Ratings firm Moody's will visit South Africa in the next week to decide whether to downgrade its credit status to just one notch above sub-investment grade, the Treasury said on Wednesday.
South Africa's Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan told local station Radio 702 that Moody's informed him of their decision during his stop in London on an overseas roadshow to meet with investors and convince them the economy could be turned around.
"They will be in South Africa and meet with various stakeholders and get relevant information that will influence them either not to downgrade us or not to downgrade us," Gordhan said.
The Treasury said in a statement that the "review visit will primarily serve to either affirm the current ratings or downgrade them."
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Gordhan is battling to boost South Africa's growth and to persuade ratings agencies not to cut the country's credit rating to junk following his appointment last December.
Late on Tuesday, Moody's said it was placing South Africa's Baa2 ratings on review for downgrade, citing the economy's weak growth prospects and worsening fiscal position.
"The review will allow Moody's to assess to what extent government policy can stabilize the economy and restore fiscal strength," the agency said in a statement.
Moody's put South Africa's Baa2 credit rating on a negative outlook in December, and is the only agency that does not have South Africa a step away from junk status.
- Reuters
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