Monday, January 25, 2010
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
Top officials in South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) are pushing for the State to take over ownership of the country's Central Bank. Weekend newspapers reported that ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had presented a document to the party's top decision-making committee, questioning why the bank was still owned by the private sector.
He argued that the party should not shy away from looking at the State's role in the banking industry as a whole.
The Reserve Bank's governor and deputies are appointed by the President and are responsible for running the bank. Changing the ownership structure of the Central Bank would not have a major impact on its operations, but a move to more State control may raise fears of political interference in policy decisions.

Repression of political opponents in both Sudan's north and semi-autonomous south is undermining the prospects for Sudan's first democratic elections in 24 years, said Human Rights Watch at the weekend.
Africa director at Human Rights Watch Georgette Gagnon says that the Khartoum government is still using its security forces to harass and abuse those who speak out against the ruling National Congress Party. "That is no environment for holding free, fair and transparent elections," she said.
Opposition parties say that they may boycott the April vote if intimidation, fraud and vote-buying by the NCP continues.
The NCP denies any irregularities and accuses the Sudan People's Liberation Movement of fraud in the south.

African National Congress Member of Parliament and struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has criticised the possibility of former Vlakplaas head Eugene de Kock receiving a pardon. Madikizela-Mandela compared the possible release of De Kock to that of Janusz Walus, who was convicted of the murder of mKhonto we Sizwe and South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani. Speculation has been rife that De Kock was to receive a pardon after it was reported that he had met President Jacob Zuma last year. Madikizela-Mandela says that she "saw too much blood to support such a move."
Also making headlines:
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says that South African security forces will act "with no mercy" against criminals and terrorists who threaten the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Congress of the People's Youth Movement says that the party's leadership has failed.
The Commonwealth will send a team to monitor Rwanda's Presidential poll, due in August this year.
And, the African National Congress Gauteng provincial executive committee says that the tripartite alliance is alive and healthy in the province.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.