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Welcome back: Ground crew wave flags as an Emirates flight from Dubai lands. It was one of the first international commercial flights to arrive in South Africa when borders reopened on 1 October after a more than six-month shutdown. Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP

Covid-19 causes Acsa to dust off its begging bowl

The SOE has asked the government for R3.5-billion in extra support over the next three years to offset losses incurred because of the pandemic

(Paul Botes/M&G)

Covid-19 puts Eskom’s integrated resource plan at risk

The economic effects of the pandemic could hamper the government’s initiative to procure new generation capacity

Moody’s was the only major ratings agency not to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign debt to junk status in 2017. (Shuttershock)

Rand firm as Moody’s delays ratings move

Last week, the rand rebounded sharply following lower-than-expected CPI figures from the US as well as a decline in US stocks

Your guide to investing where your heart urges you to

Rand firms for second day as markets consider downgrade unlikely

Ratings agency Moody’s is set to announce on Friday whether it will downgrade the country’s sovereign credit rating to junk

President Jacob Zuma delivers the state of the nation address in Parliament on Thursday. Security forces were called to eject EFF members who interrupted Zuma’s speech. (Rodger Bosch, AFP)

Eskom signs R20bn credit facility amid ‘unfortunate’ downgrade

​S&P Global Ratings has again downgraded the long-term debt of Eskom

Lesetja Kganyago said the central bank was looking at four 25 basis points hikes by the end of 2020. This would bring the repo rate to 7.5% by the end of 2020. (Bloomberg)

SARB stalls cuts in rates

“The challenge for government will be to find ways to finance the deficit in a growth-positive manner"

This was a meeting where we were reconnecting

Moody’s cautious on Ramaphosa win

Moody’s placed South Africa on negative ratings watch but stopped short of downgrading South Africa outright.

Reflections on power: Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke has raised legitimate concerns.

Recession risks hitting healthcare where it counts

Experts warn state clinics and hospitals are likely to further deteriorate as the public purse shrinks.

The new police minister

Mbalula lashes out at Gordhan and other ANC leaders

The ruling party’s NEC member says former finance minister Pravin Gordhan is partly to blame for South Africa’s credit downgrade.

Abrahams’ very appointment was the result of the President’s abuse of power — Wim Trengove SC

From Cabinet reshuffle to junk status in just 90 hours

The rand has continued to slide, reaching 13.67 to the dollar, an hour after news of the ratings downgrade broke.

Street hawkers sell their wares to passing pedestrians on a road near the headquarters of the South African Reserve Bank in Pretoria.

South Africa is on a cliff edge – just as it was in 1985

International banks and companies will be much more reluctant to make loans to SA entities now that the country’s credit rating has been downgraded.

Eleven-month-old Akalapatan Kebo

South Africa has a new energy plan. But will it break the bank?

The recently updated Integrated Resource Plan calls for significant investment in South Africa’s power supply. But can the country afford it?

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane released her report on the multimillion-rand Vrede Dairy Project — initiated by the Free State government in 2012 as part of its efforts to boost the province’s agricultural economy — in February last year. (Gallo)

S&P: Undermining key institutions could see South Africa downgraded to junk status

The rating agency’s MD, Konrad Reuss, said in Cape Town that recent political events in the country could weigh heavily on investor confidence.

Lungisa Fuzile. (Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Turkey’s credit downgrade could be a bad omen for South Africa

Turkey’s economy is growing faster than SA’s, so could political volatility tip us into being the next emerging market to be afforded junk status?

Finance minister Pravin Gordhan speaking in Johannesburg earlier this month. Gordhan said he saw more than 50% chance the country will avoid a downgrade by ratings agencies.

‘Get real’: Gordhan will find it hard to sell sceptical investors a good story

Financiers are likely to question the dearth of restructuring and the country’s faltering growth.

It remains to be seen if Gordhan will be able to prevent bad decisions from being made.

South Africa’s investment grade rating still vulnerable

Analysts warn that blunders in policy could bring about a downgrade by the end of the year.

SA looks set for ‘stay of execution’ on downgrade

It appears that South Africa’s rating downgrade has been postponed until December – but is inevitable regardless, say some economists.

Credit ratings: It’s tough, but SA’s hanging in there

Reserve Bank notes major recent shocks to economy, but says our banks could withstand a ratings downgrade.