• The USD/ZAR edged higher on Tuesday as south African rand weakened after weak domestic employment and manufacturing data. • South Africa’s official unemployment rate climbed to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026 from 32.7% in the first quarter, Statistics South Africa data showed on Tuesday. • The number of unemployed people rose to 8.481 million in April-June from 8.137 million in January-March. •South Africa’s manufacturing output declined 1.7% year-on-year in June, following a revised 4.4% annual drop in May, data from the statistics agency showed on Tuesday. • Like other risk-sensitive currencies, the rand often takes its ‌cues ⁠from global factors, particularly U.S. monetary policy, alongside domestic economic data.