October 17, 2018.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

 

Making headlines:

Inquiry report urges Ramaphosa to fire suspended tax head

South Africa slips in WEF Global Competitiveness Index

And, Congo condemns Angola for violent crackdown on migrants

 

An inquiry reviewing evidence on suspended Sars head Tom Moyane has issued an interim report urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire the tax official.

The agency has been plagued by infighting over the last three years and is subject to ongoing government investigations.

Judge Robert Nugent, who is heading the inquiry into Moyane, says the suspended tax chief should be removed from office for the "reckless mismanagement of Sars" under his tenure.

The president's office said Ramaphosa was weighing up the contents of the interim report and its recommendations.

 

South Africa has fallen another five places in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index, placing 67 out of 140 countries.

The 2018 Index scores 140 economies using 98 indicators organised into 12 pillars.

The US ranks number one overall, scoring 85.6 out of 100, followed by Singapore at 83.5, and Germany with 82.8.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for South Africa, with the country ranking 18th for its financial system and 35th for its market size.

 

Congo's government condemned what it called the violent expulsion by Angolan authorities of thousands of Congolese citizens during a crackdown on artisanal diamond mining.

Congolese migrants and officials have said dozens of people were killed during a crackdown this month, an accusation Angola strongly denies.

Congolese government spokesperson Lambert Mende said about 28 000 Congolese had been "brutally" expelled, in violation of an agreement between the two countries on freedom of movement.

Angolan officials have previously denied abuses and said repatriations are voluntary.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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