If south america were not there, explain how the direction of south equatorial current would be different

The weak surface expression and strong seasonal variations in flow directions makes it difficult to detect the secc in maps of average surface velocity. 
most of the ocean currents are affected by global winds and the coriolis effect, which states that the apparent curving of the path from an otherwise straight path is due to the earth's rotation. the movement of the ocean currents are also affected by the continents: because of global winds and the coriolis effect, most of the ocean currents want to move a different way than they actually are because they are deflected off of the continents. an example is the south equatorial current and the benguela current flowing in a circular motion in between the east coast of south america and the west coast of africa. if these continents ceased to exist, the directions of the currents would change, based on the global winds in that area and the coriolis effect

It is called a neutralization reaction