South Africa's repo rate, currently 7.50%, is expected to hold steady in May, the survey found, with policymakers waiting until either July or September for the next cut to 7.25%.

The South African rand weakened against a stronger dollar on Thursday, with investors focused on the G20 meeting of finance chiefs in the country's coastal city of Durban.

Africa’s leaders are setting the clock on achieving higher economic growth for the continent. One big reason: By 2050, about 1 in 4 people on Earth will be African.

But real, lasting change can also come from economic mobility—both literal and financial. The more solutions that emerge, the faster Africa can move toward economic empowerment.