South Africa’s GDP growth rate is expected to slow down to 4% in the course of this year according to one analyst, though it should stabilise in the second half of the year and pick up to 4.5% next year as the 2010 Soccer World Cup draws closer.

Jean Mercier, chief economist of Citigroup in the country, adds that there could be less drag from net exports, and investments originating in the public sector would help growth.

Mercier does not see the current account deficit – at present sitting at 8.1% of GDP – widening as much as it has recently, though it will probably still be higher than 7% for the year.