Monday February 13, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

Unemployment in South Africa must be approached in the same way as the World Cup, with red tape stripped away so investment can flow, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said. In her weekly newsletter, Zille said President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation speech had shown that the government understood what was needed for job-creating economic growth. This type of growth was driven by the private sector through small, medium and micro enterprises, she added.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe could be barred from running for another term, according to the first draft of a new Constitution that also seeks to trim presidential powers. However, Mugabe, who has been accused by the West of using death squads and violence to intimidate voters, will probably muster his political might to sink the proposal, analysts said. Mugabe, who has ruled the Southern African country since independence from Britain in 1980, was forced into a power-sharing deal in 2008 after a disputed election and compelled to draft a new Constitution.

Nelson Mandela's face will feature on all South Africa's bank notes to honor the former President's role in fighting apartheid, President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday. The announcement coincides with the 22nd anniversary of Mandela's release from prison after serving 27 years in jail for his opposition to white-only rule. News that Zuma would make an announcement of "national importance," along with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus, spooked the market and sent the rand tumbling as much as 2.6% on the day. Marcus apologised for the confusion.

Also making headlines:

Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila's chief adviser was killed and his Finance Minister injured in an airplane crash near the eastern town of Bukavu yesterday, government officials said.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.