Sponsored by South African Reserve Bank

Saturday also marked the 22nd anniversary of Mandela’s release from Robben Island prison.

South Africa has tapped the head of risk management at a local investment bank as its next banking regulator, the central bank said in a statement on Thursday.

South African government bonds and the rand currency ended firmer on Wednesday, boosted after a minister said the government would keep a lid on spending and tracking gains elsewhere as global risk appetite picked up.

South Africa's rand briefly hit a new 26-month low against the dollar on Thursday, and bonds trimmed losses, after a central bank statement was largely viewed as dovish but the currency stabilised in late trade after two days of hefty losses.

South Africa's government bonds took a breather on Monday, with yields coming off record lows as some dealers cashed in their holdings after a strong rally last week.

South Africa's government would act to shield the local economy against the impact of a new global recession, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday, as data pointed to a slowdown in factory output in the second quarter.

South Africa's Reserve Bank sees no reason at this stage to make any significant changes in the make up of its foreign currency reserves, the Bank said on Monday, after Nigeria and Mauritius announced plans to diversify their own holdings.

South Africa's rand retreated against the dollar on Thursday after jumping nearly two percent the previous day, while market anticipation of increased supply weighed on government bonds.

South Africa's rand softened against the dollar on Tuesday with the market showing little inclination to resist central bank moves since the start of the year to weaken the currency.

South Africa's rand crept higher against the dollar on Wednesday, partly aided by a firmer price for gold, but remains one of the worst emerging market performers so far this year, as the central bank continues to accumulate foreign reserves.

South Africa's retail sales growth expanded more than expected in November as consumer demand improved, further reducing lingering hopes that the central bank might cut its key repo rate on Thursday.

Gold and foreign exchange reserves in South Africa have declined marginally for the month of February, said a statement from the South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB) on Friday. It said net gold and foreign exchange reserves declined to US38.281 billion in February from US38.630 billion in January.

Zimbabwe is engaging South Africa over using its neighbour's rand currency to boost foreign exchange liquidity, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday.