October 8, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

Wildcat strikes up the stakes in South Africa’s labour clashes.

The Libyan assembly passes a vote of no confidence, dismissing the prime minister.

And, Minister of Public Works Thulas Nxesi says the Nkandla controversy is based on 'misperceptions'.

The rules of the game in South Africa's labour market have changed, with workers feeling underpaid, stretched to the limit financially and betrayed by established unions. These workers say unions are more concerned about ties with politicians and management than workers in the shafts.

The recent mine unrest has led to job losses with mining giant Amplats sacking 12 000 wildcat strikers on Friday. Similarly, Atlatsa Resources dismissed some of the 2 500 workers who went on strike last week at its Bokoni platinum mine.

According to industry data, each miner supports on average eight to ten people, often living in abject poverty. As a result the sackings could cut off income to more than 100 000 people.

Libya's national congress dismissed the newly elected prime minister on Sunday in a vote of no confidence. This underscores the difficulties of forming a government, which can unite the country's different factions and regions.

The vote came minutes after Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur named ten new ministers. This was his second and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to form a government following a forced withdrawal of his previous cabinet in the face of protests.

The national congress will now need to choose a new prime minister who will have to try again to form a viable government as Libya, a major oil and gas exporter, seeks to emerge from the civil war that toppled Muammar Gaddafi last year.

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said the controversy over money spent on upgrading President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home was based on "misperceptions".

He said that the security upgrade wasn’t just something done by public works on its own, and that it was based on scientific security analysis.

While it is not common practise to comment on the president's security arrangements, the government decided to give "as many details as possible" without endangering Zuma's security. This follows a request of investigation into the evidence of the upgrade by Democratic Alliance MP Anchen Dreyer.

Also making headlines:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wants former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi as envoy to the troubled Sahel region.

Sudanese state media says Sudan will reopen its border crossings with South Sudan.

And, Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande pleads with business to become a platform for training and upskilling of school leavers.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.