Slow economic growth in South Africa  In this buoyant economic environment it is rather surprising that the South African economy did not perform better. The high international economic growth was expected to assist growth in the South African economy through increased demand for exports, higher prices on commodity markets and increased investments.
After showing clear signs of a vigorous economic recovery during 1999, the economic growth in South Africa slowed down in the first half of 2000. The annualised quarter-to-quarter growth in the seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product at first accelerated from ½% in the fourth quarter of 1998 to 3½% in the fourth quarter of 1999.