Standard & Poor’s research statement:
Overview
- Low GDP growth, upwardly revised fiscal deficits, and a growing debt burden are damaging South Africa’s fiscal metrics.
- Unless the government takes measures to control the fiscal deficit and we see sustained reform momentum, we view debt as unlikely to stabilise within our three-year forecast period.
- We are therefore revising our outlook on South Africa to negative from stable.
- We are also affirming our long- and short-term foreign currency ratings on South Africa at ‘BB/B’, our local currency ratings at ‘BB+/B’, and our national scale ratings at ‘zaAAA/zaA-1+’.
Rating action
On Nov. 22, 2019, S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on South Africa to negative from stable. At the same time, we affirmed the ‘BB/B’ long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings and the ‘BB+/B’ long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings. The transfer and convertibility (T&C) assessment is ‘BBB-‘.
We also affirmed our ‘zaAAA/zaA-1+’ long- and short-term South Africa national scale ratings on the sovereign.
Outlook
The negative outlook indicates that South Africa’s debt metrics are rapidly worsening as a result of the country’s low GDP growth and high fiscal deficits.
We could lower the ratings if we were to observe continued fiscal deterioration, for example, due to higher pressure on spending, rising interest costs, or the crystallisation of contingent liabilities related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially Eskom. We could also lower the ratings if economic performance weakened further or if external funding pressures were to mount.
Also read: Time to re-assess efficacy of financial canaries Moody’s, S&P and Fitch
We could also consider lowering the ratings if the rule of law, property rights, or enforcement of contracts were to weaken significantly, undermining the investment and economic outlook. We currently view this as unlikely.
We could revise the outlook to stable if the government credibly arrested the rise in the net government debt-to-GDP ratio, controlled fiscal deficits, and improved SOEs. We could also revise the outlook if we saw a substantial improvement in the economic growth outlook.
South Africa outlook cut to negative by S&P amid fiscal woes
By Prinesha Naidoo and Justin Villamil
(Bloomberg) – South Africa could fall deeper into junk territory after S&P Global Ratings cut the outlook on its assessment of the nation’s debt to negative, citing the slow growth, upwardly revised fiscal deficit and growing debt burden.
Sixteen of 22 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted the move. Another cut means it will take South Africa even longer to regain its investment-grade status at S&P, the first major ratings company to cut the nation to junk in 2017 after former President Jacob Zuma replaced the finance minister in a late-night cabinet shake-up. The nation is now led by Cyril Ramaphosa.
Moody’s lowered the outlook on its investment grade rating to negative less than three weeks ago, effectively giving the nation three months to get its finances in order. A Moody’s downgrade would force South Africa out of the FTSE World Government Bond Index, which could prompt a sell-off and outflows of as much as $15 billion, according to Bank of New York Mellon Corp. It will also raise borrowing costs and make it even more difficult for government to finance the budget.
Here’s what analysts had to say:
Daniel Tenengauzer, head of markets strategy at BNY Mellon in New York:
- “I don’t think it makes a big difference,” Tenengauzer said. “The only thing that could move the rand from here would be an actual downgrade”
- “It’s important to keep in mind that Moody’s clearly is the more critical because it could trigger the WGBI exit. Having said that, if the spread between S&P and Moody’s widens too much, that obviously should push Moody’s in that direction as well”
Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank Plc in London:
- The market impact “should be negligible,“ because it was so widely expected, she said. At the same time, though, “it does provide important political cover to both the Ramaphosa administration, and to the Treasury in particular, to pursue faster fiscal and structural reform”
Brendan McKenna, a currency strategist at Wells Fargo in New York:
- S&P’s decision “probably doesn’t impact the currency all that much just given S&P’s credit rating is already non-investment grade,” he said. There’s a small risk, though, that it influences Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the nation as well.
Government’s response to the rating action of S&P Global Ratings
Issued by National Treasury
Government notes S&P’s decision to affirm South Africa’s long term foreign currency debt rating at ‘BB’ and local currency debt rating at ‘BB+’ as well as revise the outlook to negative from stable. South Africa’s foreign and local credit ratings by S&P remain below investment grade.
According to S&P, the outlook revision indicates that South Africa’s debt metrics are rapidly worsening as a result of the country’s very low GDP growth and high fiscal deficits. The agency states that unless government takes measures to control the fiscal deficit and fast track the implementation of reforms, debt is unlikely to stabilise within S&P’s three-year forecast period.
Government fully recognises S&P’s assessment of the challenges and opportunities which the country faces in the immediate to long-term and remains committed to placing public finances on a sustainable path while aiming for inclusive economic growth. The agency acknowledges the work the government has started doing to restore the credibility of the country’s weakened institutions (e.g. the reinvigoration of the National Prosecuting Authority and South African Revenue Service).
Furthermore, the agency acknowledges the credibility of the South African Reserve Bank and the flexible exchange rate regime to be key strengths supporting the country’s ratings. Meaningful progress has been achieved on the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2018.
Government remains committed to implementing much needed economic reforms in order to revive the country’s economic growth. Furthermore, government reiterates that the growth in the public sector wage bill needs to be addressed in order to reduce the debt burden. Government, labour, business and civil society need to work hand-in-hand as difficult decisions that imply short-term costs for the economy and fiscus need to be made in order to turn the tide around.
