South Africa finmin Gordhan says aims to improve growth to avoid December downgrade

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's finance minister said on Friday the decision by S&P Global Ratings to keep its investment-grade credit rating was positive and showed that the country was resilient. Speaking on Talk Radio 702, Pravin Gordhan said that growth needed to be expanded to avoid a downgrade by S&P in December. S&P affirmed the rating on the sovereign debt of Africa's most industrialised country at BBB-, but warned that the outlook remained negative, reflecting the potential adverse consequences of low GDP growth. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by James Macharia)