp_ee_091106.xml| title = South Africa's coal future looks bright}}</ref>

The mining sector has a mix of privately owned and state-controlled mines, the latter including [[African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miningmx.com/page/news/energy/1433254-AEMFC-readies-for-second-mine-as-losses-mount#.UQvAVr9yGE0|title=AEMFC readies for second mine as losses mount|date=18 October 2012|work=Mining MX|access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>

===Agriculture and food processing===
{{Main|Agriculture in South Africa}}
[[Image:Farm in Mpumalanga.jpg|thumb|Workers planting on a farm in the central area of Mpumalanga]]
[[Image:SouthAfricaFieldwork21989.jpg|thumb|Farm workers]]
In 2018, South Africa produced 19.3 million tonnes of [[sugarcane]] (14th largest producer in the world), 12.5 million tonnes of [[maize]] (12th largest producer in the world) 1.9 million tons of [[grape]] (11th largest producer in the world), 1.7 million tons of [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] (11th largest producer in the world) and 397 thousand tons of [[pear]] (7th largest producer in the world).

In addition, in the same year, it produced 2.4 million tons of [[potato]], 1.8 million tons of [[wheat]], 1.5 million tons of [[soy]], 862 thousand tons of [[sunflower seed]], 829 thousand tons of [[apple]], 726 thousand tons of [[onion]], 537 thousand tons of [[tomato]], 474 thousand tons of [[lemon]], 445 thousand tons of [[grapefruit]], 444 thousand tons of [[banana]], 421 thousand tons of [[barley]], in addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products, such as [[avocado]], [[pineapple]], [[peach]], [[tangerine]], [[pumpkin]], [[cabbage]], [[carrot]], [[rapeseed]], [[sorghum]] etc.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/| title = South Africa production in 2018, by FAO}}</ref>

The agricultural industry contributes around 5% of formal employment, relatively low compared to other parts of Africa, as well as providing work for casual labourers and contributing around 2.8% of GDP for the nation.<ref name="CIA World Fact Book - South Africa">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa/ |title=The World Factbook- South Africa |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="HRW">Human Rights Watch, 2001. [https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/safrica2/ Unequal Protection]: The State Response to Violent Crime on South African Farms, {{ISBN|1-56432-263-7}}.</ref> However, due to the [[arid]]ity of the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land.<ref>Mohamed, Najma. 2000. "Greening Land and Agrarian Reform: A Case for Sustainable Agriculture", in ''At the Crossroads: Land and Agrarian Reform in [[South Africa]] into the 21st century'', ed. Cousins, Ben. Bellville, School of Government, University of the Western Cape. {{ISBN|1-86808-467-1}}.</ref>

The sector continues to face problems, with increased foreign competition and crime being two of the major challenges for the industry. The government has been accused of either putting in too much effort,<ref>{{cite book |author=Bronwen Manby |title=Unequal Protection – The State Response to Violent Crime on South African Farms |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |date=August 2001 |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/safrica2/ |access-date=28 October 2006 |isbn=978-1-56432-263-0}}</ref> or not enough effort,<ref name="Times">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070210173426/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article694534.ece Farms of Fear], The Sunday Times Magazine.</ref> to tackle the problem of [[South African farm attacks|farm attacks]] as opposed to other forms of violent crime.

Maize production, which contributes to a 36% majority of the gross value of South Africa's field crops, has also experienced negative effects due to climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES |url=https://www.gcis.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/resourcecentre/pocketguide/013_agriculture.pdf |access-date=2024-07-19}}</ref> The estimated value of loss, which takes into consideration scenarios with and without the carbon dioxide fertilization effect,<ref>[http://www.fao.org/docrep/w5183e/w5183e06.htm The CO2 fertilization effect: higher carbohydrate production and retention as biomass and seed yield]. Retrieved 11 January 2010.</ref> ranges between tens and hundreds of millions of Rands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://climsec.prio.no/papers/Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Climate%20Change%20on%20Agriculture%20and%20Implications%20for%20Food%20Security%20in%20Southern%20Africa.pdf |title=Economic Impacts of Climate Changeon Agriculture and Implications for Food Security in Southern Africa |access-date=2015-04-19 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813034555/http://climsec.prio.no/papers/Economic%20Impacts%20of%20Climate%20Change%20on%20Agriculture%20and%20Implications%20for%20Food%20Security%20in%20Southern%20Africa.pdf}}</ref>

