Thursday, August 27, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is planning to increase its lending capacity to add another R100-billion in funds over the next five years, says its CEO Paul Baloyi. The bank can increase its lending capabilities by 20% to 30% under its present structure, he says, but this will not be enough to assist in funding South Africa's infrastructure programme.
The country is facing a R280-billion funding gap to sustain economic activity in the country in the 2009/10 financial year, while a further R220-billion will be required in the same year to accelerate the eradication of infrastructure backlogs and to create jobs. The bulk of the funding will come from government, the private sector and development finance institutions.

South African President Jacob Zuma travels to Zimbabwe today in a bid to ease tensions within the strained unity government. During his two-day visit, Zuma is set to meet with President Robert Mugabe and his new partner in government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who remain deadlocked over a number of issues. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party also says that its supporters are still harassed by police, despite guarantees of political freedoms in the unity accord.
Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba has downplayed the trip, telling State media that Zuma is coming to address the Harare Agricultural Fair on Friday.
But, African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says that Zuma plans to be vocal about Zimbabwe's problems and what the South African government sees as " deviant behaviour", in contrast to the "quiet diplomacy" of former President Thabo Mbeki.

The Congress of the People (Cope) has slammed the African National Congress (ANC) for "hijacking" the return of athletes from the International Athletics Associations Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Berlin.
Cope accused the ANC of turning the athletes' welcome into a political rally. It also criticised ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's "breathtaking paranoia" in accusing the "white media" of not supporting 800 m gold medallist Caster Semenya in the hype around her gender testing. The ANC has chosen to "politicise" the achievements of South Africa's three medalists, says Cope spokesperson Philip Dexter.

Also making headlines:
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu condemns yesterday's illegal protest by members of the South African National Defence Union.
The new Protection of Personal Information Bill is to be tabled before Parliament.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says that South Africa aims to produce its own H1N1 flu vaccine.
And, Madagsacar's leaders remain deadlocked over the post of the President in a planned unity government.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.