Investors braced for further upheaval in South Africa’s financial markets in the wake of last week’s elections that produced no outright winner, with the outcome of ongoing coalition talks remaining highly uncertain.
The ANC fell short of a parliamentary majority for the first time since it took power three decades ago, as its supporters voiced their anger about endemic poverty, unemployment and crime by boycotting the polls or backing its rivals. It won 40.2% of the votes cast on 29 May, results released by late on Sunday showed.
The centrist Democratic Alliance garnered 21.8% support, former President Jacob Zuma’s new uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP, 14.6% and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters 9.5%. The latter parties both favour increased state spending and the nationalisation of mines and the central bank, and the prospects of them joining the government and demanding populist policy changes is weighing on South Africa’s currency and debt.
“Investors should be very worried because South Africa is at a fork in the road,” said Anne Frühauf, MD of risk adviser Teneo. “Right now, almost any coalition outcome is possible.”
The rand has slumped 2.7% against the dollar since voting began on 29 May as the extent of the ANC’s losses became apparent. It was trading around R18.75/US$ at 7.25am in Johannesburg on Monday. The cost of insuring the nation’s debt has risen about 18 basis points in that time to 240.7 basis points. The yield on local-currency bonds due in 2035 ended the week at 12.25%, the highest level in a month.
A coalition with the DA would be the most market-positive, “but getting there won’t be easy and will undoubtedly exert pressure on ANC cohesion”, said Mark Bohlund, senior credit research analyst at REDD Intelligence.
“I think the uncertainty will continue to weigh on the rand, with a record breach of R20/$ a distinct possibility,” he said. “The weaker rand is likely to trigger some repatriation of overseas funds in the near term. But the expectations of more constrained policymaking going forward will increase the incentives for South African investors.”
Negotiations
While the leaders of the main parties met over the weekend to chart a way forward, they’ve yet to begin negotiating with each other in earnest and it will likely take several days before any agreement is struck. The national assembly must meet to elect a president within 14 days of the declaration of the election results, although the law provides for an extension if no candidate can be agreed.
All the main parties have said they are open to a deal, although Zuma’s MKP has made any partnership with the ANC contingent on it ousting President Cyril Ramaphosa — a condition ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said it will never accept.
While Ramaphosa’s allies favour a coalition with the DA, that option will encounter major opposition within the ANC’s ranks, according to people with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.
“While opposition parties like the DA, MK and EFF will push hard to secure a deal, equally important will be the ANC’s internal dynamics,” Frühauf said. “This could be a big internal fight.”
Even if a power-sharing accord can be agreed, there’s no guarantee it will hold if deals struck at the municipal level in South Africa are anything to go by. Power has changed hands in several of the main cities that are ruled by multiple parties as allegiances have shifted, and the instability has caused the delivery of water, refuse removal and other services to ground to a near halt.
Zuma’s allegation that the vote count was marred by inconsistencies and his party’s warning that it may insist on a recount is another concern. While the electoral commission denies that there were material discrepancies, a contested outcome doesn’t bode well for stability — particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the MKP won almost half the vote.
Zuma served for almost nine scandal-marred years as president before the ANC forced him to step down to stem a loss of electoral support. His arrest for refusing to testify before a graft inquiry sparked the worst rioting and looting the country has seen since the end of apartheid, claiming the lives of 354 people. — Mike Cohen and Colleen Goko, (c) 2024 Bloomberg LP
Read next: SABC fined R500 000 for refusing to air DA election ad
