Wednesday March 7, 2012

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

Cosatu’s nationwide protest against the e-tolling system and labour brokers is set to start this morning. Support has grown for the protest with labour unions and political parties pledging to join the marches. Cosatu expected at least 100 000 people to take part in 32 marches across South Africa. The major event would take place in Johannesburg's central business district. It also expected its provincial bodies, essential services workers, Eskom workers, teachers, pupils, and other unions to join the strike.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's cabinet has resigned in a procedural move to allow President Joseph Kabila to form a new government following his re-election more than three months ago, a spokesperson said. The move signals a new government may be named imminently. However, a prolonged delay in announcing a new team could deepen investor concerns that Kabila is failing to address the mineral-rich country's daunting economic and social challenges. Kabila has not addressed the Central African nation for over two months, pushing Kinshasa's rumour mill into overdrive about what lies behind his low profile.

South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has called for labour market reforms, according to a report. "Given the scale of the unemployment challenge, no single policy offers the solution…. What is needed is a comprehensive set of reforms that maximise job creation," Gordhan said in an opinion piece in Business Day. It was also crucial to implement reforms to improve the quality of education and skills development, he said. However, Gordhan said it was still necessary to support the poor.

Also making headlines:

Unemployment in Gauteng is to receive attention following the provincial budget with several projects receiving funds to alleviate the problem.

And, secondary roads in Gauteng will bear the brunt of motorists trying to avoid paying toll fees on the highways, members of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering said.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.