August 7, 2014.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies says the economy was the highlight of US-Africa Summit.

The scale of humanitarian operations in South Sudan is now the largest in any single country.

And, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown says a decision on a new Eskom CEO will be made within weeks.
 

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said highlights of the US-Africa Leaders Summit focused on the economy, but the US made no commitments at the conclusion. He said many leaders had spoken about how the economic performance of Africa was much improved and that outside investors were showing increased interest in the continent.

One of the purposes and outcomes of the summit was that President Barack Obama, his administration and the chamber of commerce was trying to mobilise investment from US businesses in Africa.

Davies also noted that the African Growth and Opportunity Act was a good initiative but it was agreed at the summit that there was insufficient use of it across the board of trade preferences.

The reasons for this were based on the fact that, through the infrastructure deficit, the continent was losing 2% of its potential growth, as African Development Bank president Donald Kaberuka had pointed out. This was because the growth experienced by Africa was not matched by significant economic transformation.

 

The scale of humanitarian operations in South Sudan is now the largest in any single country and the world's youngest nation is on the brink of catastrophe as a famine looms.

Ahead of a visit by UN Security Council ambassadors to Africa next week, UN deputy peacekeeping chief Edmond Mulet told the 15-member council the dire situation could spark security concerns "as communities begin to compete for diminishing resources."

After three years of independence, South Sudan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted internal conflict. Mulet said this was a man-made crisis, and those responsible for it had been slow in resolving it.

At least 10 000 people have been killed since fierce fighting erupted in December, pitting President Salva Kiir's government forces against supporters of Riek Machar, his former deputy and longtime political rival.

 

Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown says she has made a decision on her preferred candidate for the position of CEO of Eskom and will present the name at the next Cabinet meeting for approval.

She indicated that a Cabinet committee would deliberate on the appointment next week and that the appointment would be discussed at the upcoming Cabinet meeting, scheduled for August 20.

Brown was handed a list of candidates by the Eskom board following a recruitment process, which was initiated following the resignation of Brian Dames in late 2013.

 

Also making headlines:

The National Prosecuting Authority says formal charges will be served to suspended NPA integrity management unit head Prince Mokotedi on Thursday.

South Africa is urged to adopt a ‘nation brand’ approach.

Independent oversight and improved accountability will strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority say the ISS.

And, Liberia closes a major hospital in the capital Monrovia after a Spanish priest and six other staff contracted Ebola, as the death toll from the worst outbreak of the disease hit 932 in West Africa.

Also on Polity:
 

Be sure to watch the latest multimedia interviews and analysis of South African politics by Aubrey Matshiqi as well as Professor Raymond Suttner. Polity also speaks to technology analyst Arthur Goldstuck about his new book Tech-Savvy Parenting, about raising safe children in a digital world.

Also, be sure to read the latest report by the Institute for Security Studies on strengthening prosecutorial accountability in South Africa.

Follow us on Twitter @PolityZA for updates on breaking news.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.