The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) put official reserve assets at US$75,429 million at the end of September 2026, according to its international reserves template, published on 29 October.

That is US$525 million, or 0.7%, below the US$75,954 million of the end of August. The template gives approximate market values.

The reserves had risen in August, from US$73,451 million at the end of July, after falling in May, June and July. At the end of April they stood at US$77,089 million, the highest of the six end-month readings from April to September.

What the reserves hold

Foreign currency reserves, held as securities and deposits, came to US$51,388 million at the end of September. That is 68.1% of the official total. Securities account for US$42,266 million of it and deposits for US$9,122 million. The remainder of the US$75,429 million is held in other reserve assets, which the template lists separately.

The memorandum items split the same US$75,429 million by currency: US$70,199 million in currencies of the International Monetary Fund’s special drawing rights basket, including gold, and US$5,230 million in currencies outside it.

Official reserve assets at the end of each month, US$ million
73,00074,00075,00076,00077,00078,000 US$ millionApr 2026Jul 2026Sep 202675,429 US$ million
73,00074,00075,00076,00077,00078,000 US$ millionSep 202675,429 US$ million

Source: South African Reserve Bank, International Reserves Template, April to September 2026 (approximate market value). Chart: Rand Desk

What the template covers

The template follows the International Monetary Fund’s format for reporting reserves and foreign-currency liquidity. It lists the reserve assets of the SARB and the central government, then the foreign-currency payments falling due, split by how soon they are payable.

Payments due within a year

The template shows the central government’s foreign-currency debt service for the next 12 months at US$3,232 million. Principal accounts for US$1,333 million and interest for US$1,899 million.

In the first month only interest falls due, at US$168 million. Months two and three bring US$58 million of principal and US$346 million of interest. Most of the rest falls due between three months and a year: US$1,275 million of principal and US$1,385 million of interest.

The SARB shows no foreign-currency payments of its own due within the year. It lists contingent foreign-currency liabilities of US$1,769 million, all of them central government principal and interest.

Reading the series

Reserves move with exchange rates and the value of gold and securities held, as well as with purchases and sales. The template reports the stock and not the reasons for a change.

The Bank also sets the repo rate, which is a separate tool from its reserves.

The largest single block of payments, US$2,660 million of principal and interest combined, falls between three and twelve months after the end of September.