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Polity
Article by: Amy Witherden
Published: 09 Dec 2008
Daily podcast - December 9, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
Suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli was relieved of his duties yesterday, despite the verdict of an official inquiry. The Ginwala report showed that the government had failed to prove Pikoli unfit for office.
President Kgalema Motlanthe, however, stated that he had made the call with a clear conscience, and it was not a political decision. He said that it would be "illogical" to keep Pikoli on as head of prosecutions. Pikoli's professional competence was not in question, but an appreciation for, and sensitivity to, matters of national security had been lacking.
Frene Ginwala said, however, that the question of national security was not among the reasons put forward by the government before the inquiry. She added that if it had been presented as a reason for Pikoli's suspension, she would not have hesitated to find the reason legitimate.
President Motlanthe said his decision would be communicated to Parliament within 30 days, and that it was up to Parliament to either confirm or reject it. He added that if any legal challenges to the decision were to arise, they would have to be put forward after Parliament had made its decision.
Meanwhile Tlali Tlali, spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority, said the NPA still considers suspended Pikoli its head of prosecutions, at least until Parliament makes its decision.

In world news, ministers are not yet ready to meet to seek a breakthrough in the World Trade Organisation's Doha round of trade talks. This is owing to inflexibility on the part of big trading powers.
WTO director-general Pascal Lamy is seeking to narrow the gaps between major players and weighing the risks of calling a meeting this month. Brazil's WTO ambassador, Roberto Azevedo, said that Lamy has received negative signals from certain members, as he agreed with 30 ambassadors to continue negotiations for a while before deciding whether to call in ministers.
The three issues that have emerged as the most sensitive all involve core US interests. This suggests that the US is the most sceptical about the prospects of a deal.
Recently, leaders of the Group of 20 rich and emerging nations agreed to strive for an outline deal in the Doha round by the end of this year. This was aimed at countering the financial crisis by boosting trade and warding off protectionism. However, big differences remain on sensitive issues.
Lamy said that he is ready to call a meeting between December 17 and December 19 if consultations over the next week or so indicate that a deal is likely to happen.

Moving to Zimbabwe, the European Union has joined calls from prominent world powers for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
EU foreign ministers have added 11 more names to a list of 160 Zimbabweans, including Mugabe's, under travel bans. This move is meant to increase the pressure on Zimbabwe's government. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the moment has arrived to put pressure on Mugabe to step down.
Echoing similar calls from the US and Britain, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Mugabe must go, as Zimbabwe has suffered enough.
Zimbabwean Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said, however, that Mugabe was constitutionally elected, and no foreign leader, regardless of how powerful they are, has the right to call on him to step down.
The US said it would continue to push for the international community to act on Zimbabwe, but that the country's neighbours hold the most influence.

Also making headlines:
The Democratic Alliance suggests a 'cover up' in the Pikoli decision.
Ambitions for a 2009 UN climate pact fade in Poznan.
Glaxo's experimental malaria vaccine is the most promising to date.
And, ANC President Jacob Zuma visits Namibia to cement party ties with Swapo.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories, visit polity.org.za.