South Africa | - Part 33

South Africa Central Bank Says Ombudsman’s Actions Risk Economy

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s central bank filed court papers to reverse an instruction by the anti-graft ombudsman that its mandate of protecting the value of currency be changed, saying the “reckless” proposal is harming the economy. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in a report earlier this month instructed parliament to start a process to change the nation’s constitution to make the central bank focus on the “socioeconomic well-being of the citizens” rather than inflation….

Rate-Cutting Race Among BRICS Outliers Pits Russia, Brazil

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The race to ease monetary policy in Russia and Brazil may come down to factors neither of the central banks can control. Even after months of rate cuts, the two economies continue to endure some of the world’s highest borrowing costs when adjusted for inflation. While both countries are still consumed by crises as they try to put two years of recession behind them, the political turmoil gripping Brazil leaves its central bank facing a tougher task ahead, according…

South Africa Must Have Inflation-Target Talk, Buthelezi Says

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JOHANNESBURGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa should have talks on the appropriateness of the central bank’s inflation target, Deputy Finance Minister Sfiso Buthelezi said, adding to concern that the institution’s mandate may be altered. “We set this 3 percent to 6 percent then, under different economic conditions,” Buthelezi said at a conference Monday in Johannesburg. “Is it still relevant now? Is it a policy for all seasons?” Buthelezi’s remarks come a week after Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane recommended…

South African Miners Apply to Court to Block Government Charter

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JOHANNESBURGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – Johannesburg South Africa’s mining companies have applied to the High Court in Pretoria to block the government’s Mining Charter, arguing that the new rules would destroy the industry. The Chamber of Mines, which represents mining companies, has applied for an urgent interdict that would halt the implementation of the charter, published by the Department of Mineral Resources on June 15, it said in an emailed statement Monday. The group plans…

Banks Balk at Risk of Funding South Africa Mining Charter Deals

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JOHANNESBURGH (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s plan to force mining companies to give the black majority a bigger stake in the nation’s mineral wealth faces a major obstacle: convincing banks to back billions of dollars of fresh deals in an industry in decline. Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on June 15 that local mines should be at least 30 percent owned by black people, up from the previous requirement of 26 percent. The mining companies need banks to…

South Africa Inflation Rate Rises for First Time in 2017

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s inflation rate rose for the first time this year in May after food-price growth quickened from the slowest pace since December 2015. Consumer-price inflation accelerated to 5.4 percent from 5.3 percent in April, matching the median estimate of 22 economists in a Bloomberg survey and staying within the central bank’s target range for a second month. Prices increased 0.3 percent in the month, Statistics South Africa said in a report…

Cell C Seeking 73% Debt Reduction in Blue Label Buyout Deal

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cell C Pty Ltd. is seeking to cut its debt by 73 percent as part of a deal that will help South Africa’s third-largest mobile-phone operator sell a stake to Blue Label Telecoms Ltd. while retaining its operating license, according to two people familiar with the matter. The proposed transaction will see Cell C split about 9 billion rand ($688 million) of borrowings into three special purpose vehicles, said the people, who…

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