Friday August 05, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Jessica Hannah

Making headlines:

It is nationalisation that will reconcile and unite South Africans, says ANC Youth League president Julius Malema. He told residents and students at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto campus, last night that everyone has the right to benefit from wealth in South Africa. He urged students not to believe economists, especially "the three white men" being televised on SABC, as they were "feeding people lies". He referred to the Commission of Employment Equity report released on Wednesday, which said that whites still occupied 73.1% of top management positions in the country. He said that South Africa is divided, with two economies in one country and two nations in one country, and he believes that nationalisation that will unite the country.

Political leaders attending the 13th African Renaissance Conference in Durban yesterday argued that increased infrastructural connectivity between African countries should be prioritised, as it would create an important platform for social, political and economic development on the continent. At present, only about 10% of African trade was intracontinental, while the balance was with countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. South Africa’s Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba argued that yearly infrastructure investment of $38-billion would be required over the next ten years to deal with the current deficits and to create the basis for greater trade and investment within the continent and with trade partners.

The 2010 General Household Survey (GHS) has found that grants were prevalent as a source of income in four provinces across South Africa. The survey, which was released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), found that grants were prevalent as a source of income in Limpopo at 58.2%, followed by the Eastern Cape at 56.2%, the Northern Cape at 52.2% and the Free State at 51.5%. Stats SA said 44.9% of households across South Africa are dependent on grants, while 62.4% of households are dependent on incomes from salaries.

Also making headlines:
Many Egyptians struggled with torn emotions as they reviewed images splashed over newspapers and repeated on television of their octogenarian former president, a day after he went on trial.
The nationalisation of South Africa’s mines had strong support within the ruling ANC and from its alliance partners, Cosatu said during a debate organised by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
And, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son said his camp was nearing a deal with Islamists within Libya's rebellion to isolate more liberal members of the insurgency.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.