Thursday, September 17, 2009
From Creamer Media on Johannesburg, I'm Bradley Dubbelman.
Making headlines:
President Jacob Zuma has no plans at present to do away with the provinces, said Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille yesterday, after a two-hour meeting with the President at Tuynhuys. Zille added that the President had given her a guarantee that were the ruling party's standing on this issue to change, he would first discuss the matter.
Zille said she had asked for the meeting, which dealt with national political matters, as well as issues pertaining to the Western Cape.
She described Zuma as more accessible than his predecessor and said that the meeting had been positive and constructive, despite the two parties disagreeing on many issues.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick calls on Group of 20 (G20) leaders, meeting in Pittsburgh next week, not to leave the poorest countries behind as they focus on ways to encourage global economic recovery.
A new World Bank report shows that more than 40 poor countries are still mired in an economic downturn and struggling to finance key needs such as health and education, despite signs of recovery in some industrialised and emerging economies. The world is entering a new danger zone, not of freefall, but of complacency, he said, adding that the upcoming Pittsburgh meeting can be an opportunity to build responsible globalisation.
Zoellick said that there are many countries being left behind in the economic crisis because they do not have ability or the resources to help themselves. For these countries, Zoellick said that the G20 should authorise a new emergency facility that could operate alongside the World Bank's existing fund for the world's poorest countries, to help them weather global economic shocks.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan expressed his concern yesterday that the outputs in terms of service delivery by provinces, lagged the "massive investments" the country is making.
Tabling the Provincial Budget and Expenditure Review in the National Council of Provinces, Gordhan said that provincial budgets had increased by R100-billion between 2005/6 and 2008/9. This would increase to R339-billion by 2011/12.
The Minister said that the review would provide an important opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the country's provincial system.

Also making headlines:
Another judge withdraws from interviews for a post on the Constitutional Court bench, citing lack of confidence in the Judicial Service Commission.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe courts mining firms and promises stable policies.
The South African Parliament calls on Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to advance a long-term skills strategy.
And, United Nations food aid hits a 20-year low despite the number of hungry people worldwide reaching its highest level ever.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.