July 12 2012
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane

Making headlines:

Gauteng Premier Mokonyane accepts Housing MEC’s resignation

Former Prime Minister of Sudan says an Arab Spring in Sudan could resemble Syria

And, State workers declare a wage dispute.

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane accepted housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's letter of resignation on Wednesday.

Infrastructure development MEC Bheki Nkosi has been appointed with immediate effect to manage the Gauteng local development and housing department in the interim.

Mmemezi said it was the right thing to do, even though he had paid back the personal purchases made on the credit card.

The Congress of the People as well as the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng welcomed Mmemezi's apology, saying it wasn’t an unexpected resignation.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions said his resignation should set a precedent for others.

Former Sudan prime minister Sadeq al-Mahdi says an Arab Spring-style uprising in Sudan will likely follow the bloody example of Syria or Libya. He says its armed forces and judiciary aren’t independent and could be used against its people.

Sudan has so far not seen the wave of popular unrest that unseated long-serving leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. However, austerity measures launched last month to contain an economic crisis have set off anti-government protests.

The demonstrations have rarely gathered more than a few hundred people at a time. However, discontent over rising food prices and other economic hardships, worsened by the secession of oil-producing South Sudan a year ago, could yet ignite more protests, said Mahdi. He was ousted in the bloodless 1989 coup that brought President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to power.

South African public service unions declared a formal dispute with the government on Wednesday, raising the prospect of major industrial action in Africa's biggest economy after months of wage negotiations.

Eight unions affiliated to the powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions said they had taken the decision after the government withdrew an enhanced offer of a 6.9 percent wage increase and reverted to an earlier 6.7%.

The unions, whose members include teachers and health workers, are asking for a 7.9% hike.

Declaration of a dispute is the first step towards launching a strike.

Also making headlines:

1. The Public Investment Corporation defends its investment in independent schools.

2.Business confidence improves marginally.

And, the Land Bank says a food security threat is looming.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.