South Africa

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for the minister of education Naledi Pandor to conduct an independent enquiry into the 2008 matric exams. Education spokesperson for the party Desiree van der Walt says that an enquiry should be appointed owing to concerns about missing results and the quality of the 2008 pass rates. Van der Walt explains that overall the 2008 matric exam results suggest that the South African education system is showing signs of improvement. However, the department's failure to release more than 10% of the matric results is indicative of administrative failures that require urgent investigation. The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) says that the 2008 matric pass rate is cause for concern. Spokesperson Dennis George said the general pass rate is worrying especially since rural schools are not performing as expected.

CAPE TOWN - The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) calls for urgent debate in Parliament on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. IFP party spokesperson on foreign affairs Ben Skosana says the escalating conflict between the Middle Eastern countires has reached a point where the South African Parliament needs to voice its concerns. He explains that South Africa's silence on the issue will only polarise the already existing diverse opinions on this conflict. The IFP also calls for the tabling of a report by a delegation from Parliament's Foreign Affairs committee, which recently visited the Middle East.

Africa & World

ACCRA - African leaders praise Ghana's peaceful presidential election as a rare example of a functional democracy in Africa. After a year of political crises, many of them violent, which tarnished the continent's democratic credentials, Ghana's democratic success should make it a role model for Africa. Opposition candidate John Atta Mills was declared the victor after the closely fought election was settled by a run-off. South African President Kgalema Motlanthe says that the Ghanaian election bears testimony to the presence of respect for democracy and good governance in Africa. Ghanaians hail the vote saying Africa should look to it as evidence that democracy can work.

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF states that a new government will be set up by the end of February, as its negotiators meet in South Africa once again for discussions. Zanu-PF's secretary for national security in the public service ministry Nicholas Goche, says that Zimbabwe's longtime leader Robert Mugabe will press ahead with the formation of a new government with the full consent of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Meanwhile, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai insists that he will only accept the position of prime minister in a new government once all disagreements with Zanu-PF have been settled.

ADDIS ABABA - Burundi and Uganda say they want their troops serving in the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia to be allowed to take action against insurgents. Soldiers from the two countries form a 3,200-strong African Union (AU) force known as AMISOM that is propping up Somalia's government. Burundi's Defence Minister Germain Niyoyankana asks that the AU revise the peacekeeping force's mandate so that its troops can lead offensive attacks against any insurgent group preparing to attack its position. He adds that the AU must persuade all countries that pledged to supply troops, to keep their promise. Analysts say the AU mission is too small to effectively counter insurgent attacks.

KIMBERLEY - Rapaport, a significant source of diamond market information, says that all eyes will be on Zimbabwe in Kimberley Process circles in 2009. The organisation will be forced to take a stance on illicit diamonds that may not necessarily be fuelling conflict in Zimbabwe, but may be benefiting a corrupt government. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict. Rapaport says that Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has cracked down on the illegal trade that had developed at the Marange diamond fields, as his government was being cheated out of a billion dollars a month in diamond revenues.

KHARTOUM - Sudan's government accuses Darfur rebels of planning to launch attacks if President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is indicted for war crimes. Sudan has been trying to head off a possible International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Bashir after the court's prosecutor accused the president of genocide in Darfur. Foreign Ministry undersecretary Mutrif Siddiq says that the indictment of Bashir would have a very negative impact. He predicts that the rebellion in Darfur will escalate as the rebels will feel that they are fighting a legitimate cause against a criminal government and a criminal president. Arab and African countries want any indictment for Bashir put on hold, believing it would damage hopes of peace in Sudan, but western states with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council have the power to veto any postponement.

CONAKRY - France's secretary of state for cooperation Alain Joyandet, says that Guinea's ruling military junta will hold elections this year. The representative of Guinea's former colonial ruler meets with leaders of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) junta and reports that Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is very clear in accepting the period of 12 months fro an election. Joyandet adds that it is imperative that Guinea has a parliament and a president by the end of 2009.