Market challenges for South African businesses Government Spending - Due to cyclical, structural and regulatory/policy challenges in the economy, government capital and operational spending has been severely curtailed since 2016, and a double deficit (budget and household) suggests that economic decline may accelerate over the short term. The currently resurgent Rand currency reflects a 20-year plus record current account surplus based on robust commodity exports and muted imports. Management - There is growing concern about a host of political, economic, and regulatory factors that affect foreign businesses adversely. These include reports about corruption and mismanagement in government, significant unemployment, violent crime, insufficient infrastr