South Africa's central bank struck a measured tone after its first rate cut in more than four years on Thursday, saying although inflation had fallen faster than expected there were still risks to the outlook.

SARB cut its main benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point to 8%.

The South African Reserve Bank will likely lower interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, despite a larger-than-expected overnight move by the Federal Reserve as it turns the screws on inflation.

Forecast interest rate cuts will be cut for the first time in South Africa in four years, and some analysts are hoping this will turn the tide.

South Africa’s real, inflation-adjusted interest rates reached the highest level in 19 years after price pressures cooled, but that’s unlikely to embolden the central bank to cut borrowing costs by more than a quarter point.

South Africa hasn’t had planned power cuts or load shedding in over four months

The South African rand held onto early gains on Thursday following the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) decision to cut interest rates for the first time in over four years, after a super-sized interest rate cut by the U.

South Africa’s central bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points, lowering them from a 15-year high and marking the first easing in more than four years. The monetary policy committee reduced its benchmark rate to 8%,

South African homeowners can expect to save money on their monthly home loan repayments after the interest rate cut.