Johannesburg - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has partly blamed negative credit ratings for South Africa on the "news flow", SABC radio news reported on Friday.
He told a joint committee of parliament that rating agencies had told him the "news flow" often portrayed the country in a negative light.
He said South Africa's credit ratings not only depended on good governance but also on perceptions of the country.
"Whether we are in opposition or in government, whether we are in business or in any other sector of the economy, if you want to shoot this country down carry on with the news flow.
"Alternatively, change the narrative and talk about how we are going to cooperate to put this country on its proper growth [path] so we can create jobs and we can create optimism and a better investment climate for the country," said Gordhan.