South African deputy finance minister says graft, patronage threats to governance

South Africa's Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas (R) and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan arrive for a media briefing in Pretoria in this December 14, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/Files

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said on Thursday that patronage and corruption were undermining efforts to build a credible government, as Africa's most industrialised country faces the prospect of potential ratings downgrades.

Jonas' remarks said in a speech at a labour congress also came the day after the Auditor-General said irregular expenditure by South African government departments swelled 80 percent to 43.4 billion rand ($3 billion) in the 2015-16 financial year.