LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Feb. 10, 1999--Standard&Poor's today affirmed its double-'B'-plus long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings and single-'B' short-term foreign currency issuer credit rating on the Republic of South Africa. Standard&Poor's also affirmed its triple-'B'-plus long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings and its 'A-2' short-term local currency issuer credit rating on South Africa. The outlook is stable. South Africa's ratings are constrained by: -- Lackluster growth prospects and high unemployment. Weak global demand for South Africa's key commodity exports and poor domestic demand are expected to result in real GDP growth of no more than 0.5% in 1999, followed eventually by an acceleration to 2%-3% in 2000. Factors limiting medium-term
