Tuesday February 14, 2012

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

Making headlines:

A mitigation hearing for ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and two other league members adjourned yesterday evening, the ANC said. "The hearings have adjourned and will continue on Thursday," said ANC spokesman Keith Khoza. Six hours were set aside yesterday to allow Malema, his spokesman Floyd Shivambu, and the league's secretary general Sindiso Magaqa an opportunity to argue in mitigation of their suspension from the ruling party. Khoza said he could not provide details on the applications brought by youth league leadership during the hearing.

The White House announced plans to help "Arab Spring" countries swept by revolutions with more than $800-million in economic aid, while maintaining US military aid to Egypt. In his annual budget message to Congress, President Barack Obama asked that military aid to Egypt be kept at the level of recent years – $1.3-billion – despite a crisis triggered by an Egyptian probe targeting American democracy activists. The proposals are part of Obama's budget request for fiscal year 2013, which begins on October 1. His requests need the approval of Congress, where some lawmakers want to cut overseas spending to address US budget shortfalls and are particularly angry at Egypt.

Major policy changes in South Africa are unlikely this year ahead of the December national conference of the governing ANC in Mangaung, Control Risks said. In its latest version of the yearly ‘RiskMap’, it stated that a measured evaluation of government policies, notably in the mining sector, was only likely to take place from 2013 onwards, with more definitive policies emerging as South Africa moved towards national elections in 2014. “All roads lead to Mangaung where the 53rd ANC national conference will take place in December, with nationalisation high on the agenda. This, and debate on President Zuma’s re-election will dominate politics in the coming year,” stated Control Risks associate analyst sub-Saharan Africa Simiso Velempini.

Also making headlines:

The Presidency has moved to clarify the comments made by President Jacob Zuma in the media, regarding the review of the Constitutional Court.

Irish rock star Bob Geldof has raised $200-million for his "8 Mile" African private equity fund, cementing a shift in his global anti-poverty crusade from rich world debt forgiveness to promoting private enterprise.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines.