BUSINESS DAY TV: I fail to see what’s wrong with local procurement, Mothata says
Lesiba Mothata, group executive economist at Investment Solutions speaks to Business Day TV about the implications for the country — and its credit ratings — if the Reserve Bank’s mandate is changed BUSINESS DAY TV: SA’s current account deficit widened to 2.1% of GDP in the first quarter from 1.7% previously. The deficit came in at R95bn, above the economists’ expectations of R85bn. Lesiba Mothata, group executive economist at Investment Solutions, is still with us in studio to discuss the data. Lesiba, so the data was playing ball at the end of last year but it has turned around slightly. Are exports still holding up though? Are you seeing a better picture emerging in 2017 that could perhaps point to better growth than we are expecting? LESIBA MOTHATA: It was good to see that the trade balance, which is a component of the current account deficit has had two consecutive quarters of a surplus. We have exported more than we have imported. The strong rand is helping on the import side ...
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