Wednesday, April 15, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Sheila Barradas.
Making headlines:
The National Prosecuting Authority's statement explaining its decision to drop charges against African National Congress president Jacob Zuma, has been found to draw on a judgement handed down in Hong Kong six years ago. This is according to political columnist James Myburgh.
He points out that acting head of prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, cited the British Commonwealth judgement almost exactly, but with "some self-serving summarising, truncation and rewriting by the NPA".
The Hong Kong judgment was later overturned on appeal.
Myburgh questioned whether the rulings Mpshe relied on were "really relevant" to his decision to drop charges against Zuma.
Responding to Myburgh's article, NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said that the prosecutions authority was not attempting to pass the ruling off as its own.

In international news, envoys to the World Trade Organisation have agreed that there is no imminent global threat of protectionist and counter-protectionist wars, with countries creating barriers against each other's goods.
The focus of the meeting was a report from WTO economists, citing dozens of measures taken by governments in recent months clearly aimed at reducing the challenge posed by imports to their own producers and workers.
WTO director-general Pascal Lamy said that there has been "some slippage" in this direction. Trade restrictions in response to national political and social pressures have to be avoided if the recession is not to turn into a global depression.
WTO member countries should avoid nationalistic responses to the economic crisis, Lamy said, which would just shift problems to neighbours at the risk of these issues bouncing back.

In South African news, the ruling African National Congress is reportedly planning to set up a State mining firm after the general election. However, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe stresses that the nationalisation of mineral assets is not on the agenda.
The ANC has promised to do more for the poor in the major metals producing nation, but also to maintain business-friendly policies. Mantashe says that a State mining firm would create jobs and help South Africa benefit more from its mineral wealth.
Signs of greater State involvement in the sector could, however, raise concerns among investors wary of a shift to the left under Jacob Zuma.

Also making headlines:
South Africa sets up special police units ahead of next week's elections.
The trial of suspended South African police chief Jackie Selebi is postponed.
And, South Africans living abroad are the first to cast their votes today.

That's a roundup if news making headlines today.