At 1555 GMT the rand was 0.82% weaker at 15.4150 per dollar, tracking weakness in most emerging markets currencies as trade worries linger.
The rand has fallen more than 7% since the beginning of August, pressured by the rising likelihood of a credit ratings downgrade by Moody's linked to a massive, additional bailout for state power firm Eskom and signs of slower global growth.
On the bourse, however, stocks rose to a three-month high. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange's broader all-share index closed 0.95% up to 54,386 points, while the benchmark Top-40 index gained 1.01% to 48,647 points.
Leading the blue-chip index upwards was chemicals and energy company Sasol, which rose 3.29% to 273.71 rand, while miner Anglo American gained 3.07% to 322.85 rand. Pharmacist Clicks also increased 2.57% to 198.07 rand.
Ryan Woods, trader at Independent Securities, said the stock market was lifted by factors including the prospect of government stimulus to stave off recession Germany.
Bonds weakened, with the yield on the benchmark paper due in 2026 adding 4.5 basis points to 8.43%.
The inversion of the US Treasury bond yield curve - widely viewed as a sign of looming global recession - for the first time since 2007, also put pressure on the rand last week.