October 11, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela says the tender awarded to On-point Engineering was unlawful.

A draft of Egypt’s new constitution seeks to curb the president's powers.

And, South African President Jacob Zuma criticises violent strikes.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said on Wednesday that the tenders awarded to On-Point Engineering by the Limpopo transport department were unlawful. She found that On-Point and former African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema benefitted improperly from the contract.

Madonsela also found that the department didn’t follow proper guidelines in awarding the tender. She said that it was mind-boggling that the stark differences between the bid document and the tax clearance certificate didn’t disqualify On-Point or present a red flag regarding the possibility of tender fraud.

Madonsela said that the State Attorney should institute legal proceedings against On-Point and shareholders who benefited from the project management unit tender to recover money to which the department was entitled.

According to a partial draft of a new constitution released on Wednesday the authority of Egypt's head of state will be curbed by parliament. This is a change that would dilute the pharaonic presidential powers that underpinned decades of one-man rule.

The new constitution is a major component of a transition from a military-backed autocracy to a democratic system of government. The transformation is one that Egyptians had hoped would follow the popular uprising that swept Hosni Mubarak from power last year.

However, its drafting has been marred by bickering between Islamists and secular-minded Egyptians over the role Islam should play in the government of the Arab world's most populous country. The debate has touched on the rights of women, religious minorities and freedom of expression in the country.

President Jacob Zuma says that the destruction of property and assaulting of people during strikes is unacceptable.

Zuma said the country had lost R4.5-billion in the gold and platinum mining sectors, and R180-million in the coal industry, as a result of ongoing strikes.

He said that the labour unrest had caused a leading ratings agency to lower the country's economic outlook. Foreign investors are concerned about the strike and the fact that it could reduce the country's ability to attract foreign investment.

Also making headlines:

The United Nations says Mali extremists are abusing rights while targeting women and children.

South African businesses are opting for alternatives to direct employment.

And, central bank governor Gill Marcus says South Africa’s economic outlook is deteriorating rapidly.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.