November 7, 2012.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Natalie Greve.

Making headlines:

Americans hand President Barack Obama a second term as economic
challenges await.

Eskom says South Africa needs a bold and immediate decision on energy plan implementations.

And, Norway becomes the latest donor to cut aid to Uganda over graft.

US President Barack Obama won a second term in the White House on Tuesday. He has overcome the deep doubts among voters about his handling of the US economy to score a clear victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Americans chose to stick with a divided government in Washington, by keeping the Democratic incumbent in the White House and leaving the US Congress as it is, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans keeping the House of Representatives.

Obama vowed to listen to both sides of the political divide in the weeks ahead and said he would return to the White House more determined than ever to confront America's challenges.

President Obama scored impressive victories in the crucial State of Ohio and heavily contested swing states of Virginia, Nevada, Iowa and Colorado. They carried the Democrat past the 270 electoral votes he needed for victory in America's state-by-state system of choosing a president. Romney's senior advisers were left shell-shocked at the loss.

State utility Eskom delivery unit head Kannan Lakmeeharan said that important decisions regarding the implementation of South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan 2010 had to be made urgently to secure the country’s power supply.

He said that momentum had been created with the current Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and Eskom’s new built programme. However, South Africa had to continue with this momentum.

Besides ramping up implementation of these programmes, Lakmeeharan said private sector involvement would be important in developing South Africa’s power generation capacity going forward.

He also indicated that Eskom could meet the country’s future power requirements by, among others, considering partnership opportunities in the Southern- and Central Africa regions.

Norway has become the fourth European country to suspend aid to Uganda after $13-million in donor funds were found to have been embezzled.

The growing scandal adds to concerns about corruption under President Yoweri Museveri, who has been accused by his critics of creating a culture of impunity for cronies who steal public money but are loyal to his party, the National Resistance Movement.

Norway joins Britain, Ireland and Denmark in suspending aid after Uganda's auditor general last month exposed the theft of funds meant for reconstruction in two impoverished regions. The theft implicates officials in the prime minister's office.

Aid accounts for about 25% of Uganda's annual budget and cutting the funds would put key public investments in health and education at risk in Africa's largest coffee exporter.

Also making headlines:

South Africa launches new Nelson Mandela bank notes into circulation.

The rand hits a two-week high following US President Barack Obama’s election win.

And, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan says South Africa’s export revenues will be lower by R12.5-billion this year as a result of mine strikes.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.