Thursday August 25, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Jessica Hannah

Making headlines:

Jobs are not being created fast enough to absorb the growing labour force, says Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel. Taking questions in the National Assembly, he says that this is despite two consecutive quarters of job creation. According to a report in The Times, Patel said that up to 64 000 new jobs have been created in the last three months and that 150 000 jobs have been created in the nine-month period since the adoption of government's economic policy called the "New Growth Path". However, he points out that in the first two quarters of the year some 200 000 new job seekers had entered the market in each quarter.

Burkina Faso, a former recipient of large amounts of Libyan aid, has offered Muammar Gaddafi exile but has also recognised the rebel National Transitional Council as Libya's government. Chad, another major aid recipient, also recognised the rebel council. The African nations join a list of more than 40 countries who have recognised the rebels as Libya's rulers, who have taken control of most of Libya and are now hunting the veteran leader. Burkinabe Foreign Minister Yipene Djibril Bassolet said that Gaddafi could go into exile in his country even though it is a signatory of the International Criminal Court, which has charged Gaddafi with crimes against humanity.

Striking municipal workers have dropped their demand for an 18% salary increase to 10%.South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) general-secretary Mthandeki Nhlapho told SABC radio that the change in demand would only affect the percentage and not their demand for a R2 000 across the board payment. The decrease was decided during a second round of salary increase negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) on Wednesday. Samwu was joined by representatives from the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union. The strike is in its second week, but is not supported by Samwu Gauteng members whose leaders are embroiled in allegations on missing funds levelled at provincial leaders.

 

Also making headlines:

South Africa's Chamber of Mines says black ownership among its members averages 28% and already exceeds State-mandated targets.

And, South Africa is reviewing its mining laws to strengthen the penalty provisions for non compliance of the Mining Charter, which aims to transfer ownership to the previously disadvantaged.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.