South Africa cuts growth forecast, calls for political stability

By Stella Mapenzauswa CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa's Treasury on Wednesday slashed this year's growth forecast and predicted a wider budget deficit for the 2016/17 fiscal year, warning that it would have to cut spending to avoid credit rating downgrades. Speaking to reporters before presenting his budget speech to parliament, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is facing fraud charges, stressed the need to bring an end to "political noise" in the country and get the economy back on track.