# South Africa’s economy grew by 0.5-percent in the first quarter, according to Statistics South Africa, slightly exceeding expectations. Chief Director Bokang Vumbukani-Lepolesa says growth was driven by the services and primary sectors, with finance and agriculture providing key support. However, manufacturing weighed on overall performance, with five of its ten divisions recording negative growth. Despite the gain, she cautions that uneven sector performance highlights ongoing structural challenges in the economy:
Stats SA reports 0.5% economic growth in early 2026 [SOUND]
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