Tuesday November 08, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Jessica Hannah

Making headlines:

Sacked Ministers Sicelo Shiceka and Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde are still earning R840 000 a year salaries as ANC MPs, Beeld newspaper reports.
ANC caucus spokesman Moloto Mothapo told the newspaper that neither the former Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, nor the ex-Public Works Minister had resigned as Members of Parliament. Both still earnNC MP salaries and also enjoyed privileges such as 48 paid-for inland business class plane tickets a year, and 24 plane tickets for their spouses.President Jacob Zuma sacked them on October 24.

Tension, a planned opposition boycott and fresh memories of a day of deadly clashes hang over Liberia's presidential election run-off today, which incumbent leader Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is poised to win. Johnson-Sirleaf is set to secure a second term in the poll, the West African State's first locally organized presidential contest since a civil war, after her rival Winston Tubman withdrew in protest against alleged fraud in the first round. At least one person was shot dead after Tubman supporters clashed with Liberian and UN security forces in the capital Monrovia yesterday. A Liberian police officer was detained by UN peacekeepers after he admitted to firing live rounds during the clash.

Africa's top diplomat, on a visit to Congo, urged presidential candidates to abide by the outcome of an election this month, after one of the leading challengers to President Joseph Kabila declared himself already head of State. The presence of Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union Commission, underscores fears over Congo's second post-war election, which some say will have to be delayed due to logistical problems. Ping is due to meet Kabila, with polls showing he is headed for likely re-election, as well as veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who is in South Africa but scheduled to return to the country soon.

Also making headlines:
Fighters who toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi in Libya's uprising will keep their weapons for now to aid in security, says an Islamist commander.
And, the Development Bank of Southern Africa says South Africa is unlikely to meet its development goals on its current path.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.