This comes after SA's economy expanded by 0, 6% in the final quarter of last year, helping avoid a recession. The country’s statistics agency, Stats SA is expected to release the figures on Tuesday. Recent data from key sectors such as mining, manufacturing and electricity production have shown signs of a struggle, with agriculture tipped to be the star performer. 

Head of South Africa Macroeconomic Research at the country’s Standard Bank Group, Dr Elna Moolman says the poor performance can be attributed to uncertainty during the period under review.

"This uncertainty is of course twofold. On the one hand, ongoing uncertainty around the US trade policy and tariff changes that could have a material impact on global growth. And then at the same time significant uncertainty around South Africa's budget. In February and March this year that threatened to derail the Government of national unity," Moolman said.

--SABC--