A South African child holds a 50 rand note in a file photo.
A South African child holds a 50 rand note in a file photo. REUTERS

South Africa's rand fell more than 1.2 percent to a six week low against the dollar on Wednesday and government bonds touched a six month low ahead of a central bank's policy decision next day, expected to see rates unchanged.

The rand fell to 6.9805 to the dollar at 1310 GMT from its close of 6.8950 on Tuesday. This was its weakest level since December 8.

Government bonds were weaker on the day, with the yield on the benchmark 2015 touching a six month high of 7.77 percent from a close of 7.73 percent on Tuesday.

I think it's pretty much a little bit of squaring off ahead of tomorrow's MPC (monetary policy committee) announcement, a Johannesburg bond dealer said.