Rand firms after Ramaphosa victory

After Cyril Ramaphosa was named new ANC president, the rand firmed by almost 4% against the US dollar to R 12.55.

Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC's 54th national conference on 18 December 2017. Picture: EWN.

Ray White | 1321 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - Just before the announcement that Cyril Ramaphosa was voted in as new ANC president, the rand moved to its strongest level to the dollar since March this year amid rife speculation that Ramaphosa would win.

After Ramaphosa was confirmed as the new ANC president, the rand firmed by almost 4% against the US dollar to R12.55.

The rand has hit very strong levels last seen in early September with some good news for bonds as well.

#ANC54 The Rand slips back a bit after the announcement. Now R12.74/$, R17.07/Pound and R15.04/Euro RW
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 18, 2017

Standard Bank Economist Goolam Ballim says: “In the essence, after having been adrift for a decade and after having growth slump for many years, it is now the expectation that with Cyril Ramaphosa at the helm, growth will be reinvigorated.”

Shortly after Ramaphosa's victory was announced, South Africa's sovereign dollar bonds extended gains by as much as 1.2 cents.

There is a general consensus that the next leader of the ANC will need to steer the country away from another possible downgrade.

#ANC54 The Rand to the dollar today...
Now R12.62/$ RW pic.twitter.com/sTkD0KJKQJ
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 18, 2017

At the same time, South Africans are flooding social media platforms with their predictions (some believed to have inside info), messages of support with a pinch of humour.

It’s a boy
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) December 18, 2017

#ANC54
I have a feeling that we might have to wait for these results until 2018.

CR17 is a clear winner but Gogo Moloi is delaying the outcome.
— $ibusiso $ithebe (@SibusisoSithebe) December 18, 2017