The South African Reserve Bank published its monthly statement of assets and liabilities, showing total assets increased by ZAR 5.78 billion from September to ZAR 1.299 trillion as of Oct. 31, 2026. Higher foreign exchange reserves more than offset a decline in the value of gold holdings.
Foreign exchange reserves, excluding special drawing rights (SDRs), rose by ZAR 14.26 billion to ZAR 864.53 billion. The value of gold assets fell by ZAR 10.37 billion to ZAR 266.64 billion, despite a small increase in physical holdings. SDR holdings increased by ZAR 1.53 billion to ZAR 110.61 billion, bringing total gold and foreign assets to ZAR 1.242 trillion, up ZAR 5.42 billion.
On the liability side, notes and coin in circulation increased by ZAR 6.26 billion to ZAR 184.40 billion, while banks’ deposits at the central bank declined by ZAR 6.16 billion to ZAR 364.87 billion. The gold and foreign exchange contingency reserve account rose by ZAR 3.21 billion to ZAR 258.51 billion.