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The South African government is considering accessing billions of dollars in paper profits from its reserves to fund its budget deficit and manage its debt. This would involve selling part or all of the underlying assets, which could potentially unsettle investors. The government has not made a final decision on how much it wants to access, but it is considering withdrawing up to half of the 497 billion rand ($26 billion) in the reserve account. The mechanics of accessing the funds are crucial, as it could have positive or negative effects depending on how it is done. The Treasury and central bank have been discussing the best way to utilize the funds, and international experts have been engaged to advise them. Other countries, such as Switzerland, Chile, and Poland, periodically transfer gains from valuation adjustments to their governments, but the frequency and mechanism of these transfers vary. [Extracted from the article]