July 17, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.

Making headlines:

The Mary Metcalfe Commission report says Limpopo textbooks are still outstanding.

The UN Security Council condemns eastern Congo rebel attacks.

And, activist Terry Crawford-Browne says a probe into the Absa take over is needed.

A report compiled by former education director general Mary Metcalfe on the late delivery of textbooks in Limpopo, has found that a significant amount of textbooks owed to pupils by the basic education department have still not been delivered.

In violation of a court order, the report found that the department had only delivered 48 percent of the books by July 3. It further found that, despite the extended date for the delivery of textbooks by June 27, the department's assertion that 98 percent of the books were delivered was partially incorrect.

Legal non-governmental organisation Section27 said at the release of the report in Johannesburg on Monday that the department hadn’t been completely honest when it said it delivered 98 percent of books by its June 27 deadline.

Basic education spokesperson, Panyaza Lesufi said the department accepted the report and would work to implement its recommendations.

The UN Security Council has condemned attacks by armed rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is demanding an end to all outside support for multiple insurgencies plaguing the provinces on the Congolese border with Rwanda.

M23 rebel advances earlier this month sent the Congolese government army fleeing in droves, displaced thousands of civilians, killed an Indian UN peacekeeper and stoked tensions between Congo and Rwanda. Congo accused the Rwandan army of directly equipping and supporting the M23 rebellion.

Rwanda's government strenuously denies the accusations despite evidence provided by UN experts supporting allegations that high-level military officials in Kigali were supporting and supplying the rebellion in eastern Congo.

Activist and author Terry Crawford-Browne says that President Jacob Zuma must appoint a commission of inquiry into Barclays bank's takeover of Absa in 2005 and its link to the arms deal.

In a statement made, he said he’d informed both the British and South African governments as early as October 1999 that the Barclays bank loan agreements for the [British defence company] BAE arms deal contracts would be fraudulent.

He said the investigation should consider the implications of foreign control over South Africa's banking system, including what pressure was applied to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to approve the "ill-considered" takeover of Absa.

Absa declined to comment on Crawford-Browne's claims, and presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj could not be reached for comment.

Also making headlines:
 

Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane reshuffles her Executive Council.

Eskom says available power capacity will buffer down to 1%.

And, Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak is ordered back to prison from hospital.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.