LONDON (Standard&Poor's) Dec. 19, 2007--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said it does not expect any sharp or immediate changes to economic policy direction in the Republic of South Africa (foreign currency BBB+/Stable/A-2; local currency A+/Stable/A-1) following the election of Jacob Zuma as president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. "The policy challenges have not changed in South Africa," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Farouk Soussa. "A prudent fiscal-monetary policy mix remains the key to steering the economy through pressures associated with the current investment boom, which is aimed at alleviating socioeconomic strains through faster growth. We expect that welfare and social policies will continue to be framed by these macroeconomic considerations." In the short
