KHAMPEPE REPORT - South Africa's official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), announces that the Khamepe Commission report will be gazetted on May 5. The DA holds that all indications are that the report favours retaining the Scorpions in the National Prosecuting Authority, and that its publication will make it harder for the ruling African National Congress to justify dissolving the unit.

ELECTRICITY CRISIS - The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) grants the National Economic Development and Labour Council and Business Unity South Africa an extension until May 20 to submit written comments on electricity utility Eskom's application for a 60% tariff increase for the 2008/9 financial period. A determination on the tariff request is still expected on June 6.

BORDER CONTROL - The Democratic Alliance indicates that South Africa's international land borders are as porous as the proverbial sieve, with tens of thousands of refugees streaming into the country each week. The party has called for the deployment of South African National Defence Force troops to the worst affected border regions to bring the situation under control.

PREPAID WATER - The Johannesburg High Court prepares to make a ruling on the lawfulness of prepayment water meters and the adequacy of free basic supply. The case was brought by five desperately poor residents of Phiri, Soweto, on behalf of themselves, their households and all similarly situated residents. The residents have either had their water cut off by Johannesburg Water or been persuaded to accept prepaid meters as the only alternative to a total disconnection of the water supplied to their homes and the installation of a limited-flow yard pipe.

AFRICA

ZIM MILITARY - Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that Zimbabwe's army is supplying militants with weapons to intimidate voters to ensure that Robert Mugabe wins a possible runoff in the presidential election. The HRW statement indicates that military forces have equipped war veterans with weapons and trucks to scare Zimbabweans into backing Mugabe.

FDI IN NAMIBIA - Namibia indicates that it expects to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) by 10% in 2008 from $4-billion last year, helped by mining, agriculture and tourism. The Southern African country's economy relies on tourism, beef production, financial services and minerals, such as gold, diamonds and lately uranium.

WORLD

FOOD CRISIS - Leading figures from the United Nations meet in Switzerland to chart a solution to dramatic food price increases that have caused hunger, riots and hoarding in poor countries around the world. The agencies involved in the talks include the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and the World Trade Organisation to coordinate a response.

GAZA STRIP - Israel dismisses a Hamas proposal for a six-month Gaza Strip truce during which an embargo on the territory would be lifted, saying the Palestinian Islamists want to prepare for more fighting rather than peace. The Hamas offer, issued following talks with Egyptian mediators, departed from previous demands by the group that any ceasefire apply simultaneously in Gaza and the West Bank - the territories where Palestinians want statehood.

US ECONOMY - US President George W Bush says the country's economy is in a slowdown, but that tax rebates should help stem the slump in activity, and urges taxpayers to contact the deferral government about their eligibility for rebates amounting to as much as $600 an adult and $300 a child.