South Africa’s gross domestic product grew by 1.9 per cent in the first quarter, returning the continent’s most industrialised economy to pre-pandemic levels.
It was the second consecutive quarter of upward growth, the official statistics agency StatsSA said.
“The size of the economy is now at pre-pandemic levels, with real GDP slightly higher than what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic,” the agency stated.
The report said manufacturing, finance, business services and trade made gains during the first quarter, while agriculture was subdued and mining and construction contracted.
However, it cautioned that the economic impact of devastating floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal province in the southeast of the country would only be reflected in the GDP results for the second quarter, due for release in September.
Africa’s biggest industrialised economy has been badly hit by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, amplifying joblessness, poverty and inequality and exacerbating anti-foreigner sentiment.
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