Global rating agency Fitch has kept South Africa's long term foreign and local currency debt ratings at BB+ and maintained its negative outlook, national Treasury said on Wednesday. 

The country remains one notch below investment grade on Fitch's rating.

"According to Fitch, South Africa’s ratings are constrained by low growth potential, high and rising government debt, large contingent liabilities as well as the risk of rising social tensions due to extremely high inequality. 

"Nonetheless, the ratings remain supported by strong macroeconomic institutions, a favourable government debt structure and deep local capital markets. The negative outlook reflects uncertainty about the ability of the government to stabilise public debt over the medium term," said Treasury via a statement. 

Government remained committed to the stabilisation and improvement of its fiscal position, according to the statement, and the agency had acknowledged government’s plans to stabilise its finances in order to achieve a balanced primary budget balance. 

"Further, government will continue to work hand-in-hand with unions to manage the growth of the public sector wage bill in order to reduce government’s debt burden."

Government was also cognisant of the pressures and risks that state owned companies, particularly Eskom, presented to the fiscal framework, said the statement. 

"Government is providing medium-term support to Eskom to secure energy supply and to honour the state’s contractual obligations. National Treasury, in partnership with the Department of Public Enterprises, is instituting a series of measures to bring discipline to the utility’s finances, and to step up the timeline for restructuring.

"Continued collaboration between government, labour, business and civil society is essential in order to successfully implement all fiscal measures and growth-enhancing reforms."