TimesLive reports that ratings agency Fitch has warned the ANC to avoid introducing populist measures such as a national minimum wage in the run-up to local elections.  

Meanwhile, labour federation Cosatu has threatened to strike over the government's slow implementation of the proposed policy.  Fitch, which rates South Africa at BBB-, one notch above speculative grade, is expected to publish a review of the country's debt rating on 3 June.  Referring to the upcoming local government elections, Fitch’s Jan Friederich told a banking conference that “quick fixes” like the introduction of a high minimum wage would appear to help the poor, but might also discourage investment.  But Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali on Thursday said it was "totally unacceptable" that two years after the ANC had committed to the minimum wage, there had been no significant progress.

• Read this report by Neo Goba and Reuters in full at TimesLive
• Read too, Treasury under fire from Cosatu for ‘pacifying’ foreigners, at BDLive
• And also, Cosatu frustrated over other Nedlac constituents’ stance on minimum wage, at BDLive

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