South Africa |

Zuma’s Defiance Hampers Ramaphosa Bid to Reform South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Pressured to resign as the nation’s president in February, Zuma retains significant influence in the ruling African National Congress, and his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been forced to keep some of the former leader’s allies in the cabinet. That’s hampered the new president’s bid to unify the party, fight corruption and implement policies to restore confidence in the economy. Zuma, 76, still attends ANC events, including at least one…

Zimbabwe’s Ousted Vice President Flees After Death Threats

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HARARE (Capital Markets in Africa) – Former Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa fled the southern African nation because of “incessant threats” against him and his family two days after he was fired by President Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa, 75, said Wednesday in a statement that he never planned to harm Mugabe, who he’s been supporting for more than four decades, and pledged to work to establish a “new and progressive leadership” in the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front….

Battle for South Africa’s Finances Rages on Multiple Fronts

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Johannesburg, Capital Markets in Africa: South Africa’s government appears to be at war with itself, as President Jacob Zuma and his Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan grapple for control of the nation’s finances. While Zuma has downplayed the conflict, saying “there is no war within government,” he’s undermined Gordhan’s authority by refusing to back him in stand-offs with the police, national tax agency and loss-making state airline. Several government agencies have been drawn into the fight. Here are the key…

South Africa’s corruption watchdog interviews finance ministers in Zuma, Gupta inquiry -paper

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JOHANNESBURG, Capital Markets in Africa: South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog has interviewed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas as part of an investigation into whether President Jacob Zuma was influenced by the wealthy Gupta family in making government appointments, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. The paper said Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had written to Zuma informing him of her investigation into whether he breached the executive code of conduct. Madonsela has already interviewed…

South Africa’s S&P Rating Respite Strengthens Gordhan’s Hand

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan emerged in a stronger position in his tug of war with President Jacob Zuma after S&P Global Ratings decided not to cut the nation’s credit rating to junk. “This means that Gordhan will not be going anywhere for the time being, unless he takes a personal decision to go,” said Susan Booysen, a politics professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Governance. “This is another…

MTN Slumps After Nigeria Suspends Talks on $3.9 Billion Fine

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: MTN Group Ltd. shares fell after Nigeria suspended talks about a $3.9 billion fine on the South African mobile-phone company while the country’s House of Representatives completes an investigation into the nature of the penalty. The stock declined as much as 2.9 percent, the most since May 12, and traded 1.5 percent lower at 126.50 rand as of 10:23 a.m. in Johannesburg, valuing the company at 233 billion rand ($15 billion)….

South Africa Maintains Rate at 7% Despite Inflation Risk in May

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The pause in the South African central bank’s policy tightening cycle may be short-lived as it forecast increasing risks for inflation from a weaker rand and food prices. The repurchase rate was left unchanged at 7 percent, Governor Lesetja Kganyago told reporters on Thursday in the capital, Pretoria. Nineteen of the 25 economists in a Bloomberg survey predicted no change to borrowing costs. Five of the six members Monetary Policy Committee members preferred to keep the rate unchanged…

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