LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) March 9, 2001--The South African government announced today that the planned sale of South African Special Risks Insurance Association (SASRIA) will not be going ahead. SASRIA, set up to cover political risks during the apartheid years, became a public company in September 1999, and the government announced last year that it wanted to sell the new entity as soon as possible. Today's decision to keep SASRIA in state hands for at least another five years is not a sign of weakening commitment to privatization, but due to a lack of investor interest in such a specialized company. Nevertheless, a South African rand (R) 3 billion (about $375 million) special dividend, to be paid by SASRIA
