Nene Sees 1.8% South African Growth With Budget Under Strain

South Africa’s budget-deficit targets are at risk with economic growth expected to slow this year to 1.8 percent, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said.

The projection may be cut from 2.7 percent estimated in February because the “environment has been challenging with strikes and supply-side constraints particularly on the energy” side, Nene, 55, said in an interview yesterday at Bloomberg’s Johannesburg office. The growth outlook may improve going forward, he said.