It is hardly newsworthy anymore to state that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in the global economy, including South Africa.

This has been a week of positive data releases in South Africa’s agricultural sector.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has brought uncertainty in global trade because of disruptions it is causing in global supply chains and weakening demand.

The punch in the gut was severe. Perhaps the second quarter of 2020 will become known as the pandemic quarter.

This is an important day in the South African economics calendar. At 11h30 this morning, Statistics South Africa will release GDP data for the second quarter of the year.

At Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the first Saturday of spring was a time of mourning and protest rather than celebration yesterday.