Thursday, August 13, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
The recession and its impact on South Africa's economy were the focus of a meeting of national and provincial Economics Ministers, Members of Executive Councils (MinMec), and senior government officials in Pretoria this week.
The meeting, the first joint MinMec meeting of the economic sector since the elections, reflected on the impact of the recession on the economy, particularly on job losses, and the decline in industrial capacity throughout the country. It also focused on the impact of the recent framework agreement on dealing with recessionary conditions.
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said that South Africa needs to "move from smart ideas to smart implementation". He added that even if economic growth takes off again, South Africa can expect employment recovery to lag for some time.

The "crass use of power" by university managers is one of the main threats to academic freedom in South Africa today, says physicist Nithaya Chetty.
Delivering the University of Cape Town's annual TB Davie memorial lecture, Chetty said that universities need to return to democratic values. The insensitive use of power "trumps intellectual discourse," he said, as "political rhetoric and populist beliefs" hold sway within South African universities.
Chetty said that academic freedom appears to be viewed by a growing number of university managers, and some politicians, as "a distraction". He added that academics need to stand together to fight for "an intellectually freer university system in South Africa". Academic freedom is not a privilege accorded to academics, Chetty explained, but a responsibility and obligation to be critically engaged with society.

Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu has dedicated his US Presidential Medal of Freedom to all South Africans who fought for freedom and justice.
After receiving the award from US President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday, Tutu said that he stands out only because his "compatriots are carrying [him] on their shoulders".
Tutu was among 16 actors, athletes, activists, scientists and humanitarians to receive the award from Obama. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognises people who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the US, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.
Tutu said that it was an honour that the US President saw fit to "salute the contribution South Africans have made to deepening the world's understanding of peace, justice and reconciliation".
Also making headlines:
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry reports that the country's trade activity is still in negative territory, but improving.
The African National Congress urges the removal of Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier from the Parliamentary Committee on Defence.
The World Bank pledges more financial aid for an ambitious Rwanda.
And, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that bad governance and corruption has fuelled Nigeria's poverty gap.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.