At 0700 GMT the rand was 0.02% firmer at 14.1375 per dollar.

The rand had gained strongly in the previous month along with other emerging assets as the greenback slumped over the likelihood of lower U.S. lending rates, but the dollar has bounced back.

"Although the rand has continued to trade steadily over the most recent sessions, it has as yet failed to breach sub-14.0000, and with little by way of local news to provide support, it has retreated from its best levels," analysts at Nedbank said.

A trade truce between the United States and China on the sidelines of the G20 summit over the weekend has calmed fears and boosted the dollar, but negotiations are ongoing, with the uncertainty curbing risk-taking by investors.

"The markets remain at the mercy of any headlines regarding the resumption of trade talks between the U.S. and China," the analysts said in a note.

Bonds were weaker, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year government issue <ZAR186= > adding 2.5 basis points to 8.15%.