Economics
South African Political Divisions Extend to Virus Response
- Country shouldn’t seek IMF funding: ruling coalition leaders
- Government urged to tap domestic financing, retirement funds
Tito Mboweni speaks at DIRCO Media Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, on March 16.
Photographer: Phill Magakoe/Gallo Images via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Long-standing divisions within South Africa’s political leadership over economic policy have spilled into its management of the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
While Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has said the government could consider approaching the International Monetary Fund for assistance to fight the pandemic, senior ruling coalition officials rejected that option on the grounds that the nation’s sovereignty would be undermined.