August 8, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Gia Costella.
Making headlines:

The United Nations Development Programme says Africa's growth may rise to 7 percent a year by 2015.

The South African government pushes for equitable use of all official languages.

And, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urges end to Congo crisis as leaders meet.

The head of the United Nations Development Programme’s in Africa says that Africa's growth could rise to 7 percent by the year 2015. The growth would be propelled by a rush of investors attracted by the continent’s drive to improve its infrastructure on the back of demand for the continent’s resources.

Ranked as the poorest continent in the world, Africa has posted strong growth rates of about 5% in recent years, second only to Asia, drawing rising inward investment.

Africa may have enviable economic growth rates by global standards, however it still isn’t enough to pull its growing population out of poverty.

Officials at the third Africa Leadership, Governance and Management Convention, in Mombasa, said that corruption and civil wars are also likely to puncture the this growth momentum in several African countries.

Government took a major step towards promoting the equitable use of official languages in when Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile tabled the Use of Official Languages Bill in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Bill is aimed at ensuring that government elevates the status of indigenous languages and promotes their widespread use. The Bill will also make a massive contribution towards the national effort to promote multilingualism.

As a result of this Bill, South Africans will have an opportunity to use the official languages of their choice in interacting with government.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday urged Rwanda and its Great Lakes neighbours on Tuesday to stop supporting Congolese rebels. This follows regional leaders meeting in Uganda, to discuss the ways to end the insurgency in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clinton's call, maintained international pressure on Rwanda and Uganda to withdraw any backing for the Tutsi-led M23 rebels. The rebel’s advances have thrown the volatile, ethnically mixed east of Congo back into conflict, and have displaced thousands of civilians in the process.

The Rwandan government has strenuously denied allegations by UN experts that its military officials have provided equipment and recruits for the M23 rebellion. Uganda has also rejected similar allegations that its soldiers have backed the movement.

However, donors, including the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and Germany have suspended some of their financial aid to Rwanda over the accusations that it is backing the rebels.

Also making headlines:

The Development Bank of Southern Africa appoints Mo Shaik as the CEO of its new international unit.

Eskom hikes demand forecast as cold weather sweeps across South Africa.

And, a Mali mediator tells rebels to cut 'terrorist' ties.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.