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Wednesday February 01, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Megan Wait

Making headlines:

The Gauteng government will pay an estimated R280-million to Gautrain operator, the Bombela Concession Company, for the financial year ending March 31, as the company's income from the rapid-rail service will not reach the levels projected by the provincial government. The money is payable according to an agreement between government and Bombela regarding Gautrain patronage levels, which have not yet reached the numbers anticipated by government, owing to uncertainty around the roll-out of an electronic tolling system on Gauteng’s freeways, and the delay in the opening of the last leg of the 80 km Gautrain route. The R27-billion Gautrain project is a public-private partnership.

Global food prices are set to decline further in 2012 as a weaker world economy dampens consumer demand while food supplies rise, the World Bank said yesterday, warning that a possible rise in oil prices could reverse the trend. The World Bank said prices have declined steadily but volatility has increased, including among staples like wheat, maize and rice. In some countries, domestic food prices are higher than levels in 2010, keeping pressure on poor households that spend the bulk of their income on food. The World Bank increased its monitoring of global food prices in 2009 during a food and energy price crisis that hit food-importing countries the hardest and highlighted the chronic underinvestment in agriculture in developing countries.

At least one person was killed yesterday as Senegalese security forces armed with truncheons and tear gas clashed with rock-throwing activists protesting against President Abdoulaye Wade's decision to seek a third term. A 30-year-old student was run over by a truck and died from his injuries after mass protests in the capital Dakar turned violent, a government official said. Senegal's top legal body, the Constitutional Council, confirmed on Monday that Wade, aged 85, could stand for re-election, despite complaints it breached rules setting a two-term limit.

Also making headlines:

KwaZulu-Natal's 47 municipalities have incurred R2 billion in irregular spending, co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube said in Durban yesterday.

The Protection of State Information Bill has the potential to create an "oppressive" apartheid-era-style censorship, MPs heard in Cape Town.

And, there was still no word on the outcome of suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's appeal hearing, which was concluded a week ago.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.