Monday, October 25, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Brad Dubbelman.

Making headlines:

Government on Sunday denied media reports that key Cabinet members would be reshuffled or replaced, asking that they be afforded the necessary respect and space to work. Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko stated that "any change to the composition of the Executive is the prerogative of the President..."
The Weekend Argus newspaper reported on Sunday that President Jacob Zuma was set to make several "possible key changes" to his Cabinet, which is holding a special meeting on a new economic growth strategy on Monday. One possible change was the departure of Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Trevor Manuel, to take up a senior position either at the World Bank or in the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Another was the replacement of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, whose wife Cheryl is on trial on drug trafficking charges, with Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Deputy Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile was slated for a full Cabinet post, possibly replacing Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana.
Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane has, however, stayed mum on reports that Zuma is set to reshuffle his Cabinet.

A Group of 20 (G20) agreement to give emerging market countries more power in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) opens the door for breakthroughs on easing global tensions over trade imbalances.
The surprise deal reached at weekend meetings of finance ministers from the G20 in South Korea, shifts IMF voting power to underrepresented emerging countries like China, India, Brazil and Turkey. Countries like the US are betting that with greater representation, emerging economies such as China will be more willing to address the trade distortions causing currency volatility and threatening increased protectionism.
The deal avoided a widening of the gulf between emerging and developed nations and a chaotic ending to a G20 meeting in which the US failed to convince China and others to agree to targets to limit current account imbalances.
Just hours after ministers signalled that a deal was unlikely and would be left to the G20 leaders summit in Seoul on November 12, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn declared that this historic agreement had been reached.

Ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster have promised to step up crime fighting efforts in a delivery agreement signed with President Jacob Zuma on Sunday.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe explained that the delivery agreement signifies a renewed coordinated and transparent approach to the fight against crime. "The outcome is a rallying call to all South Africans to work together in the fight against crime and corruption," he said.
Ministers to sign the agreement included Radebe, Defence and Military veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Radebe added that the agreement would pull together "all stakeholders in the criminal justice system" and "channel all efforts towards a common goal".

Also making headlines:

Guinea's planned October 24 Presidential runoff is indefinitely delayed after street violence erupted and rumours of foul play spread.
The South Africa government promises to spend more than $115-billion to bulk up its power grid and prevent future blackouts.
Registration books for Sudan's southern independence referendum are delivered, clearing a major hurdle in delayed preparations for the January 2011 vote.
And, the International Monetary Fund says that sub-Saharan African countries should consider tempering expansionary policy now that economic recovery is under way across much of the continent.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.