--- title: "South Africa: Reference rate reform – the transition from Jibar to ZARONIA" description: The Market Practitioners Group (MPG) is a joint public and private sector body comprising representatives from the South African Reserve Bank, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, and senior professionals from a variety of institutions from different market interest groups active in the domestic money market. The MPG recently hosted a conference to discuss reference rate reform in a South African context and the roadmap to transition from Jibar to ZARONIA (similar to the transition from LIBOR to risk-free rates). image: https://insights.afriwise.com/hubfs/Pictures/Skylines/South%20Africa/SOUTH%20AFRICA-tebogo-losaba-ybjhQsdXxzY-unsplash%20(1).jpg --- [![Afriwise](https://insights.afriwise.com/hubfs/Logos/Afriwise/Afriwise%20logo.svg)](https://afriwise.com/) - [Products](https://afriwise.com/law-products-africa/) - [Countries](https://afriwise.com/countries-covered/) - [About Afriwise](https://afriwise.com/about-afriwise/) - [Contact](https://afriwise.com/contact/) - [News](https://news.afriwise.com/) - [Insights](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog) [Schedule a demo](https://afriwise.com/contact/) [Log in](https://afriwise.com/login/) - [Products](https://afriwise.com/law-products-africa/) - [Countries](https://afriwise.com/countries-covered/) - [Solutions](https://afriwise.com/solutions/) - [About Afriwise](https://afriwise.com/about-afriwise/) - Insights - [Contact](https://afriwise.com/contact/) - [News](https://news.afriwise.com/) [Schedule a demo](https://afriwise.com/contact/) [Log in](https://afriwise.com/login/) # South Africa: Reference rate reform – the transition from Jibar to ZARONIA [South Africa](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/south-africa) [Financial Services](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/financial-services) [Reference Rates](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/reference-rates) 17/05/2023 [Bowmans](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/author/bowmans) The Market Practitioners Group (MPG) is a joint public and private sector body comprising representatives from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), and senior professionals from a variety of institutions from different market interest groups active in the domestic money market. The MPG recently hosted a conference to discuss reference rate reform in a South African context and the roadmap to transition from Jibar to ZARONIA (similar to the transition from LIBOR to risk-free rates). ZARONIA is an acronym for South African Rand Overnight Index Average. It is administered by the SARB and is the MPG’s preferred successor rate to the Jibar. The rate is a measure of the interest rate at which rand-denominated overnight wholesale funds are obtained by banks in South Africa, where credit, liquidity and other risks are minimal. The rate is based on unsecured overnight call deposits placed with commercial banks, which are classified as deposit-taking institutions in the Banks Act 94 of 1990. On each South African business day, ZARONIA is determined as a trimmed, volume-weighted mean of the central 80% of the distribution of interest rates paid on eligible unsecured overnight call deposits, rounded off to three decimal places. As it is a backward-looking rate, there is more transparency in the market and less room for possible manipulation. Key differences between ZARONIA and Jibar are summarised below:   | **ZARONIA** | **Jibar** | | --- | --- | | Near risk-free rate | Built in credit and term premium component | | Overnight rate | Term rate | | Backward looking | Forward looking | | Fully transaction based | Indicative rates | | Broad array of market participants | Only five contributing institutions |   The transition plan to ZARONIA is in its foundation phase. It is estimated that the Jibar cessation date will be announced in early 2024. Pursuant to a rough timeline it is estimated that the Jibar cessation date will occur in 2026. The transition plan recommends that Jibar cessation be preceded by a period (roughly from June 2025) in which Jibar is no longer allowed in new positions in order to decrease the number of documents referencing Jibar ahead of the cessation date.   The cessation of the Jibar refers to the situation where the benchmark will no longer be published past a certain date. This will mean that all contracts referencing the Jibar will need to be actively transitioned to an alternative reference rate and/or make provision for the use of an appropriate fallback rate. New contracts entered into after the announcement of the cessation date, and which mature after the cessation date, will need to reference an alternative rate such as ZARONIA.   The MPG is also working on a sample Jibar replacement clause for loan agreements. However, the SARB has stressed that this wording will not be prescribed, and clients need to obtain legal advice on the provisions that are suitable for the particular transaction. The clause can be a useful starting point for negotiations, and we can also draw on what the Working Group on Sterling Risk Free Reference Rates in the United Kingdom has recommended in the transition from LIBOR to RFRs - for example, including credit adjustment spread language where appropriate.   Answers to frequently asked questions related to South Africa’s benchmark reform journey are available on the SARB’s website [here](https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/what-we-do/financial-markets/financial-markets-market-practitioners-group/MPG-frequently-asked-questions).     -- Read the original article at [Bowmans](https://bowmanslaw.com/insights/finance/south-africa-reference-rate-reform-the-transition-from-jibar-to-zaronia/). ## Related posts [South Africa](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/south-africa) [Intellectual Property](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/intellectual-property) [Plant Breeding](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/plant-breeding) ## [A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet, but Sweet Enough to Be a Trade Mark?](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/a-rose-by-any-other-name-would-smell-as-sweet-but-sweet-enough-to-be-a-trade-mark) South Africa is known internationally for its abundant flora. South African plant breeders regularly win awards at an international level for their unique and beautiful cultivars. From roses to aloes to all manner of drought-resistant and “South Africa friendly” flowers, .. [Read More](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/south-africa-reference-rate-reform-the-transition-from-jibar-to-zaronia) [South Africa](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/south-africa) [Legislation](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/legislation) [ICT](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/ict) [Cybercrime](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/cybercrime) ## [Understanding Your Rights and Obligations Under the Cybercrimes Act: An Integral Aspect of Businesses’ Data and Information Protection Processes](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/understanding-your-rights-and-obligations-under-the-cybercrimes-act-an-integral-aspect-of-businesses-data-and-information-protection-processes) Businesses in South Africa are required to notify authorities of certain offences, although they are also empowered to rely on certain legislation to protect and enforce their rights against criminals. The Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 (the Cybercrimes Act) is the first stat.. [Read More](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/south-africa-reference-rate-reform-the-transition-from-jibar-to-zaronia) [South Africa](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/south-africa) [Environment](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/environment) [Regulations](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/regulations) [Non-compliance](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/tag/non-compliance) ## [Regulator Starts to Crack Down on EPR Free Riders](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/regulator-starts-to-crack-down-on-epr-free-riders) Despite coming into force in 2021, many businesses seem to be unaware of the laws pertaining to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is cracking down and has issued 37 pre-compliance notices to non-compliant EPR.. [Read More](https://insights.afriwise.com/blog/south-africa-reference-rate-reform-the-transition-from-jibar-to-zaronia) Subscribe to our newsletter - [Home](https://afriwise.com/) - [Products](https://afriwise.com/law-products-africa/) - [Countries](https://afriwise.com/countries-covered/) - [Solutions](https://afriwise.com/solutions/) - [About Afriwise](https://afriwise.com/about-afriwise/) - [FAQ](https://afriwise.com/faq/) - [News](https://news.afriwise.com/) - [Contact](https://afriwise.com/contact/) [Privacy Policy](https://afriwise.com/contact/) [Terms of Use](https://afriwise.com/contact/) [info@afriwise.com](mailto:info@afriwise.com) +32 2 808 92 74 © Afriwise N.V. 2026