Johannesburg - Divisions within the governing African National Congress are deepening and a potential downgrade of South Africa’s debt rating to junk isn’t fully priced in by markets, according to Goldman Sachs Group.
The rand slumped as much as 4.3 percent against the dollar on Tuesday, the most since June, and bond yields rose to the highest in more than a month after prosecutors said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan must appear in court on November 2 on fraud charges. Five-year South African credit-default swaps, an indication of risk, climbed 15 basis points on Tuesday to 265, the highest level since July 8 and above those of Russia, Brazil and Turkey, which all have junk credit-ratings.
“There is clearly a sharpening of the knives between the various factions within the ANC,” Colin Coleman, a partner and head of Goldman Sachs Group in South Africa, said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. The reaction to the news on Tuesday in the country’s financial markets was “less than expected”, meaning that the risk of South Africa losing its investment-grade status hasn’t been fully factored in, he said.
While a downgrade to junk is evident in the swaps market, it hasn’t been “fully priced in”, Coleman said. There is a reasonable prospect that South Africa could keep its investment-grade status by remaining “focused on the structural reform agenda” being led by Gordhan, he said, adding that such an outcome would result in a rebound in the value of the country’s assets. “If the finance minister is removed, that will lead to a certain cut.”
S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, which will both review their credit assessments in December, kept their assessments at one level above junk in June, and S&P kept its outlook at negative. The companies said the government must take decisive steps to bolster growth and end political turmoil.
Gordhan is leading joint efforts by the government, business and labor unions to re-ignite economic growth headed for its slowest expansion since the 2009 recession. The ANC, which has led South Africa since Nelson Mandela swept the party to power after the end of apartheid in 1994, will hold a conference in December 2017, when President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to step down as head of the party. He is set to leave office in 2019 after two terms.
‘No case’
The charges relate to Gordhan approving the early retirement of a former colleague at the revenue service and then allowing him to be rehired on a contract basis during Gordhan’s first stint as finance minister. Gordhan was re-appointed in December to the position he held from 2009 until 2014 after Zuma was forced to reconsider his decision to replace Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister with a little-known lawmaker.
Gordhan, 67, on Tuesday called the summons politically motivated and said “there is no case”. The minister has repeatedly clashed with Zuma, who had dismissed his request to fire the nation’s current tax chief, Tom Moyane, for insubordination and delayed his attempts to install a new board at the loss-making state airline. The president reaffirmed his support for Gordhan and urged the prosecutor “and other institutions concerned to conduct the matter with the necessary dignity and respect.”
Gordhan safe
The rand extended losses against the dollar on Wednesday, weakening 0.8 percent to 14.4827 by 12.47pm in Johannesburg, the lowest level on a closing basis since September 2 and the worst performer among 31 emerging market and major currencies. Yields on South African local-currency bonds due December 2026 rose three basis points to 8.96 percent. Banking stocks fell the most in seven weeks on Tuesday.
The rand’s reaction on Tuesday was “less than could’ve been the case”, Coleman said in a text message response to questions. The currency, which fell to a record low of 16.8717 in in January is still far off its worst levels and “may have run more”, he said. “The market’s not thinking Pravin will be fired.”
The matter “has to go to the courts”, Coleman said, adding that Gordhan needs to be kept in the post because markets have confidence in him and he has support from the business community to drive the economy. “What we need in South Africa more than anything is growth and jobs,” he said.
* With assistance from Renee Bonorchis
BLOOMBERG