SOUTH Africa attracted significantly more foreign investment in 1998 after big multinational companies snapped up stakes in local firms, said a report released on Wednesday. Business Map estimated R17,22-billion was invested in South Africa during 1998, a 9% rise on the R15,82-billion of the previous year. Business Map said the growth had been “surprising” in view of the collapse in emerging market confidence in 1998. But, it said, a late burst of buying in the final three months of the year buoyed the numbers.