Thursday, September 3, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister and chair of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, Jeff Radebe, said in Parliament yesterday that he would not discuss the details of South Africa's arms deals, prompting accusations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that he was stonewalling questions on weapons trade with "rogue States".
DA Member of Parliament David Maynier said that he would continue to fight to get the information made public.
Shortly after the committee ended its meeting yesterday, African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Mathole Motshekga stated that he would ask Speaker Max Sisulu to remove Maynier from the committee for illegally obtaining and disclosing classified information. The DA, however, accuses the ANC of trying to intimidate Maynier for exposing arms sales to "repressive" regimes by calling for his removal.

Washington's United Nations (UN) ambassador has warned Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi against aggravating raw US emotions over the Lockerbie bombing, when he visits the UN this month.
Ambassador Susan Rice says that the release of Libyan official Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, jailed in Scotland for the 1988 bombing of an airliner over the town of Lockerbie, is a sensitive subject for all Americans. How Gaddafi comports himself at meetings of the UN General Assembly and Security Council later this month, has the potential to aggravate these feelings.
Gaddafi is scheduled to visit the General Assembly for the first time in his 40 years as ruler of Libya. He will address the annual gathering of world leaders on September 23, directly after US President Barack Obama.

South African opposition parties have reportedly started talks on an alliance aimed at challenging the African National Congress (ANC) in local polls in 2011.
An alliance of eight opposition parties is hoping to join together and capitalise on growing frustrations over crime, education, healthcare and electricity-supply. Mosiuoa Lekota, leader of the Congress of the People (Cope) party formed by ANC dissidents, says that it is important to consolidate the voice of the opposition so as to effectively present alternative policy positions. Bantu Holomisa, head of the United Democratic Movement and also an ANC defector, said that if the opposition can talk in unity, then the ANC will begin to wake up and see the demand for change.
Opposition parties have, however, scored limited gains, and their plans are vague as yet. Patricia de Lille, leader of the Independent Democrats, says that a merger is out of the question, but that there is room for cooperation, coalitions and alliances. Lekota said that parties are discussing pooling voter support for an agreed candidate, rather than dividing the opposition ballot in the next local government election.

Also making headlines:
The Ministry of Defence is resolute that it will dismiss up to 1 300 soldiers after last week's illegal protest.
The Constitutional Court is to decide on the legality of prepaid water access.
Former Constitutional Court Judge Johann Kriegler will challenge the Judicial Service Commission's decision not to investigate claims of improper influence by Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
And, Canada is studying the contentious South African refugee case after an outcry by the African National Congress-led government in South Africa.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.