November 29, 2012.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

President Jacob Zuma is set for ANC re-election and former unionist Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to come back into politics.

The World Bank will triple investment in post-conflict African nations.

And, M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo keep a hold on towns despite a pledge to leave.

South African President Jacob Zuma looks set for re-election as head of the ruling African National Congress in December. However, the battle for the post of his deputy could thrust millionaire businessperson and former unionist Cyril Ramaphosa back into political prominence.

Despite sluggish growth in Africa's biggest economy, the intense labour strife that dented South Africa's image this year, as well as a slew of scandals during Zuma's three years in power, five of the country's nine provinces are backing the president to stay on as leader of the ANC.

This line-up suggests that Zuma has seen off a campaign to replace him with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, whose own silence on whether he is in the running has opened up the chance of a political comeback by business tycoon Ramaphosa.

The expectation that Zuma will carry the ANC leadership race has taken some steam out of the contest and provides an element of political continuity, even though many have been critical of his lacklustre performance in office. Nominations for the top ANC leadership positions for the December 16-20 party conference close on Friday.

A senior World Bank official said on Wednesday that the bank's investment arm plans to triple it’s lending in post-conflict African countries by 2017.

The bank's International Finance Corporation (or IFC) has invested a record $3.7-billion in Africa this year, up from about $700-million in 2006, and is present in 30 countries, 18 of which are emerging from conflict.

The IFC's vice president of business advisory services Nena Stoiljkovic, said it would seek to tap into the high economic growth in many of these nations after years of underinvestment during civil strife.

Stoiljkovic also said that the focus would be on infrastructure and agribusiness. This follows an International Monetary Fund report last month which projected that Africa would achieve 5% growth this year and in 2013.

Rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (or DRC) kept a firm grip on Wednesday over towns captured from government forces. This is despite a pledge to respect a withdrawal deal brokered by Uganda.

World powers and regional neighbours are scrambling to contain the latest violence in the DRC's volatile east, where political and ethnic rifts as well as competition for vast mineral resources are again threatening to ignite a regional war.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while visiting the head of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said that there is only one way forward, which would be for the M23 rebels to meet their commitments under the Kampala accords to cease their attacks, withdraw from Goma and pull back to the July lines.

Compliance would signal progress in efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis. However, the rebels have given no indication they were ending their eight-month insurgency.

Also making headlines:

The South African Reserve Bank identifies the risk of inflation as a result of strikes and credit rating cuts.

Algeria hopes voter apathy won't spoil the local elections.

And, US President Barack Obama strengthens his administration’s strategy in Africa with a ‘Doing Business in Africa’ campaign.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.