South Africa emerges from recession as farming, manufacturing jump

A woman works at a clothing factory at the industrial town of Newcastle, 260 km (162 miles) southeast of Johannesburg. [Photo: Reuters]

PRETORIA - Farms and factories dragged South Africa out of its first recession in almost a decade, data showed on Tuesday, as the economy grew by more than expected in the third quarter.

The positive data is a boost for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has pledged to re-start growth after a decade of stagnation under his predecessor, Jacob Zuma.