May 14, 2012

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Henny Ngoveni.

Making headlines:

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal is urging government to reduce privatization and play a bigger role in the economy.
Provincial Secretary Sihle Zikalala says government should play an active role on the strategic sectors of the economy; in particular [in] mining, financial industry, agriculture and land redistribution

The International Monetary Fund says sub-Saharan Africa's economies will expand at a slower rate in 2012 than earlier projected.
The fund says this is will be undermined by global financial distress and a sluggish recovery in South Africa.
Growth in Africa's economic powerhouse is likely to be a relatively modest 2.7% this year and 3.4% in the next.

The Department of Energy says it will delay the announcement of the second crop of preferred bidders for the renewable energy Independent Power Producers Programme to May 21.
The department says this is because Minister Dipuo Peters is due to make her Budget vote address to lawmakers during the same week.

Also making headlines:

Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana says government is finalising its consultations in preparation for the Women and Gender Equality Empowerment Bill.

And, European Union observers gave a qualified endorsement to an Algerian parliamentary election, which handed victory to the ruling party.

That’s a round up of news making headlines today.