Thursday, April 22, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.

Making headlines:
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe claimed that he was left in the dark on new National Director of Public Prosecutions Menzi Simelane's controversial plans to restructure the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Briefing Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Justice on the department's budget yesterday, Radebe announced that he would bring the long-awaited Superior Courts Bill to Cabinet next week. But the meeting was dominated by concerns over Simelane's plans, notably his perceived interference with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).
The five-year strategic plan unveiled by Simelane last week includes: making the AFU and three other specialised units answer directly to provincial directors of prosecution, who, in turn, report to him. The opposition Democratic Alliance protested that this amounts to "disbanding the AFU" and that the plan would be the "ruination" of the NPA because it undermines its independence. Radebe, however, said that he supports the ultimatum given to Willie Hofmeyr by Simelane, to choose between his posts as head of both the AFU and the Special Investigations Unit.

Sub-Saharan African countries will have to rebuild fiscal room and move their focus away from the near-term objectives of stabilising output to medium-term considerations, such as increasing spending on growth-enhancing priorities, including infrastructure, health and education, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested yesterday.
In its latest World Economic Outlook report, the IMF forecast gross domestic product (GDP) for the sub-Saharan African region to grow by 4,7% this year and by 5,9% in 2011. South Africa's GDP growth was forecast to be 2,6% in 2010 and 3,6% in 2011.
The IMF stated that the use of countercyclical fiscal policy during the global downturn had been a welcome development in the region. It pointed out, that in the majority of cases, the sustainability of public debt trajectories had not been adversely affected. However, it warned that the risks to the outlook in the region are varied. Some of the biggest risks could be the impact of a more hesitant recovery in advanced economies, the fact that the outlook for official aid flows to the region were subject to downside risks and the fact that political uncertainty in a number of economies, particularly in West Africa, could dampen economic growth. The IMF noted that one of the major policy challenges for sub-Saharan Africa would be to attract private capital flows and to ensure that macroeconomic policy accommodates this.

Foreigners will inject R13-billion into South Africa's economy during the FIFA World Cup, helping the soccer spectacular boost economic growth by 0,5%. The estimated gross economic impact for South Africa, including indirect spending and infrastructure built over the past four years, will be R93-billion, according to a study by accounting firm Grant Thornton. But the bulk of this is internal government spending.
Gillian Saunders, who led the study, explained that fewer foreign fans were expected to come to South Africa than previously thought, but those that do will spend more compared with other tournaments like Germany in 2006. Saunders said that the firm had revised the figures post the worldwide recession and major ticket sales phases, and some of the numbers are encouraging.
National and regional governments have spent about R40-billion on stadiums, transport and airports. Foreign fans should spend about R8,8-billion in the country and, together with spending by governing body FIFA, other officials and teams, the economy will receive a R13-billion cash injection.

Also making headlines:

The South African Local Government Association says that municipal services will be restored as soon as possible after a pay strike was resolved yesterday.
Zimbabwe's stock exchange CE says that new policies to give black Zimbabweans majority stakes in foreign companies have scared off investors.
Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale says that the South African government will spend R16-billion on new houses for the poor in the next financial year.
And, a rift emerges in Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party ahead of 2011 elections.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.