Wednesday February 2, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

South African President Jacob Zuma has said that South Africa remained a neutral mediator in the Côte d’Ivoire’s political deadlock. Zuma denied that South Africa was favouring Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo in that country's political crisis. Zuma said that: "We should speak in one voice as the African Union (AU) to the Ivorians. Whatever resolution we come to, the Ivorians, whatever party, must not doubt that there are people outside who think differently." "They must know the AU has spoken," he added. Zuma was appointed to an AU crisis council, along with five other Presidents, to help persuade Gbagbo to relinquish the country's Presidency.

Economic recovery will make food, metals and other raw materials more expensive in 2011, the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Monday. Addressing a United Nations conference, WTO director-general Pascal Lamy said that the prices of crude oil, copper, gold, corn and soya beans would rise most this year, with less pronounced increases in natural gas, zinc and cattle. He said that, "2011 will see the prices of most commodities rise, as the rise in global Gross Domestic Product bolsters demand, led by emerging economies", estimating that worldwide economic output would increase by 4% in 2011. "Over 70% of the growth will come from commodity-intensive emerging markets. China, India and Latin America, in particular, will be acting as a 'pull' for global commodities," Lamy added.

Johannesburg's billing problem, which mayor Amos Masondo recently said was not a sign of a crisis, will be investigated, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department has said. The billing problem has resulted in residents receiving inflated bills and others having services cut off. The department said in a statement that the "problems with municipal billing systems across the country frustrate the objectives of running municipalities that are efficient, effective, responsive and accountable".

Also making headlines:
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that he would surrender power in September, angering protesters who want an immediate end to his 30-year rule, and prompting the US to say change "must begin now".
Sudanese students defied arrests and beatings on Tuesday, pressing ahead with antigovernment protests inspired by demonstrations in neighbouring Egypt.
And, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the strong favourite to win an April Presidential election, has said that he will only stand for one term, a move which may help appease some of his northern opponents.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.