October 31 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Schalk Burger.

Making headlines:

The South African National Roads Agency Limited says Gauteng’s e-toll tariffs will be adjusted in March each year.

The International Monetary Fund eases technical assistance restrictions on Zimbabwe and allows for economic monitoring.

And, the European Union considers sending 200 troops to train Mali’s army.

The Government Gazette has confirmed that the South African National Roads Agency Limited (or Sanral) plans to adjust the e-toll tariffs for Gauteng’s upgraded highways in March each year. This will be in line with the consumer price index.

This follows Cabinet’s decision that Sanral should proceed with the implementation of the e-tolling system to partly fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Programme (or GFIP). Government has already dedicated R5.7-billion to the programme.

On Friday, the Department of Transport gazetted the draft toll tariffs and regulations for the e-tolling system. This kicked off a 30-day period for public comment, which would conclude in a judicial review on November 26.

GFIP project manager Alex van Niekerk said that the e-tolling system could be implemented before the end of the year. However, this will depended on the duration of the public comment process. The final tariffs will be published at least 14 days before the official implementation of the e-tolling systems.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday relaxed restrictions on technical assistance to Zimbabwe. This opens the way for an IMF staff-monitored economic program in that country. The move marks a major step toward normalising relations with the southern African country.

The IMF would want to see a track record of sound policies by the unity government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai before it agrees to a lending program.

The IMF said its board of member countries agreed there had been "significant improvement in Zimbabwe's cooperation on economic policies and renewed commitment to address its arrears problems."

The European Union is considering sending about 200 troops to train Mali's army to retake the Islamist-held north. However, it is not willing to deploy them in battle.

The EU discussions are among international efforts to mobilise against the militants in northern Mali, which has attracted Islamists, criminal networks and Al Qaeda-linked gunmen.

The militants are recruiting hundreds of locals, including children, and a trickle of foreign fighters. The EU officials said the region was becoming a haven for traffickers – of people, drugs and cigarettes – and that this money was financing terrorists.

An EU official said that three plans have been under consideration. The proposed plans include training, training plus reform of the army’s structure, as well as sending EU troops into combat with Malian troops: however, member states are reluctant to risk sending their troops into combat.

Also making headlines:

The United Nations says donors have pledged more than $2-billion for Burundi’s development strategy.

Sudan dismisses Israeli allegations on arms supplies.

And, gas holds big opportunities for Southern Africa’s energy generation.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today