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Polity
Published: 31 Aug 2012
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| Daily podcast – August 31, 2012. | |
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August 31, 2012 From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane. Making headlines: Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor says the Square Kilometre Array telescope changes the character of Africa. World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim heads to Africa in his first overseas visit. And, Ghana's National Democratic Congress party backs interim president John Dramani Mahama and seeks unity ahead of elections. Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor says that South Africa as the major location for the Square Kilometre Array (or SKA) telescope changes the character of Africa. Pandor says that now people will be coming onto the continent wanting to do iconic research on an iconic instrument, rather than coming here simply to exploit diamonds, gold and platinum. She was excited at the potential of astronomy to be a valuable vehicle to encourage a greater interest in scientific careers among the youth. She said that the Department of Science and Technology was working with the Department of Basic Education to ensure that schools in the rural areas have laboratories. The Treasury provides significant funding for the infrastructure for laboratories, she said. New World Bank President Jim Yong Kim heads to the Ivory Coast and South Africa next week on his first trip to Africa since taking the reins of the global development lender two months ago. The visit comes at a time when African economies are among the fastest growing in the world although their development is constrained by shortages of roads, ports, power supply, water and sanitation. Despite high rates of growth, rising youth unemployment and inequality are also a growing concern. During his trip to the Ivory Coast, starting on Tuesday, Kim will meet President Alassane Ouattara and his economic team, which have managed to turn around a stagnant economy within a year since the end of a civil war that claimed more than 3 000 lives. Kim will end his trip in South Africa where he will hold talks with South African President Jacob Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, as well as local entrepreneurs. Ghana's ruling National Democratic Congress party nominated interim president John Dramani Mahama on Thursday as its candidate for a December presidential race. The party hopes that a near-unanimous vote will restore unity after months of infighting. Mahama, who replaced the late president John Atta Mills as head of the cocoa, gold and oil-producing nation when he died last month, was the party's intended candidate. However, he had to be confirmed by a vote of the party congress in the town of Kumasi. He won 99.5% of 2 792 ballots cast in a vote that the party hopes will mend rifts. These rifts have centred mainly on a leadership challenge from the former first lady and wife of Ghana's longtime ruler Jerry Rawlings. Mahama said Mills's death offered the party a shot at unity. Also making headlines: Sociology Professor Peter Alexander upholds that police Casspirs crushed fleeing Marikana mineworkers. A Lop-sided Angolan vote is forecast to keep President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos in power. And, a newly launched Youth Technology Innovation Fund opens its doors for young innovators. That’s a roundup of news making headlines today. |
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