Angola hikes diesel price again to bolster public finances
The African oil-producing country has been gradually removing fuel subsidies since 2023, encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Its economy is under pressure because of a slide in the global crude oil price earlier this year, and it faces external debt repayments of about $9bn (R160.04bn) in 2025, including a Eurobond maturing in November.
The diesel price has risen to 400 kwanzas (R7.76) per litre from 300 kwanzas before, the second price hike this year.
The petroleum products regulator left prices for petrol and liquefied petroleum gas unchanged.
Finance minister Vera Daves de Sousa told Reuters in October that fuel subsidies amounted to around 4% of gross domestic product last year and said the government planned to continue removing them in phases.
The IMF said in May it had cut Angola's preliminary growth outlook for 2025 to 2.4% from an initial 3%, citing lower oil prices and tightening external financing conditions.
A petrol price hike in 2023 triggered deadly protests, but there was no immediate sign of social unrest in Angola on Friday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Spotlight on the judges: Behind the scenes of the Tshwane Tourism Awards
Staff Reporter | Published 3 hours ago With the highly anticipated Tshwane Tourism Awards set to take place on 16 August 2025 at Batter Boys Village, excitement is building across the capital. This prestigious event will honour excellence in local tourism, shining a spotlight on the people and places that make Tshwane a world-class destination. But behind every award handed out on the night is a process that is as rigorous as it is fair. The Tshwane Tourism Awards are not a popularity contest. They are rooted in credibility and guided by a structured, evidence-based approach. Each participating business was asked to complete a detailed self-assessment aligned to four core categories: Community Contribution & Sustainability; Internal Environment & Team Culture; Industry Collaboration & Engagement; and Business Growth & Improvement. Finalists were then invited to submit supporting documentation, including policies and performance records, project photos and testimonials to provide tangible evidence of their achievements. This is the material currently under review by an independent panel of judges, all highly respected professionals in tourism, academia and industry operations. Our finalists include some of the absolute best in our city (and even the country!) so judging is done independently, professionally and confidentially. We are proud to introduce the four judges who have been selected and were so kind to offer their time, expertise and discernment to this year's awards: Dr Swart is a certified meeting professional with a degree in leadership performance and change. She chairs the Executive Development Programme for Women in Tourism and has co-authored five books and over 70 peer-reviewed publications. A sought-after speaker and leader in hospitality education, she was named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in African Hospitality and a Top 5 Woman in Leadership in Africa. In 2024, she received AAXO's award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry. Sibulele brings over two decades of experience in tourism and destination marketing. Formerly with KZN Tourism Authority and now a senior leader within the City of Tshwane, he has championed destination branding, partnership engagement, and the inclusion of youth and SMMEs in the tourism space. His passion lies in building platforms that empower emerging tourism talent and grow the domestic travel economy. Dr Sifolo is a leading researcher and academic, holding a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on tourism supply chains and stakeholder engagement. She is an NRF Y2-rated researcher, a judge for national entrepreneurship awards, and an expert advisor on regional innovation initiatives. Her work advocates for inclusive tourism models, value chain integration and sustainable development across Africa. With over 20 years in senior tourism roles, Sean is a seasoned strategist with experience in hospitality standards, destination management, and operations. Currently with TGCSA, he helps maintain and promote service excellence in graded establishments across South Africa. He has worked with leading brands like Legacy Hotels and Tourvest, and is well respected for his mentorship and commitment to quality and growth in the industry. These four judges bring a balance of academic rigour, practical insight, and industry leadership to the process, ensuring that every finalist is assessed fairly and every winner has earned their moment in the spotlight. As Tshwane prepares to celebrate its tourism champions, we extend our sincere thanks to this panel for their professional contribution, and to all our finalists for their courage, effort and excellence. We look forward to welcoming you on 16 August — it's time to shine.

