Services
Services is a broad economic sector encompassing all commercial activities that produce intangible outputs rather than physical goods. The sector includes a diverse range of industries such as finance, telecommunications, tourism, retail, healthcare, education, professional services, hospitality, transport and logistics. Services typically involve the provision of expertise, convenience, experience or access rather than the transfer of manufactured products. In modern economies, the services sector has become the dominant contributor to gross domestic product and employment, often accounting for more than half of economic activity in developed and many developing nations. The sector is characterised by direct interaction between providers and consumers, though digital transformation has increasingly enabled remote and automated service delivery. Services trade has grown rapidly with globalisation, supported by advances in information technology and the liberalisation of cross-border service provision. International organisations such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development monitor services sector performance and trade flows as key indicators of economic development and structural transformation. The sector's growth reflects broader economic shifts away from agriculture and manufacturing towards knowledge-intensive and consumer-oriented activities. Services businesses range from small local enterprises to multinational corporations, and the sector's performance is closely watched as a barometer of consumer confidence and overall economic health.
Services Updates
Blocking growth? Why the NCC’s Draft Opt-Out Registry Guidelines need revisiting | You were only given 15 days to comment – what are you doing?
9th October 2026 No one defends the spam caller. According to the National Consumer Commission (“NCC”), South Africans received 17.47 billion spam calls between... →
London Station
9th October 2026 What if the CIA and British intelligence began spying on each other? This is the question at the heart of David McCloskey's thrilling fifth novel.... →
South Africa blames disinformation as anti-migrant protests turn violent 
By: Reuters 9th October 2026 Anti-migrant protests in two South African cities including Johannesburg's Soweto township turned violent on Thursday, with the government blaming... →
Africa’s next growth chapter starts with capital closer to home
9th October 2026 Africa enters the FT Africa Summit this year facing a familiar question in unfamiliar circumstances. How does the continent finance growth when... →
Green iron-ore is a great South African export opportunity, Joburg Indaba hears
By: Martin Creamer 8th October 2026 Making green iron-ore for exportation is a great opportunity, South Africa’s Joburg Indaba heard on Thursday, October 8, when Kearney South Africa... →
ANC seeks to correct ‘false narratives’ over refugee ruling, pending labour Bill
By: Thabi Shomolekae 8th October 2026 The ANC has called on South Africans to reject "false narratives" surrounding the country's immigration policies, clarifying that a recent apex... →
Seifsa sets sights on unprecedented five-year wage settlement in 2027
By: Terence Creamer 8th October 2026 Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) president Elias Monage reports that it is aiming to speedily conclude yet... →
Supporting the People Who Shape South Africa's Information Landscape
8th October 2026 Libraries are essential to education, research and access to knowledge across South Africa. At the heart of every library are dedicated... →
Super El Niño could hit southern Africa’s bean harvests hard: how to protect farmers
8th October 2026 Grain legumes, also known as pulses, are an important source of calories and income for rural households and small farmers globally. Beans,... →
Mining industry commits to investing more in combating GBV in South Africa – Dunne
By: Schalk Burger 8th October 2026 The member companies of mining industry organisation the Minerals Council South Africa have committed to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and... →
