The development was the latest dramatic twist in an extraordinary election year that had many banks and investors planning for no clear winner on Nov. 3 with a global market panic expected to ensue, Reuters reported Wednesday.
At 0645 GMT the rand was 0.6pc weaker at 16.7000 per dollar from a close of 16.6000 overnight, halting a recovery that has seen the unit gain around 4pc this week.
Spot gold edged up 0.1pc to $1,907.22 an ounce by 1014GMT, reversing losses from early Asian trade to climb back above $1,900. U.S. gold futures eased by 0.1pc to $1,914.70.