Latest news with #RaziaKhan
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
South African GDP grows by a paltry 0.1% in Q1, but agriculture shines
One thing that is as certain as the changing seasons is that as the year progresses, forecasts for South African economic growth in 2025 – which are mostly around 1.2% – will be downgraded, which in turn will blow out of the water many of the revenue and debt projections in Budget 3.0. South Africa's sluggish economy barely grew in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, expanding a pathetic 0.1% from Q4 of 2024, according to data released on Tuesday by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). This 'growth' – at a pace that a snail could slither past – would have been a contraction of 0.3% were it not for a stellar performance by the agricultural sector, which grew its production by a hefty 15.8% in the first three months of the year. Following gross domestic product (GDP) growth of just 0.4% in Q4 of 2024 – revised down from an initial estimate of 0.6% – the data underscores the woeful state of South Africa's economy, which simply cannot seem to expand at a rate that exceeds population growth and creates jobs. Against this backdrop, it's no surprise that South Africa's unemployment rate rose one percentage point in Q1 to 32.9%. Worryingly, only four of the 10 industries on the production side of the economy posted growth, led by agriculture, a sector that is also extremely volatile. Agriculture biggest growth driver South Africa's descent into deindustrialisation was writ large in the data, with the manufacturing and mining sectors the biggest drags on the read, declining 2.0% and 4.1% respectively. Consumer spending perked up – helped by lower interest rates, slowing inflation and early pension drawdowns under the two-pot reforms – but it hardly shot the lights out. 'Consumer activity was stronger, with trade, catering & accommodation expanding by 0.5%. Retail trade, motor trade, accommodation and food & beverages contributed positively,' Stats SA said. Changes in GDP contributions Gross fixed capital expenditure – a key measure of investment – maintained its downward trajectory, falling 1.7%. And without investment growth, the economy will remain stuck in a rut. 'Consumer demand likely received a small boost from lower rates, higher disposable incomes given still-low inflation and pension reform. But none of this is sufficient to offset the soft outlook still painted by dismal investment. From this data alone, there is no clear indication that it might be reasonable to expect more robust growth going forward,' said Razia Khan, Chief Economist Africa at Standard Chartered Bank in London. Indeed, the outlook for Q2 is already troubling. What this means South Africa cannot attract investment, create jobs and reduce poverty without significantly faster rates of economic growth. Many of the country's crippling social ills, including rampant crime, are at least partly a reflection of this woeful pace of growth. This deprives the government of revenue, forcing it to borrow more, raising its debt-servicing costs – leaving it with less to spend on things such as education, welfare and health – in a vicious cycle that shows no sign of ending soon. The Absa Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell 1.6 points in May to 43.1 – pointedly, its lowest level since the Covid-19 pandemic. This marked the seventh consecutive month that the PMI was in contractionary territory below the neutral 50 mark and bodes ill for the sector's performance this quarter. The return of the rolling power cuts, popularly known as 'load shedding', after a 310-day pause in Q1 did not help matters, but the economy has been trapped in slow-growth mode for years. There are a range of reasons for this depressing state of affairs, which continues to fuel the terrible trifecta of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Policy uncertainty continues to deter investment, along with mounting concerns about reliable water supplies and a crumbling road, rail and port network. Transnet is showing promising signs of a management turnaround, but it still has a mountain to climb. A high tax burden with little to show for it hardly inspires confidence. Sky-high levels of violent crime and the security costs that go with that are constraints to growth, while South Africa's failing public schools add up to a chronic skills shortage. And amid these domestic challenges and many more, the outlook for the global economy has been souring, not least because of US President Donald Trump's bewildering tariff 'policies' that top the ANC and the GNU in the League of Uncertainty. One thing that is as certain as the changing seasons is that as the year progresses, forecasts for South African economic growth in 2025 – which are mostly around 1.2% – will be further downgraded, which in turn will blow out of the water many of the revenue and debt projections in Budget 3.0.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
After stray dog attack, BBMP ramps up rabies control
dogs rabies vaccination programme Stray dog's murder sparks vaccination drive demand Dog rescuer and feeder Razia Khan filed a complaint about the killing based on which Jigani Police registered a first information report (FIR) against Sindhu, Raju, and others under the Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and under the Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The Animal Husbandry Department and Veterinary Sciences, in association with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Animal Husbandry Department, has launched vaccination for rabies at Nirman Layout and Hullahalli near Jigani in Anekal Taluk to prevent rabies spreading to streetand veterinary doctors have launched aon Thursday at two locations, Nirman Layout and Ullahalli. According to reliable sources, one dog affected with rabies attacked six dogs and a few cows around Nirmal Layout and Ullahalli. The dog was allegedly killed by some residents and a FIR was registered at Jigani Police Station. Post-mortem report revealed that the dog was infected with rabies. Bangalore Mirror published a story – Stray dog's murder sparks vaccination drive demand – on May 6, narrating how citizens have raised an alarm over the killing of a stray dog at Nirman Layout near Jigani. 'We have vaccinated more than 100 stray dogs and cattle at two locations,'' said a veterinary is said the veterinary doctors are set to complete vaccination for stray and pet dogs and cattle against rabies within one km radius of Nirman Layout and Hullahalli. It is called Ring Vaccination. The next step of vaccination for stray dogs and cattle will be extended to a three to five kms radius from Nirman Layout and Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry) Chandraiah said the BBMP Animal Husbandry Department has deputed two teams of dog catchers to Nirman Layout and Hullahalli. 'We have provided around 12 dog catchers to the rabies vaccination programme. They will assist the veterinary doctors during the vaccination programme,'' he animal activists and pet lovers want the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department to give a 5-in-1 vaccine for stray dogs instead of rabies vaccine. 'The 5-in-1 vaccine guards stray dogs against five severe diseases such as canine distemper, adenovirus type1 and type 2, parainfluenza, and parvovirus,'' said Razia Khan, a dog feeder and the similar opinion, Arun Prasad, an animal activist, has said the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department has to take measures to vaccinate all dogs and cattle in the area to prevent rabies spreading to animal species at Bannerghatta National Park and nearby forest. 'The authorities have to give a 5-in-1 vaccine for the welfare of stray dogs and cattle,'' he why the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes are not extended beyond the BBMP limits, Sujaya Jagadeesh, SPCA member, has said the authorities should prefer a 5-in-1 vaccine instead of rabies vaccine. 'Dogs affected with rabies will be dangerous for humans, dogs and animals. The authorities concerned have to take up ABC and ARV programmes on the outskirts of Bengaluru and rural areas,'' she said.
Bloomberg
16-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Khan: Considerable Decline of African Exports to US
President Trump's pause on tariffs has provided welcome respite across Sub-Saharan Africa, whose economies faced some of the highest rates in the world. But many countries are still worried over the concessions they can offer to lower these tariffs especially as they face fierce competition from trading giants like the EU. Razia Khan, Standard Chartered's Chief Economist and Research Head for Africa and the Middle East told Bloomberg's Horizons Middle East and Africa anchor Joumanna Bercetche on the effect of global slowdown on African economies. (Source: Bloomberg)
