September 7, 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

Former President FW de Klerk says the choices to be made by the African National Congress' elective conference in Mangaung are crucial.

Infrastructure and policy delivery is going to form the basis of the World Bank’s future engagement with South Africa.

And, a cash crunch forces Zimbabwe to seek regional aid.

Former president FW de Klerk says that the outcome of the African National Congress' elective conference in Mangaung at the end of the year could have a big effect on South Africa's future.

De Klerk said that it was important that ANC members attending the conference act in the interests of the country, and not as individuals.

He said it was important that, in the context of a party structure, the conference goers take into account the best interests of South Africa, rather than personal agendas.

De Klerk called for a return to the spirit of seeking reconciliation that prevailed in the country in the years immediately after 1994.

Newly appointed World Bank president Dr Jim Yong Kim, who visited South Africa on Thursday as part of a larger African tour, says the bank stands ready to support Africa’s largest economy in its efforts towards improving social inclusion through higher levels of growth, as well as more inclusive growth.

South Africa’s success was important for the region, the continent and the world. As a result it is a priority for the World Bank, despite the country’s middle-income status, Kim said.

The Washington-based institution will start engagements soon on a new country strategy for South Africa. The strategy is likely to be aligned to South Africa’s R3.2-trillion, multidecade infrastructure plan. However, it would also place emphasis on improving policy implementation and service delivery.

Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti says that the country is turning to South Africa and Angola for help in plugging a $400-million hole in its budget. He was lamenting a lack of foreign investment and aid from its traditional Western donors.

The southern African country's economy is recovering under a coalition government formed in 2009 by President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. However, the country is still suffering the hangover of a decade-long recession widely blamed on Mugabe’s policies
such as the seizure of white-owned farms.

Biti said Harare would seek at least $150-million from South Africa and Angola. This follows a slash in Zimbabwe's 2012 GDP growth forecast last month from 9.4% to 5.6% due to a poor harvest and lack of donor funding.

Zimbabwe has struggled to attract funding from the likes of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank due to external debt that Biti put at $9.1-billion. Mugabe's drive to force foreign firms to hand over majority shares to local interests has also kept private investors away.

Also making headlines:

A disciplinary panel has recommended that Parliament sack its Secretary Zingile Dingani.

Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not interested in replacing Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organisation.

And, Tshwane starts public consultations on its long-term transport plans.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.