May 8, 2013.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Samantha Moolman.
Making headlines:     

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel says the total value of construction industry cartel projects in South Africa stands at almost R50-billion.

President Jacob Zuma says a 'decisive’ intervention is needed in unstable African States.

And, Tunisia hunts al Qaeda-linked militants near Algeria.

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Tuesday the total value of rigged construction industry projects being investigated by the Competition Commission is much higher than expected, standing at R47-billion.

Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on his budget vote, Patel said 300 cases of collusion and price-fixing had been identified by the commission. Eighteen construction companies, including the top six firms, have now confessed and are in discussions on settlements with the competition authorities.

The Competition Commission was looking into various projects, including the building of Soccer City in Johannesburg and the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town.

The commission has previously indicated it will conclude settlement talks with construction companies who have admitted guilt by May. These talks could lead to fines worth several billion rand being issued, following consent agreements between the Competition Commission and the companies being approved by the Competition Tribunal, by June or July.

In light of the instability in the Central African Republic, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali, South African President Jacob Zuma said that the need for an intervention “brigade” has become crucial. He was speaking at the end of official talks with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Zuma said part of the capacity needed by the African Union is the establishment of the African Standby Force for rapid deployment in crisis areas without delays, saying that the AU must cooperation further on these issues.

South Africa and Nigeria collectively agreed on the need for the reform of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to reflect the realities of what Zuma called the “changed and changing” international environment.

Zuma also welcomed the participation of South African businesses in Nigeria in industries such as engineering, construction, media, banking, retail, hospitality, oil and gas exploration and services.

The Tunisian army and police were hunting more than 30 suspected al-Qaeda linked militants close to the border with Algeria on Tuesday. President Moncef Marzouki travelled to the area to oversee the operation in a signal of its importance.

An Interior Ministry spokesperson said there were about a dozen militants in the city of El Kef and about 20 in the remote area of Mount Chambi in the west of the country where police and militants have clashed frequently in recent weeks.

Algerian media, quoting unnamed security officials and locals in the border area, said the army there had been placed on alert since Monday to stop militants crossing from Tunisia.

Mokhtar ben Nasr, a spokesperson for the Tunisian Ministry of Defence said that the terrorists were still at the stage of preparing and storing weapons.

Also making headlines:

Thin-film photovoltaic manufacturer and solar project developer First Solar is gearing up for South Africa’s next renewables bid window.

South African Coal Roadmap says securing coal is now the number-one priority for Eskom.
And, the Department of Basic Education has allotted R6.63-billion of its R17.59-billion budget for the

2013/14 financial year to develop and improve school infrastructure.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.