Thursday, April 9, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
South Africa's Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence is probing whether the intelligence services acted within the law when they made the spy tapes that sank the State's case against African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma.
The OIGI's COO Imtiaz Fazel, explains that the investigation is seeking to establish whether or not these communications were lawfully obtained, and handled in a manner that is compliant with appropriate legislation and the Constitution.
Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, states that the National Intelligence Agency recordings were made legally, as part of an investigation into the controversial Browse Mole report produced by the Scorpions, outlining an alleged foreign-backed plot to overthrow previous President Thabo Mbeki.

The European Commission yesterday unveiled plans to accelerate aid to developing countries that have been hit hard by the economic crisis. It warns that failure to act could pose a threat to global stability.
The executive arm of the European Union says that it is bringing forward nearly €4,3-billion-worth of funds previously earmarked to help poor countries fight a recession, that has staunched credit flows, curtailed investment and sent a number of local currencies into a tailspin.
The Commission will accelerate payment of €3-billion, or 72% of the planned budget support, to African, Pacific and Caribbean nations, and will direct at least €500-million to support local welfare spending.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, also urged donor nations not to use the recession as an excuse to recant on promises to increase aid, especially to countries least responsible for the crisis but among those worst hit by it.
Barroso said that the EU is acting on promises made by world leaders during the recent Group of 20 summit, to provide $1,1-trillion in financing to the International Monetary Fund, with $300-billion to be committed in aid to the poorest countries over the next two years.

Back home, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille has promised that her party will push the corruption case against African National Congress president Jacob Zuma with "everything [they] have", but admits that a shortage of funds might stall her at some point.
The official opposition leader says she is satisfied that enough money can be raised for the judicial review process. It is not fair that Zuma uses taxpayers' money for his defence, she added.
Zille assured DA supporters that the National Prosecuting Authority's withdrawal of the charges against Zuma is not the end of the matter.

Also making headlines:
A report on Internet performance shows that the Democratic Alliance leads the race in web election campaigning.
The International Maritime Bureau says that Somali pirate attacks threaten sea trade routes in the entire region.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki denies political interference in the Jacob Zuma corruption case.
And, the African National Congress condemns "mischievous" fake posters in Johannesburg.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.