Tuesday April 03, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Shannon de Ryhove

Making headlines:

South Africa’s newest R5.8-billion incentive scheme, which has been established to support the embattled domestic manufacturing sector, should become operational during the course of May, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said. The rules governing access to the so-called Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme would be released soon and the scheme would be open to all manufacturing enterprises not covered by sector-specific industrial financing support mechanisms. In other words, companies in the automotive, clothing and textiles and business process outsourcing industries would not be eligible.

South Sudan and Sudan began talks yesterday aimed at easing military tensions, but both sides' continued accusations of attacks by the other left little hope for a peaceful outcome. The neighbours have fought repeatedly in the past few days along the poorly marked border, much of it poorly defined after the south split away in July under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war. Western nations fear the border clashes could reignite a full-blown war between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist South, with rival claims on oil resources a key part of the conflict.

Embattled police chief Bheki Cele breached procurement procedures by taking part in the "flawed leasing" of two buildings earmarked for police accommodation, the board of inquiry into allegations against him heard yesterday. Evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga dwelled on the July 5 alteration of initial police space requirements in a meeting between property tycoon Roux Shabangu, Cele and other police officials. "General Cele wanted the Sanlam Middestad building to be procured for the police. He identified the building and went ahead to become an active participant in the leasing," said Madlanga.

Also making headlines:

The Department of Water Affairs said that it was in the process of updating its supplier database to allow potential suppliers equal opportunities.

And, Mali's neighbours agreed to shut their borders with the West African country as part of tough sanctions aimed at forcing the leaders of last month's coup to step down.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.