Statistics SA published South Africa’s GDP dataset for the first quarter of 2025 in June. Although year-on-year economic growth remained positive, the performance was disappointing, with a fifth successive GDP growth rate of less than one per cent being recorded.

On 21 May, millions worldwide were glued to their TV sets in anticipation of the well-publicised meeting between the president of the most powerful country in the world and the head of state of the African continent's largest and most diversified economy.

It took the National Treasury a while to appreciate the reality of being part of a government of national unity (GNU). This means that its most crucial task, preparing the national budget, should be conducted so that all the new government members have ample time to make spending and revenue decisions.

April started on the worst possible note for South Africa, with US President Donald Trump announcing a general tariff of 30% on imports.