March 6, 2013.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Idele Esterhuizen

Making headlines:           

The Expanded Public Works Programme creates almost 640 000 employment opportunities.

The United Nations hopes to approve a special force in the DRC to combat rebels by the end of March.

And, armed police break up Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s meeting.

Social Development Deputy Minister Maria Ntuli has revealed that the Expanded Public Works Programme (or EPWP) had created 639 139 work opportunities as at December 31, 2012.

Speaking at the ninth yearly EPWP Social Sector conference, in Kimberley, she said that while government has recorded notable progress in the first and second phase implementation of this programme, it is conscious that success doesn’t come by chance, but is the product of deliberate planning and commitment.

Department of Public Works deputy director-general for EPWP Stanley Henderson said it would be crucial to align the EPWP to the National Development Plan to tackle challenges that included transformational imperatives and the upscaling of education, as well as training, to particularly improve the employment prospects of South African youth.

Henderson said that the EPWP must play a key role in tackling unemployment and provide access to social services, especially to marginalised communities, adding that government has to ensure that, through the EPWP, South Africa’s youth acquire the necessary work experience and skills to set them on sustainable career paths.

Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin says that the UN Security Council hopes to approve by the end of March a special force to combat rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, some members have concerns that need to be addressed first. Churkin didn’t divulge these concerns.

Meanwhile, some diplomats worry that the creation of the intervention force within the existing peacekeeping operation, known as MONUSCO, could lead to two competing units. They want more detail on the new unit's command structure.

South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique are the most likely candidates to supply the several thousand soldiers needed for the intervention force, but diplomats have questions regarding the ability of those troops to take on the rebel groups, including the M23, which have taken parts of eastern DRC.

In practical terms, UN diplomats say, troops in the brigade will have more freedom to open fire without being required to wait until they are attacked first, a limitation that is standard for UN peacekeepers deployed around the world.

Zimbabwe armed riot police on Tuesday broke up a meeting called by Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said. This raises tensions in a fragile power-sharing government ahead of elections this year.

Tamborinyoka said around 40 heavily armed riot police arrived at the public meeting about a proposed new constitution in a Harare township on Tuesday evening and ordered the audience to leave before the prime minister arrived.

The officers said the debate hadn’t been authorised in a country where all public meetings have to be cleared by the police by law. However, Tamborinyoka said Tsvangirai's officials had informed the police about the meeting. No one was immediately available to comment from the police.

Also making headlines:
 

The National Assembly approves the e-tolling Bill, paving the way for putting e-tolling on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project into practice.

The Gauteng province is on track to roll out its infrastructure development programmes in line with its vision 2055.

And, Kenyans eagerly await the news of the election winner after tight presidential elections.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.