BIZ BRIEFS Fitch revises S Africa’s outlook to negative

JOHANNESBURG — Ratings agency Fitch revised South Africa's outlook from stable to negative, citing the country's failure to create enough jobs and to speed up economic growth.

"Not least of the problems that require urgent attention is the economy's inability to create sufficient jobs for its labour force," said Purvi Harlalka, director in Fitch's Sovereigns group.

"This inability has not only constrained growth and kept the tax base narrow but has also caused public finances to become increasingly redistributive in an effort to address the lack of social mobility," she said.

"The resultant narrowing of fiscal space undermines a key support to South Africa's creditworthiness." South Africa's unemployment rate is mired around 25 per cent, while its economic growth has averaged 2.7 per cent over the last five years — lower than the average in similar economies, Fitch said.

"High unemployment already fosters widespread criminal violence and deters foreign investment," Fitch said in a statememt. "Over time it could also threaten social and political stability, damaging the investment climate further."

But Fitch said that South Africa's BBB+ foreign credit rating was still supported by the strength of its courts, regulators and government authorities, which has fostered a solid corporate and financial sector.

The agency also said that debate over nationalisation of mines, led by the youth wing of the ruling African National Congress, was unlikely to result in expropriations but had dented investor confidence. Fitch's downgrade follows similar action by Moody's two months ago.

The Treasury said in a statement on Friday that South Africa was being affected by global uncertainty, particularly in Europe.

"Europe, a major trading partner, accounts for more than 30 per cent of our manufacturing exports (and) is currently experiencing major economic challenges. This therefore impacts negatively on South Africa," it said.