March 8, 2013.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.

Making headlines:           

The National Planning Commission rubbishes Numsa’s NDP claims.

The National Employers' Association of South Africa supports changes in the Labour Act.

And, the Kenyan presidential election heads to a nail-biting finish.
 

The National Planning Commission on Thursday rubbished the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (or Numsa) claim that Democratic Alliance economic policies formed the basis of the African National Congress' National Development Plan (or NDP). This comes after Numsa, an affiliate of Cosatu, said its 311 000 members rejected the NDP as a "right wing" document.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said that after a thorough analysis, the central committee came to the extremely disturbing conclusion that significant and strategic parts of the NDP were directly lifted from DA policy documents.
Commission spokesperson Dumisa Jele said that Jim arrogated himself, as a custodian of ANC policies and a power much greater than the 4 500 delegates who gathered at the ANC 53rd National Conference in Mangaung,

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said that the party would take up the matter offline as part of Cosatu, if there was a need or request. Meanwhile, DA spokesperson Mmusi Maimane said there was no plagiarism of DA policies "at all", that it was unfortunate for Numsa to take this position because it created policy uncertainty.

 

The National Employers' Association of South Africa (or Neasa) has pledged its support to Constitutional Court action to have sections of the Labour Relations Act changed.

A news agency reported on Wednesday that the foundation launched a constitutional challenge against Labour Relations Act sections, which allow collective agreements made in bargaining councils to be extended to non-member employers and employees.

Neasa CEO Gerhard Papenfus said the association fully supported the Free Market Foundation in its challenge, and that it agreed with the notion that the extension of bargaining council agreements to non-party members, does in fact limit job creation.

According to the challenge, brought in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday, the foundation believes the practice pushes up wages and puts smaller employers out of business. This also acts to eliminate competition and is in the interests of the parties who make the agreements.

 

Kenya's presidential race tightened on Friday as Uhuru Kenyatta's lead narrowed over his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, raising the prospect of a second-round run-off.

Results from strongholds loyal to Odinga, 68, closed the gap, but with counting continuing and almost a third of constituencies still to report, Kenyatta could still edge over the 50% mark needed for a candidate to win outright.

If no candidate achieves 50% in the first round, the top two go to a run-off tentatively set for April. But the Kenyatta and Odinga camps have both raised questions about the vote process, so legal battles could push that date back.

Turnout was estimated by election officials at more than 70% of the 14.3-million eligible voters, who were undeterred by pockets of violence that killed at least 15 people. Despite the delays and technical glitches, international observers have broadly said the vote and count were transparent.

 

Also making headlines:

France says it will only hand over to African troops in Mali when security is restored.

Advisory services company Ernst & Young says Africa is expected to provide the “most consistent and robust rates” of growth over the next 10 to 15 years.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is close to securing a peace deal with one of two factions of the M23 rebels.

And, Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says the Public Service Department will keep track of corrupt officials.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.