South Africa’s credit rating has been cut to junk status by the ratings agency S&P Global.
The agency said that political upheaval, including the recent sacking of finance minister Pravin Gordhan, was endangering the economy.
S&P also expressed concern over government debt, and in particular the expense of supporting the state energy firm Eskom.
The news put more pressure on the rand, which was down 2% against the dollar.
The sacking of Mr Gordhan, seen as a safe pair of hands and with a reputation for financial prudence, led to a 4% fall in the rand on Friday and prompted strong criticism.
His replacement as finance minister by Malusi Gigaba was part of a cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma.
However the country’s deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, called Mr Gordhan’s sacking “totally, totally unacceptable” and the Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), also opposed it.
The financial downgrading is likely to make it more expensive for South Africa to borrow money on the international markets, as lending to the country would be seen as riskier.
S&P explained its decision, stating that: “Internal government and party divisions could, we believe, delay fiscal and structural reforms, and potentially erode the trust that had been established between business leaders and labour representatives (including in the critical mining sector).”
“An additional risk is that businesses may now choose to withhold investment decisions that would otherwise have supported economic growth,” S&P added.
For his part, Mr Gigaba spoke at the weekend of plans to “radically transform” the country’s economy.
SA new Finance Minister says he'll pursue "tough & unpopular choices" to oversee economic growth, redistribution of wealth to black majority pic.twitter.com/qgLZf1T7Up
— Kenyanwallstreet (@kenyanwalstreet) April 3, 2017
While he has a track record of policymaking, most recently as home affairs minister, he lacks a background in economics.
That prompted criticism that Mr Gigaba was too inexperienced for the job.
Junk Status
S&P lowered its credit rating on South African government debt from BBB- to BB+, which makes the debt “non-investment grade” or “speculative”, or in the shorthand term, “junk”.
If another ratings agency follows suit, many international investment funds, under their owns rules, will be unable to lend to the South African government by buying its bonds, which are glorified IOUs.
On Monday, Moody’s Investors Service placed South African government debt on review for a possible downgrade.
Like S&P it expressed concern over the political upheaval: “Moody’s could downgrade South Africa’s issuer rating if the rating agency were to conclude that recent events signalled a deterioration in the effectiveness of government or in the credibility of its policy-making.”
