In the past three years, South Africa’s economy has struggled. Its growth is slower than that of many other African countries, and the shooting of 34 miners in August exposed a simmering tension that exists within its boundaries. Yet while there is no quick fix, investors remain attracted by the strength of the country's institutions. 

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has come under increasing pressure in the wake of police shooting 34 striking miners in August. But finance minister Pravin Gordhan says his party’s record in government is impressive and that it has done much to develop the country since 1994.

While The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking published every July gives an insightful and unique snapshot of the state of the global banking market, our ranking of those banks featuring just below the ranking gives an excellent indication of the way in which the market is heading, and which countries and regions are on the rise.

After leading Morgan Stanley’s equities business outside the Americas, John Hyman is working to position Renaissance Capital as a focused player in a number of very different markets across emerging Europe and Africa.

African banks are increasingly looking outside of their domestic markets, and many of the continent's biggest lenders are now active in multiple countries, buoyed by greater access to vast unbanked populations and a more stable political environment.

A combination of policy intervention in emerging markets and high residual risks in developed markets means volatility in emerging market currencies looks set to continue.

New-found political stability is setting the stage for global investor interest in many African countries, and Standard Bank's debt capital markets team is leading the way. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

Retail banking in South Africa has emerged relatively unscathed from the global recession. Bankers are now taking advantage of the upturn, the confidence generated by the forthcoming World Cup hosted in the country and the largely untapped potential presented by the under-banked and unbanked population. Writer Michael Imeson