Wednesday, June 23, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Mary-Anne O'Donnell.

Making headlines:

The number of people employed in the formal sector declined by 1%, or 79 000 employees, during the first quarter of this year, compared with the fourth quarter of 2009, Statistics South Africa's latest Quarterly Employment Statistics show. Year-on-year, the number of employed persons fell by 2,9%, or 242 000 employees, in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
With many construction projects having been completed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the construction sector shed 50 000 employees year-on-year, representing a 10,9% decline, and 7 000 employees quarter-on-quarter, representing a 1,7% decline.
Employment services company Adcorp's latest Employment Index also shows a marked decline in employment in the construction and trade sectors during April and May. The Adcorp index recorded a 6,2% decline in employment in these months, with employment in the construction sector dropping by 10,2% and in the trade sector by 9,2%.

Libya is failing to protect the rights of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and its decision to expel the United Nations (UN) refugee agency is likely to leave them more vulnerable, says human rights group Amnesty International (AI).
In a report detailing Libya's record on human rights, AI says that migrants are given no protection from exploitation and abuse and that many are locked up in detention centres or sent home without their asylum requests being considered. Libya's authorities reject criticism of their treatment of migrants, saying that Europe has unfairly burdened them with the responsibility of preventing vast numbers of illegal immigrants from crossing into the European Union. Many sub-Saharan Africans come to Libya hoping to use it as a stepping stone to reach Europe.
The UN High Commission for Refugees has intervened frequently on behalf of migrants in Libya but the government this month said that the agency had to leave because its presence was not covered by a convention with the UN.

The Department of Justice is investigating whether South Africa should consider an extradition request for former Rwandan army chief of staff, General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, who fled his country after his accusations of corruption caused his friendship with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to break down.
Justice Department spokesperson Tlali Tlali says that Nyamwasa was granted asylum in South Africa, and the Ministry is consulting the law to assess whether the country can extradite a person who has been granted asylum. Tlali says that while South Africa does not have an extradition treaty with Rwanda, such a request can still be considered.
Nyamwasa was wounded when he was shot in Johannesburg on Saturday. Six men have been arrested for the attack, which Nyamwasa's wife calls an assassination attempt.

Also making headlines:

The African National Congress (ANC) says that it will not bring disciplinary action against Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for publicly accusing ANC Ministers of corruption.
A row over corruption allegations sparks a fist fight in the Nigerian Parliament.
South African President Jacob Zuma says that a successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup should be the spur for a bid for the first African Olympic Games.
And, Zimbabwe revises rules requiring foreign firms to transfer majority control to local blacks, with varying shareholding thresholds being set for different sectors of the economy.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.