According to [[FAOSTAT]], South Africa is one of world's largest producers of: [[chicory root]]s (4th); [[grapefruit]] (4th); [[cereals]] (5th); [[green maize]] and maize (7th); [[castor oil seed]] (9th); pears (9th); [[sisal]] (10th); [[fibre crop]]s (10th).<ref name="FAOSTAT Production statistics 2008">{{cite web |url=http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx |title=FAOSTAT 2008 by Production |publisher=faostat.fao.org |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713020710/http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the first quarter of 2010, the agricultural sector earned export revenues for R10.1 billion and used R8.4 billion to pay for imported agricultural products, therefore earning a positive trade balance of R1.7 billion.<ref name="daff2011">{{cite web|title=Competitiveness of selected South African agricultural products in the European union market |url=http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Economic_analysis/2011_ER.pdf |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211112102/http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Economic_analysis/2011_ER.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2013 |page=4}}</ref>

The most important agricultural exports of South Africa include: edible fruit and nuts, beverages, preserved food, tobacco, [[cereals]], [[wool]] not carded or combed, miscellaneous food, sugar, meat, milling products, malt and starch.<ref name="daff2011"/> These products accounted for over 80% of agricultural export revenue in the first quarter of 2010.<ref name="daff2011"/> The most important agricultural imports, which accounted for over 60% of agricultural import value during the same period, include: cereals, meat, soya-bean oil cake, beverages, soya-bean oil and its fractions, tobacco, palm oil and its fractions, miscellaneous food, spices, coffee, tea, and preserved food.<ref name="daff2011"/>

The dairy industry consists of around 4,300 milk producers providing employment for 60,000 farm workers and contributing to the livelihoods of around 40,000 others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.co.za/agriculture_29.html|work=South Africa Online|title=Agriculture|access-date=17 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923070755/http://www.southafrica.co.za/agriculture_29.html|archive-date=23 September 2006}}</ref>

The food sub-sector is the largest employer within the agro-processing sector – contributing 1.4% to total employment, and 11.5% within the manufacturing sector.<ref name="agropro5"/> In 2006, the agro-processing sector represented 24.7% of the total manufacturing output.<ref name="agropro5"/> Although the economy as a whole gained 975,941 jobs between 1995 and 2006, the agro-processing sector lost 45,977 jobs.<ref name="agropro5"/> The competitive pressures from abroad, particularly from China and India, played a role in the decline of exports for the food, textiles and paper sub-sectors, as firms in these sectors increasingly compete with lower cost producers.<ref name="agropro5"/> Increased exports from the beverages, tobacco, wood and leather sub-sectors over the period are probably due to the presence of large dominant firms within these sectors in South Africa, that have managed to remain competitive.<ref name=agropro5>{{cite web|title=Asgisa And Economic Growth: Implications For Skills Development |url=http://www.labour.gov.za/downloads/documents/research-documents/asgisa_economicgrowth.pdf |publisher=Department of Labour, South Africa |page=5 |date=March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713055141/http://www.labour.gov.za/downloads/documents/research-documents/asgisa_economicgrowth.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2014}}</ref>

===Manufacturing===
The manufacturing industry's contribution to the [[economy]] is relatively small, providing just 13.3% of jobs and 15% of GDP. There are growing sectors of manufacturing, however, such as in the Space industry. Labour costs are low, but not nearly as low as in most other emerging markets, and the cost of the transport, communications and general living is much higher.<ref name="econ-jobless">{{cite news| url=http://www.economist.com/node/16248641 |title = South Africa, Jobless growth – The Economist| newspaper = [[The Economist]]}}</ref>

The [[Automotive industry in South Africa|South African automotive industry]] accounts for about 10% of South Africa's manufacturing exports, contributes 7.5% to the country's GDP and employs around 36,000 people. Annual production in 2007 was 535,000 vehicles, out of a global production of 73 million units in the same year. Vehicle exports were in the region of 170,000 units in 2007, exported mainly to Japan (about 29% of the value of total exports), Australia (20%), the UK (12%) and the US (11%). South Africa also exported ZAR 30.3&nbsp;billion worth of auto components in 2006.<ref name="auto-industry">{{cite web|url=http://www.mbendi.com/indy/motr/af/sa/p0005.htm|title=Automotive in South Africa – Key information on the South African motor industry|work=MBendi.com|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202072824/http://www.mbendi.com/indy/motr/af/sa/p0005.htm|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref>