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
South African SMEs brace for impact as Trump tariffs loom
With the looming threat of US tariffs on South African exports, SMEs face an uncertain future. Explore the ripple effects of these economic changes and how businesses are adapting to survive in the July 2025 TymeBank SME Outlook. Image: Supplied South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stand at a critical crossroads, grappling with the looming spectre of a 30% import tariff on most goods entering the United States. This decision, signed into effect by President Donald Trump, will come into play on 1 August 2025, raising alarm bells for several sectors, particularly agriculture, automotive, and mining, industries heavily reliant on exports to the US market. The consequences of these tariffs threaten to reverberate throughout the broader economy, with experts warning of potential job losses in the thousands. Miguel da Silva, Group Executive of Business Banking at TymeBank, pointed to the tariff implications as not just an isolated issue but rather a reflection of the shifting geopolitical landscape that South Africa must navigate. 'As a nation, we have to rethink our trade strategies in light of these developments,' da Silva said. In response to these challenges, President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South African companies to expedite their search for alternative export markets, highlighting the urgent need to bolster resilience in global supply chains and support the local economy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Some exporters have already begun seeking new opportunities, turning towards the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African commerce. This strategic pivot could lessen dependence on the US market amid increasingly unfriendly trade conditions. The BRICS+ bloc also provides fertile ground for growth, granting access to substantial markets such as China, Southeast Asia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Encouragingly, China recently announced it would eliminate all tariffs on imports from 53 African nations, including South Africa, presenting a timely opportunity for local SMEs to expand their footprint. However, as exporters look towards new horizons, they must also confront domestic obstacles. Energy and petrol price hikes have compounded the financial challenges for SMEs already facing margin pressures. These increases put further strain on already thin profit margins, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of many businesses. Yet, on a positive note, inflation expectations are reportedly at their lowest in four years, with predictions of rates falling below 4% this year, a significant consideration for businesses with an eye on cost control. The economic landscape remains complex, with mixed expectations surrounding interest rates ahead of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee meeting scheduled for 31 July 2025. While the prevailing sentiment points towards maintaining the current interest rate, some analysts speculate on a modest cut. A reduction could inject disposable income into consumers' pockets, providing a much-needed boost for SMEs struggling with stagnant demand. Despite the headwinds, the outlook for funding appears more optimistic. There is an emerging expectation of stronger collaboration between the private sector, government, and financial institutions aimed at creating more avenues for SME financing. Initiatives such as revamped credit guarantee schemes and partnerships with fintech companies are anticipated to ease access to funds for smaller enterprises. However, challenges remain, particularly for those with limited operational histories or lower turnover rates. As South Africa prepares to face a transformed export landscape shaped by new tariffs and economic pressures, SMEs find themselves in a precarious position. With strategic pivots and adaptive measures, these businesses may yet navigate through turbulent times, emerging more resilient in the face of uncertainty. BUSINESS REPORT


Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
South Africa and Nigeria need opposite approaches to their informal sectors
Governments should harness the potential of informality as a bridge rather than a barrier to building economic resilience. Nigeria and South Africa are Africa's largest economies, and their development significantly affects their regions and the continent as a whole. Updated forecasts by the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveal the varying impact of the informal sector on both economies and their regions. South Africa's informal sector accounts for 17% of its labour force, significantly lower than Nigeria at 68% and Africa's average of 58%. Our analysis shows how context-specific approaches to informality could contribute to inclusive economic growth and reduce unemployment. Compared to west Africa, southern Africa's development has been lacklustre when unemployment is used as a yardstick. