Friday, February 5, 2010
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brad Dubbelman.
Making headlines:
Sheryl Cwele, wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, should not be granted bail because she is a flight risk, the State argued in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday. It is "overwhelmingly probable" that she was in cahoots with a Nigerian man to use two white women as drug mules, the State said in papers filed with the court opposing bail. Prosecutors say that Cwele, accused of drug trafficking, is also likely to interfere with the investigation or trial. In her bail application papers, Cwele argues that she did not knowingly get involved in drug trafficking. The prosecutors said that if Cwele was released on bail, it would raise "serious concerns" that she was connected and untouchable.
The World Bank's private sector lending arm is investing more than $2-billion in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2009/10 fiscal year as investment opportunities improve. International Finance Corporation (IFC) CEO Lars Thunell said that the organisation would grow over $2-billion in the June 2009/10 year, and was hoping to also mobilise more funds, up to about $2,5-billion. The IFC provides loans, equity and advisory services in emerging markets and also looks to draw in investment from institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds. Thunell said that political risk is becoming less of an issue for investors in Africa. However, he added that political risk cannot be discounted owing to the availability of natural resources, as well as corruption and nationalisation.
US President Barack Obama yesterday denounced as "odious" a proposed antigay law in Uganda that has drawn international condemnation. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, Obama said that while Americans may disagree about gay marriage, surely can all agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking before Obama at the annual bipartisan gathering of religious and political leaders, also criticised the draft law being considered by Uganda's Parliament. Clinton said that she recently called Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and expressed the "strongest concerns" about the proposed legislation. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said last month that the draft law would breach international standards and "proposes draconian punishments for people alleged to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered - namely life imprisonment, or in some cases, the death penalty".
Also making headlines:
Duduzane Zuma, son of South Africa President Jacob Zuma, says that the Zuma family is content with the polygamous arrangement of the household.
Human Rights Watch accuses the Libyan government of blocking access to YouTube and opposition party websites.
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille says that culture is no excuse for infidelity.
And, the Constitutional Court heard yesterday that President Jacob Zuma has considered the 384 applications for Presidential pardons by Inkatha Freedom Party members.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.