March 19, 2014
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Carina Borralho.
Making headlines:

President Jacob Zuma faces a 'fire pool' graft ruling as the Public Protector unveils her Nkandla report.

A report reveals that the Independent Electoral Commission procurement process was 'not fair'.

And, Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika plans to make constitutional amendments and economic reforms ahead of elections next month.

 

The Public Protector plans to unveil a report on today on a $21-million state-funded "security upgrade" to President Jacob Zuma's private home. A newspaper has previously revealed that the upgrades included a swimming pool and cattle enclosure.

If Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's long-awaited findings concur with leaked excerpts in a daily newspaper, they could damage the scandal-plagued Zuma and the ruling African National Congress in an election that is only six weeks away.

As the report's formal release day has approached, several senior party officials have appeared in the media questioning the integrity and independence of Madonsela, whose office is enshrined in South Africa's post-apartheid constitution.

The newspaper said Madonsela's draft report, entitled "Opulence on a Grand Scale", found Zuma had derived "substantial" personal gain from the home improvements paid for by the state. It recommended he should repay some of the money.

 

A report by the Treasury indicated on Tuesday that the procurement process by the Independent Electoral Commission (or IEC) in acquiring its office park was not fair, transparent or cost-effective.

The report advised that Advocate Pansy Tlakula, as the chief electoral officer and accounting officer, Mr Du Plessis, as the deputy CEO corporate services, and Mr Langtry, as manager in the office of the CEO, should each be held responsible for the roles they played that resulted in a procurement process being followed that was not fair, equitable, transparent, competitive or cost effective.

The forensic investigation was done by auditors PriceWaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Treasury on the procurement of the IEC's Riverside Office Park building in Centurion, Pretoria.

This follows a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, released in August 2013, which found Tlakula had played a "grossly irregular" role in procuring the premises. Madonsela recommended that a forensic investigation be launched into the lease agreement.

 

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika plans to amend the constitution to strengthen democracy and introduce reforms to reduce state bureaucracy should he be re-elected in next month's vote, his campaign manager said on Tuesday.

The announcement by former premier Abdelmalek Sellal gave some idea of the campaign platform of the 77-year-old leader, who is widely expected to win another five-year term in the April 17 election despite questions about his health.

Bouteflika has hardly been seen in public since suffering a stroke last year, but has registered his candidacy and Sellal has resigned as prime minister to run his campaign.

Sellal told Algeria's major business association at a conference to promote Bouteflika's election programme that the constitution would be revised to consolidate the system and allow more democracy and more respect for all institutions.

 

 

Also making headlines:

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane appeals for the law to take its course in the Rwandan expulsion case.
 

And, a researcher at UCT has developed new techniques to help make South African roads safer.
 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.