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) data, southern Africa had the highest unemployment rate globally at 33.2% in 2024. Eswatini, South Africa and Botswana rank first, second and fifth in the world regarding unemployment rates. With its poor-quality education and limited entrepreneurship, South Africa's employment is particularly low, and inequality is exceptionally high. The southern African region fares the worst globally on both unemployment and inequality. West Africa does better than other African regions in terms of employment, mainly because the ILO's employment definition includes people active in the informal sector, where livelihoods are fragile and uncertain. The ILO estimates unemployment in west Africa at just 2.9%, whereas central, east and north Africa have rates that are more than three times higher. The reason for west Africa's low unemployment figures is that the region has one of the largest informal sectors in Africa. Southern Africa, by comparison, has a relatively smaller informal sector, which provides less of a cushion against unemployment than in other parts of the continent. The region's low employment levels are also linked to generally high levels of inequality. Southern Africa's smaller informal sector is rooted in its historically extractive policies based on minerals and cheap labour. Also, countries in the region only recently transitioned to majority rule (South Africa was the latest, in 1994). At low levels of development, the informal sector is generally much less productive than the formal sector, but the gap typically reduces as countries move up the income ladder. With ruling parties heavily infused with socialist ideological models from several decades ago, governments offer little room for self-help and are often hostile to the private sector, most evident in Zimbabwe. As a result, economic emancipation has not yet taken place. Governments promise to provide for their citizens, but rarely do. Economic ideology is compounded by the centralised, monopoly structure of the South African economy, in particular. Big farming, retail and manufacturing limit informal and small business opportunities. As a result, organisations as diverse as South Africa's Competition Commission, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have called for unlocking the potential of small businesses and entrepreneurship. AFI-ISS modelling shows that while development is generally associated with a gradual reduction in the informal sector – both as a share of gross domestic product and regarding labour force participation – South Africa is likely to experience an increase. This is primarily driven by the business-as-usual forecast of slow economic growth over the next decade, averaging 2.4%. At low levels of development, the informal sector is generally much less productive than the formal sector, but the gap typically reduces as countries move up the income ladder. At higher levels of development, a large informal sector often reflects a determined effort to avoid regulation compared with being survival-oriented in countries with low levels of development. So, in some high-income countries, informal sector productivity could be similar to that in the formal sector. For example, in Russia, Italy and Greece, where the illicit economy is large, informal sector productivity is likely to resemble that of the formal sector. Irrespective of the level of development, a large informal sector is costly for society and constrains sustainable development. Informal sector workers do not pay personal or company tax, but still require infrastructure and government services. However, this drag is somewhat balanced by the informal sector's absorption of people who would otherwise not earn any income. The ILO data on unemployment in Africa is therefore quite misleading without appropriate context. That is revealed in Afrobarometer's 2021-2022 survey across 39 countries, in which many more people aged 18 to 35 said unemployment should be their government's leading policy priority. This presents a counterintuitive but important insight: while informality is typically associated with poor working conditions, South Africa and Nigeria face opposite challenges in this regard. For South Africa, the formal sector is capital-intensive and not job-rich. It creates limited work opportunities, while the informal sector is too small to absorb the country's large unemployed population. South Africa needs to allow an expansion of its informal sector as one of a host of measures to serve as a crucial safety net and offer some form of livelihood in the short term. In Nigeria, the informal sector is extremely large, hiding widespread underemployment and low productivity. Its size results from a complex combination of economic, institutional and structural factors. Although unemployment rates appear low, most jobs are precarious and unregistered. Should these divergent approaches succeed, the South African economy could be 60% larger in two decades, and that of Nigeria, 50% larger. This weakens the state's ability to collect taxes, regulate economic activity and provide quality services. The country has some of the lowest tax-to-GDP rates globally, with a large portion of its taxes not collected due to low government efficiency and corruption. As a result, Nigeria needs a determined effort to move large portions of its informal sector into the formal sector. This gradual process – for example, through digital tax platforms and national ID systems – is not easy for any government, and is particularly challenging given low levels of trust in government in Nigeria. Countries like Rwanda have pioneered digital business registration and simplified tax regimes to draw informal workers into the formal economy, possibly offering useful lessons. Should these divergent approaches, and other measures to enable rapid and inclusive growth, succeed, the South African economy could be 60% larger in two decades, and that of Nigeria, 50% larger. Realising this potential prosperity depends on context-specific, possibly uncomfortable approaches to human capital development, taxation and state-citizen trust. The informal sector is no peripheral issue; it is central to questions of state capacity, inclusion and the future of work. How governments respond and whether they can harness informality as a bridge rather than a barrier is crucial to building economic resilience. DM