January 28, 2014
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

DA leader Helen Zille announces that Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele will stand as the DA Presidential candidate in the 2014 elections.

13 people are killed in Central African Republic while UN envoys warn against escalating reprisals against Muslims.

And, Agang SA says elections need to be monitored.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille announced on Tuesday that political party Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele will be the Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate in the upcoming general elections.

Zille described the announcement as a game changing moment for South Africa, calling Mamphela a principled, fiercely determined person who loved South Africa very deeply.

Ramphele described her decision to be the DA's presidential candidate as an "astonishing moment" in South Africa's history.

 

At least 13 people were killed in Central African Republic on Monday as the top UN human rights official warned of escalating reprisals against Muslims and urged foreign governments to do more to stop the country being torn apart.

Almost 1-million people, or a quarter of the population, have been displaced by fighting since the mostly Muslim Seleka rebel group seized power in March in the majority Christian country.  At least 2 000 people have been killed.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the security and human rights situation has further deteriorated over the past few days.

She called urgently upon the international community to strengthen peacekeeping efforts as many lives were at stake.

 

There is an urgent need for independent monitors during the elections after claims that some voters in the Tlokwe by-elections in the North West were not legitimate, Agang SA said on Monday.

Party leader Mamphela Ramphele said in a statement that if these allegations were true then South African citizens face the prospect of “African National Congress- aligned thugs threatening citizens hard-won right to free and fair elections”.

She claimed that Tlokwe was another demonstration of rampant corruption and self-interest displayed by some members of the ANC

"If Tlokwe is a symptom of the panic within the ANC then we need to be on our guard against more widespread electoral fraud in the general elections this year," she warned.

 

Also making headlines:
 

Egypt's generals give army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the green light to run for president.

Tunisia signs a new constitution, officially adopting a charter that is one of the country's last steps to full democracy after a 2011 uprising.

And, a UN Special Rapporteur says Rwanda's track record of prosecuting politicians who criticise President Paul Kagame's government sends a chilling message to opposition figures and rights campaigners.
 

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.