[[BMW]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Volkswagen]], [[Daimler-Chrysler]], [[General Motors]], [[Nissan]] and [[Toyota]] all have production plants in South Africa. Large component manufacturers with bases in the country are Arvin Exhaust, Bloxwitch, Corning and Senior Flexonics. There are also about 200 automotive component manufacturers in South Africa, and more than 150 others that supply the industry on a non-exclusive basis. The industry is concentrated in two provinces, the [[Eastern Cape]] and [[Gauteng]].<ref name="auto-industry"/> Companies producing in South Africa can take advantage of the low production costs and the access to new markets as a result of trade agreements with the European Union and the [[Southern African Development Community]].<ref name="auto-industry" />

After a steep decline of 10.4% in 2009, the manufacturing sector performed well in 2010, growing by 5%, though this rebound was primarily limited to the automotive, basic chemicals, iron and steel and food and beverages industries.<ref name="dti-report">{{cite web|title=Annual report 2010–2011 |url=http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=158493 |publisher=Department of Trade and Industry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130201043/http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=158493 |archive-date=30 January 2013 |page=26}}</ref> The performance of this sector remains curtailed by the low demand in South Africa's main export markets in the developed world.<ref name=dti-report/> There is growth in some areas, such as the Space industry in South Africa, which is expected to see an increase in Space industry jobs, and jobs in supporting technology and manufacturing sectors.

===Service industry===
{{See also|Telecommunications in South Africa|Tourism in South Africa}}
[[File:Canal walk cpt.jpg|thumb|[[Canal Walk]] shopping centre in Cape Town]]

==== Tourism ====
{{Empty section|date=April 2023}}

==== Telecommunications ====
The domestic telecommunications infrastructure provides modern and efficient service to urban and rural areas. This includes cellular and internet services from 5G to Gigabit Broadband.

In 1997, [[Telkom (South Africa)|Telkom]], the South African telecommunications [[parastatal]], was partly privatised and entered into a strategic equity partnership with a consortium of SBC (AT&T), in exchange for a monopoly to provide certain services for 5 years. Telkom assumed an obligation to facilitate network modernization and expansion into the unserved areas.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} A Second Network Operator, Neotel was to be licensed to compete with Telkom across its spectrum of services in 2002. Licensing officially began in late 2005.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Five mobile-phone companies provide service to over 50 million subscribers, with South Africa considered to have the 4th most advanced mobile telecommunications network worldwide.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} The five major cellular providers are [[Vodacom]], [[MTN Group|MTN]], [[Cell C]](Vodacom), Telkom Mobile(8.ta) and Rain, with Neotel owned by Liquid Telecoms not offering mobile service anymore.

South African companies which provide services related to the Space industry, also increasing, and with the correct government legislation and support, this sector is expected to grow in South Africa.

===Business process outsourcing===
Over the last few decades, South Africa and particularly the [[Cape Town]] region has established itself as a successful [[call centre]] and [[business process outsourcing]] destination. With a highly talented pool of productive labour and with Cape Town sharing cultural affinity with Britain, large overseas firms such as Lufthansa, Amazon.com, ASDA, The Carphone Warehouse, Delta Airlines and many more have established inbound call centres within Cape Town as a means of utilising Cape Town's low labour costs and talented labour force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Accelerator |first=Outsource |title=Outsourcing to South Africa |url=https://www.outsourceaccelerator.com/articles/outsourcing-to-south-africa/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Outsource Accelerator |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Tourism===
South Africa is a popular tourist destination, with around 860,000 arrivals per month (March 2008) of which around 210,000 is from outside the African continent.<ref name="SATStats-20080603">{{cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.net/satourism/research/viewResearchDetail.cfm?Action=Download&FileID=29993&ReportTypeCategoryID=65 |title=Monthly tourism statistics June 2008 |access-date=23 June 2008 |date=3 June 2008 |format=PDF |publisher=South African Tourism}}</ref> In 2012 South Africa received 9.2 million international arrivals.<ref name="UNWTO Hightlights 2013">{{cite web |url=http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_highlights13_en_lr_0.pdf |title=UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2013 edition |access-date=20 November 2013 |publisher=UNWTO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127174556/http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_highlights13_en_lr_0.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2013}}</ref> In August 2017 3.5 million travellers came to South Africa.<ref name="SA Stats-10637">{{cite web |url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=10637 |title=Monthly tourism statistics August 2017 |access-date=4 February 2018 |publisher=Statistics South Africa}}</ref> According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, travel and tourism directly contributed ZAR102 billion to South African GDP in 2012 and supports 10.3% of jobs in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wttc.org/site_media/uploads/downloads/south_africa2013_2.pdf |title=Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013 South Africa |access-date=20 November 2013 |date=March 2013 |publisher=WTTC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309024152/http://www.wttc.org/site_media/uploads/downloads/south_africa2013_2.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> Among the main attractions are the diverse and picturesque landscape, the game reserves and the highly regarded local wines.

