LONDON -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 10/10/96 -- Standard&Poor's today has affirmed the Republic of South Africa's double-'B'-plus long- term foreign currency rating, which will be assigned to the Republic's debut Yankee issue. South Africa's triple-'B'-plus long-term rating on rand-denominated debt also has been affirmed. The outlook on both ratings remains positive. The ratings are supported by expected continuation of South Africa's: -- Commitment to fiscal and monetary discipline and market-based structural reforms, which was reaffirmed in the government's June 1996 medium-term economic plan; -- Manageable external debt burden. Net external debt and debt service relative to exports are comparable to the median of sovereigns in the double-'B' foreign currency rating category; -- Stable and comparatively low rates
