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July 24, 2014
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Motshabi  Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says South Africa seeks to limit foreign land ownership.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon names Danish diplomat new envoy to South Sudan.

And, suicide bombs in Nigeria's Kaduna kill 82, opposition leader Buhari targeted.

South Africa plans a radical shake-up of its land policy to limit foreign ownership and could submit legislation to Parliament by December, a government Minister said on Wednesday.

The proposal is part of a reform package sponsored by the ruling African National Congress that includes the expropriation of land deemed to have been illegally acquired, a suggestion that could spook foreign investors.

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said, "the principle was that foreign nationals shouldn’t own land in the country but should have a long lease at a minimum of 30 years”.

However, real estate industry representatives spoke out against the proposal, saying overall foreign investment in South African property was small. Andrew Golding, chief executive of Pam Golding Properties said the proposal was ill-conceived, "particularly when there was a misconception that foreigners are pouring into South Africa and pushing prices up."

Nkwinti said the government also wanted an expropriation Act to confiscate land without compensation if the land was acquired illegally or used for illegal purposes.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday named Danish diplomat Ellen Margrethe Loj as his new special envoy to South Sudan and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the world's newest nation.

Loj replaces Hilde Johnson of Norway, who stood down this month after three years in the job and amid renewed violence sparked by a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar.

Ban said Loj "brings to the position a wealth of experience in peacekeeping and international affairs, having served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2008 to 2012".

At least 82 people were killed on Wednesday in two suicide bombings in the north Nigerian city of Kaduna, one aimed at opposition leader and ex-president Muhammadu Buhari and another at a moderate Muslim cleric about to lead a crowd in prayer.

The attacks bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which considers all those who do not share its views to be enemies. However, it may also have been linked to politics before the 2015 elections.

Thousands were gathered for prayers with Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Murtala Muhammed Square. When his convoy pulled up, the bomber lunged at him before being stopped by his private security, witnesses and police commissioner Shehu Umar Ambursa said.

Kaduna's governor, Mukhtar Yero, declared a 24-hour curfew in the city until further notice and condemned the bombs as "the height of cowardice".

Buhari was the main opposition party contender against President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 election and remains a key figure in the opposition alliance. He was riding in an armour-plated sport utility vehicle and was not wounded.

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille is expected to testify at the Seriti Commission of Inquiry on Today.  

She was the initial whistle-blower regarding the arms deal, calling for Parliament to investigate it. At the time she was a Pan Africanist Congress MP.

The commission, which is chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, was appointed by President Jacob Zuma three years ago to investigate alleged corruption in the country's multibillion-rand arms procurement deal in 1999.

Also making headlines:

President Jacob Zuma says working groups will be formed to ensure that a clear path to address socioeconomic challenges is drafted and institutionalised over the next five years.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited has appointed an independent estimator and independent economist to calculate the damages suffered by the agency as a result of alleged collusive tendering on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, for which motorists now pay by e-tolling.

And, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi says R2-billion would be earmarked for the development of transport infrastructure in the province.

Also on Polity:

Watch the interview with creative parenting expert Nikki Bush as she discusses child and parent development issues for the wired generation.

Recommended reading includes an annual report titled “Means and Ends” by the Global civil society coalition Social Watch as well as Professor Raymond Suttner’s article on ‘The Economic Freedom Fighters’ politics of dress.’

Follow us on Twitter @PolityZA for updates on breaking news

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.