The country's borders were reopened on 1 October 2020, with some exceptions to tourists travelling from specific European countries and the US, due to high levels of COVID-19 activity taking place there.

===Financial services===
{{update section|date=May 2022}}
[[Image:Ponte City (3464450399).jpg|thumb|Johannesburg]]
South Africa has a sophisticated financial structure, with the JSE Limited, the largest [[stock exchange]] on the African continent, ranking 17th in the world in terms of total [[market capitalisation]], which is $1,005 Trillion as of August 2020.<ref name="JSE 2020">{{cite web | title=JSE Markets' Weekly Statistics 20200821 | website=Market Statistics; JSE | date=28 August 2018 | url=https://www.jse.co.za/content/JSEEquityMarketWeeklyStatisticsItems/JSE%20Markets'%20Weekly%20Statistics%2020200821.xlsx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828112906/https://www.jse.co.za/content/JSEEquityMarketWeeklyStatisticsItems/JSE%20Markets%27%20Weekly%20Statistics%2020200821.xlsx |archive-date=28 August 2020 |format=XLSX |access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="USD/ZAR Exchange Rate at Market Open (2020-08-28)">{{cite web |title=USD to ZAR Exchange Rate |website=Bloomberg |date=28 August 2020 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/USDZAR:CUR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828113455/https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/USDZAR:CUR |archive-date=28 August 2020 |access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref>

The [[Banking in South Africa|banking industry]], overseen by the [[South African Reserve Bank]], is dominated by four local players: [[Nedbank]], [[Absa Group|ABSA]], [[Standard Bank]] and [[First Rand]].<ref name="treasury">{{cite web|title=Doing business in South Africa |url=http://www.transactionservices.citigroup.com/transactionservices/home/about_us/articles/archive/2009/docs/Citi_CountryProfile_SouthAfrica.pdf |publisher=Treasury Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430092119/http://www.transactionservices.citigroup.com/transactionservices/home/about_us/articles/archive/2009/docs/Citi_CountryProfile_SouthAfrica.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2014 |page=17}}</ref> These banks provide both retail and investment banking services as the sector has become highly competitive with the re-entry of many experienced foreign banks, which returned to the market in the mid-1990s, having left in the late 1980s.<ref name="treasury"/> Banks operating in South Africa, when left short of liquidity, need to borrow from the SARB at a fluctuating [[repo rate]], which, in turn, allows the central bank to monitor liquidity positions.<ref name="treasury"/>

=== Informal sector ===
South Africa's informal sector contributes 8% of the country's GDP and supports 27% of all working people. The South African Local Economic Development Network values the informal economy at 28% of SA's GDP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fin24.com/Finweek/Business-and-economy/vital-part-of-sa-economy-still-being-ignored-20170426|title=Vital part of SA economy still being ignored|last=Greve|first=Natalie|date=2017-04-26|work=Fin24|access-date=2017-05-06|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429234154/http://www.fin24.com/finweek/business-and-economy/vital-part-of-sa-economy-still-being-ignored-20170426}}</ref> Given the relevance of this input, there is a constant interest in developing actions on an inclusive urban planning for the working poor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sior.ub.edu/jspui/cris/socialimpact/socialimpact00431|title=Graduate Training. [Social Impact]. ICP. Inclusive Cities Project (2008–2014).|website=SIOR, Social Impact Open Repository|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905143316/http://sior.ub.edu/jspui/cris/socialimpact/socialimpact00431}}</ref>