There is little in the way of bright news about South Africa's economy-and not just because power cuts are plunging neighbourhoods into darkness several times a week. According to figures released on May 26th, annual gdp grew by a mere 1.3% in the first three months of this year, a crawl compared with the 4.1% achieved in the fourth quarter of 2014. Unemployment is soaring. Even using a narrow definition, it stands at 26.4%, the highest since 2003. "The numbers are saying 'something has to be done, and done quickly'," says Pali Lehohla, South Africa's statistician-general. But where to begin? Power shortages under Eskom, the failing state utility, have dampened manufacturing, drought has hit agriculture and tourism, a rare boon, has been hampered by much-criticised new visa requirements. Rating agencies have warned that South Africa is dancing dangerously close to junk status, though no immediate downgrade is likely.
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