January 08, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

South Africa faces one more Agoa hurdle.

Niger tidies electoral register ahead of February vote.

And, the ANC turns 104.

 

South Africa faces one more hurdle over US meat imports before it can make a toast to remaining a part of the US African Growth Opportunity Act (or Agoa).

That was according to US Ambassador Michael Froman, who released a statement on new market access for US poultry, beef, and pork exports to South Africa.

Froman said the progress in resolving the outstanding technical issues was celebrated, the true test of success would be based on the ability of South African consumers to buy American product in local stores. 

He confirmed the announcement by South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies that the countries had completed negotiations on the various meat imports.

The announcement by Davies yesterday came after South Africa missed an important deadline set by US President Barack Obama to conclude the negotiations by December 31, 2015.

Minister Davies commended the people involved in the negotiations, saying they had "cracked" the Agoa deal.

 

Niger has completed changes to its electoral register recommended by the International Organization of the Francophonie (or OIF), the body said yesterday, removing a major source of tension ahead of elections next month.

President Mahamadou Issoufou was seeking another mandate as head of the historically turbulent, uranium-producing West African country on February 21.

He is the favourite to win but critics said he had become increasingly authoritarian and repressive ahead of the polls.

The OIF had previously recommended the removal of around 300 'ghost' polling stations and 25 000 voters counted twice.

UN Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed confidence in next month's polls and welcomed additional financial resources provided by the government for the electoral commission

TheANC’s top leadership will be at different venues in the North West province to celebrate its 104th birthday today.

The ANC was formed on January 8 in 1912.

Party secretary general Gwede Mantashe will be in Brits to meet with all ANC branches in the Madibeng sub-region. He will later move to Damonsville for a sub-regional mini rally, which concludes his week-long activities to drum up support for the ANC birthday celebrations in Phokeng tomorrow.

Deputy secretary general, Jessie Duarte, will be in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, where she will visit the family of struggle veteran Ruth Mompati in Vryburg.

President Jacob Zuma will cut the birthday cake with traditional leaders in Rustenburg.

Also making headlines:

Gautrain had started the process of acquiring 12 new trains of four cars each.

And, Nehawu said its members will picket against corruption outside the department of public works’ offices in Pretoria today .

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today