POLITY WEEK IN REVIEW

SOUTH AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG - Cabinet approves a proposal on alternative approaches to funding concurrent functions between the national, provincial and municipal spheres of government. Spokesperson Themba Maseko says that greater alignment is needed between what national government identifies as a priority and what is actually implemented by provincial and local government. The functions under discussion include education, housing, social development, and health. The proposal seeks to achieve better alignment between policymaking, priority setting and the vertical division of revenue between the different levels of government.

JOHANNESBURG - Businessperson Wendy Luhabe refutes allegations by the African National Congress Youth League that she used an Absa event to lobby for her husband Mbhazima Shilowa's political movement. The event, co-hosted by Gill Marcus, chairperson of Absa, was an initiative to advance the cause of women. Luhabe says it is unfortunate that Absa has been drawn into an environment intended to intimidate business and create fear of association. She says that the Youth League's actions have served to fuel a "culture of intolerance".

JOHANNESBURG - The Ginwala Inquiry says that it is up to the President to decide what to do with the report on suspended prosecutions head Vusi Pikoli's fitness to hold office. The Inquiry explains that this is stipulated in the National Prosecuting Authority Act. This statement is given by Inquiry spokesperson Lawson Naidoo in response to questions over why Pikoli had not been given a copy of the report. If the President decides to remove Pikoli from office he must table a report to Parliament along with any representations from Pikoli. The Inquiry says that the report merely serves as advice to the President and thus they were duty-bound to make it available to him.

CAPE TOWN - African National Congress president Jacob Zuma warns supporters to be careful and clear in assessing the ‘breakaways' from the ruling party. Zuma advises members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions not to support those people who have much to say but are saying nothing and not to allow themselves to be ‘contaminated.' (see pic of Jacob Zuma)

AFRICA & WORLD

VATICAN CITY - In an unprecedented Vatican meeting, Pope Benedict meets with a delegation of Muslims from the Middle East, Africa and Asia in an effort to improve interfaith relations. The Pope speaks of the need to work together to promote respect for human dignity and fundamental human rights despite differing theological views on these matters. Islamic philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr says that neither faith has a monopoly on the use of violence. He suggests that a joint effort in the battle against desacralising and anti-religious forces will bring the religions closer together.

GOMA - African and Western governments fear that the escalation of fighting in North Kivu, east Democratic Republic of Congo, will draw neighbouring countries in to a regional war like that of the 1998-2003 conflict. Certain African leaders offer troops to pacify the area and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) says the group will send military advisers to help Congolese President Joseph Kabila. Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda says that he welcomes African peacekeepers if they come as an impartial stabilizing force, but he is ready to fight against them should they take sides with Congo government soldiers (FARDC) and their Rwandan Hutu (FDLR) and Mai-Mai militia allies.
(pic of Laurent Nkunda)

KHARTOUM - Sudan and Chad exchange ambassadors in the strongest sign of reconciliation since the countries cut diplomatic ties six months ago. The breakdown results from an attack on the Sudanese capital by Darfur rebels that are suspected of being supported by Chad. The relationship between the two countries is complicated by Sudan's Darfur conflict as there are tribal links between Chadian leaders and Darfur rebel leaders.
(pic of Sudan map)

DAKAR - Senegal's speaker of parliament Macky Sall is ousted as President Abdoulaye Wade strengthens his position of power in an overwhelming vote in the National Assembly. Sall's dismissal means that he is no longer in the running as Wade's potential successor. Sall's fall from grace comes with his call for the President's son to appear before the assembly to answer for his limited success as head of the organisation in charge of the Islamic Conference Summit held in March this year. Sall has since resigned from Wade's Democratic Party.

WASHINGTON - The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria approves 94 new grants worth $2,75 billion over the next two years. This is the highest amount of new financing approved by the Fund yet. Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine says that the Fund is positive about its programmes' ability to fight these diseases and reports saving 2,5-million people from dying. Zimbabwe is set to receive $169-million after returning the $7,3-million ‘confiscated' by the country's Reserve Bank. The Fund says that the new money is conditional on Zimbabwe's future behaviour and an assurance that the Zimbabwean government cannot interfere with the use of the money.

LUANDA - Angola's government fears that the Aids virus is a new postwar threat. Minister Jose Van-Dunem says he fears the rebuilding of destroyed roads and bridges after the civil war will help spread the virus through the movement of people from neighbouring countries. It is estimated that only 2,1% of the 16,5-million Angolans have been tested for the virus. Angola's newly elected government has promised to spend more than one third of its $42-billion budget for 2009 on health, education and the fight against poverty.