December 3, 2012.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande says the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung must restore the party.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's M23 rebels withdraw from the city of Goma in the interest of peace.

And, the World Bank approves funds for Madagascar despite the USA’s concerns on trafficking.

South African Communist Party (or SACP) general secretary Blade Nzimande says that the African National Congress must emerge from its national conference in Mangaung as a restored party with a committed leadership.

He said, at SACP's central committee meeting on the East Rand, that the communist party believes that the Mangaung conference could and must mark a further step in restoring the ANC to its traditions of revolutionary discipline, non-racialism and the condemnation of self-seeking factionalism.

Nzimande said it was "unfortunate" that the media focused only on the leadership of the ANC, and not on the policies that would be discussed in Mangaung.

He also said that the SACP would accept the leadership that emerged from Mangaung in December, and that the communist party is very hopeful ANC delegates are smart enough and political enough to actually decide on that leadership.

Hundreds of rebel fighters, singing and brandishing weapons, pulled out of Congo's eastern border city of Goma on Saturday. This move has raised hopes for negotiations to end the insurgency.

The withdrawal of the M23 rebel movement from Goma on Lake Kivu, a strategic hub in the DRC's war-scarred east, was agreed in a deal brokered by presidents of the Great Lakes states under Uganda's leadership a week ago.

Uganda's junior foreign minister, Asuman Kiyingi, said that Kampala would encourage both the government and the rebels to talk, as it was important that the Kinshasa government also addresses the grievances of the M23 rebels.

The US and bank officials have announced that that the World Bank has approved $167-million in emergency lending to Madagascar. This is despite opposition from the US over concerns about increased human trafficking.

The World Bank said that the approval of the funding didn’t mean it had resumed "normal" relations with Madagascar, which has been in crisis since 2009 when opposition leader Andry Rajoelina ousted President Marc Ravalomanana with the support of the army.

A report published earlier this year by the US mission to Madagascar said trafficking of Malagasy women and children had risen due to a decline in the rule of law since the 2009 coup.

The World Bank said $102-million of the emergency funds would help repair or rehabilitate important national roads, schools and health centers, many of which were damaged by the last cyclone.

Also making headlines:

South Sudan affirms successful talks with Sudan on their border dispute.

Islamist protesters force Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court to shut down.

And, Germany halts aid to Uganda over a corruption scandal and alleged military support for rebels in the DRC.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.