August 23, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Natalie Greve.
Making headlines:

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi says flawed leases could cost government billions of rands.

Powerful South Sudanese military leader Paulino Matip dies.

And, Russia and China’s entrance into the World Trade Organisation is worlds apart in trade industry development.

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said financial losses due to fraud and corruption regarding leases could run into billions of rand.

He said 3 000 leases were being scrutinised, 500 of which had been audited so far. Cases under investigation include the controversial R1.7-billion police lease scandal with businessperson Roux Shabangu.

Nxesi said that corrupt officials could run, but can't hide, and that if they stole from the poor the government would find them.

Nine officials have been charged, while another six are soon to face the justice.

Officials say a powerful South Sudanese army officer and former militia leader has died. Paulino Matip, who was influential in some of the country's richest oil regions during its long civil war with the north has died.

Matip, deputy commander in chief of South Sudan's national army, was a key figure in the civil war that killed an estimated 2-million people and left the now-independent South one of the world's least developed countries.

South Sudan's Information Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said Matip "contributed a lot to the unity and reconciliation in the country”. He added that he had died in Kenya of a "long illness" while waiting to fly to the United States for treatment.

His body is due to be flown to Juba on Friday for burial.

Russia's 19-year wait to enter the World Trade Organisation is finally over. Unfortunately, the kind of export and investment miracle enjoyed by fellow-BRIC member China after it joined the club is likely to remain well out of its reach.

China too waited 15 years on the WTO's doorstep. But for Beijing, joining in 2001 set the stage for a decade that quintupled its exports and propelled its economy from sixth place globally to the world's second biggest.

Ed Conroy, a fund manager at HSBC Global Asset Management, reckons Russia, like most new WTO entrants, would enjoy a growth and investment pickup if it dismantles protectionist barriers and finally shows a clear commitment to free-market policies.

Also making headlines:

North West Health MEC Dr Magome Masike will campaign to help curb maternal and child mortality.

Ethiopian acting Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn will remain at helm until 2015

And, a South African farmhand is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Eugene Terre'blanche.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.