Friday, November 27, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
South Africa's economic recovery will not be a fast process, said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan yesterday.
Job creation is going to be slower than planned, he told a media briefing following his meeting with the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) in Roodepoort. The purpose of the meeting was to address issues that had arisen in the October Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, such as job creation and the National Health Insurance system.
On suggestions that the country's economy should be restructured, Gordhan emphasised that government had made clear its interest in hearing different views and engaging with all role players. He welcomed Fedusa's views, those of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and businesses on the matter of the mandate of the Central Bank. Cosatu said yesterday that the Central Bank should target employment when deciding on interest rates, and worry less about inflation when the economy is struggling.
The alliance of the African National Congress, Cosatu and the South African Communist Party agreed earlier this month to review the mandate of the Central Bank, and to broaden it from merely targeting inflation.

Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba is expected to stay in power after today's election, but a new official opposition party could emerge, threatening the ruling party's two-thirds majority.
The Rally for Democracy and Progress, which emerged as a breakaway faction of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) in 2007, is expected to become the new official opposition, replacing the Congress of Democrats in polls taking place today and tomorrow.
Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research in Windhoek Graham Hopwood says that Swapo will still win with a comfortable margin, but the new RDP party could target Swapo's traditional strongholds. Campaigning for this election signalled a distinct shift from previous elections, said Hopwood, with Swapo focusing on its record in delivering public services, rather than trying to lure support based on its fight for independence.

Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema expects a landslide win in Sunday's election, brushing off human rights concerns in his bid to turn the Central African nation into an energy major.
Analysts believe that the official results from the vote could even better Obiang's resounding 97,1% poll score in 2002, when rivals pulled out complaining of harassment.
The country is one of the continent's most secretive and faces criticism over its democratic record and the fact that billions of petrodollars have yet to improve the lives of most in its population.
IHS Global Insight analyst Kissy Agyeman-Togobo says that the election is unlikely to change the status quo in Equatorial Guinea and that incumbent President Obiang is assured victory.

Also making headlines:
Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale calls on business to help fight housing corruption.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will push for a bank bail-out plan at the Commonwealth summit.
The Democratic Republic of Congo rejects criticism of its United Nations-backed army.
And, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe commends the appointment of Menzi Simelane as National Director of Public Prosecutions.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.