South Africa achieved its first primary budget surplus in 15 years as it took a stern approach to funding State-owned companies that have drained government finances. Africa’s most-industrialised economy posted a primary surplus — when revenue exceeds non-interest expenditure — of R31.6 billion or 0.4% of gross domestic product in the year through March 2024, data in the South African Reserve Bank’s Quarterly Bulletin published on Thursday showed. That matched the National Treasury’s February forecast.
