Wednesday, August 26, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Petronella Smit.
Making headlines:
The start of operation of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system in the City of Johannesburg is "supported in principle" by the Joburg Taxi Industry Negotiating Team for the Phase 1A contract. The team comprises members of the taxi industry in Johannesburg who have been mandated to represent taxi owners from nine taxi associations that will be affected by the BRT system.
Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council chairperson Erick Motshwane says that the taxi industry can not vilify the BRT system without first studying what it entails and whether or not it makes business sense for the taxi industry to participate in the system.
He notes that, as the BRT system will affect the taxi industry directly, it has an obligation to shape the system.

South Africa remains wary of the European Union's (EU's) new trade pacts, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. The EU is too focused on commercial interests, thus undermining efforts to forge a new, fairer trade pact with South Africa.
The EU has concluded economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with several Southern African countries, but South Africa, Namibia and Angola have not yet signed owing to concerns over the text.
Davies explained that while the stated intentions in the EPA process are to provide some legal basis to enhance access into the EU market, it is also overlaid with a series of trade-related obligations. The obligations seem to derive from the commercial ambitions of the EU, partly in competition with China and India, which have made inroads into Africa.

According to a report released at a Maternal, Child and Women's Health Summit yesterday, over 60 000 children, aged between one month and five years, die in South Africa each year.
The findings of the report are backed by reports from the Development Bank of Southern Africa last year and, more recently, by reports prepared by academics, for the medical journal Lancet, on health in South Africa. These reports suggest that the country has the correct health care policies and guidelines, but is struggling to implement them, causing thousands of unnecessary deaths.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says that all recommendations will be taken seriously and implemented as soon as possible.

Also making headlines:
South Africa President Jacob Zuma states that the rumours about star athlete Caster Semenya are wrong and ill-spirited.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has reportedly been secretly treated in a Dubai hospital.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says in response to a Parliamentary question, that South Africa's national debt stands at R844-billion.
And, the head of the troubled Darfur United Nations/African Union peacekeeping force resigns.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.