Monday October 10, 2011

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Brad Dubbelman

Making headlines:

South Africa's 2011 census started today, with the homeless and babies born after midnight being the first to be counted.
Questionnaires were also dropped off at all hotels, guest houses, lodges and other accommodation. These had to be completed by hotel managers and guests who spent the census night there. Stats SA's Trevor Oosterwyk told the SABC census teams would start going onto the streets on Monday morning. He said he understood people were suspicious of the field workers, but assured they had been vetted.

Opposition leaders and voters in Cameroon have complained of delays at polling booths and other organisational shortfalls at a presidential election expected to seal a new term for incumbent Paul Biya. Reports that some voters cast two ballots while others did not vote at all risk undermining the credibility of the poll in the Central African oil producer, weeks after a poll in Zambia reaffirmed change through the ballot box is possible in Africa. Sunday's polling ended peacefully but power supply problems meant the count in some districts was conducted by candelight, the flashlights of mobile phones or, as at one district in the capital Yaounde, the headlights of a motorbike. Results could take as long as two weeks to emerge.

South African political firebrand Julius Malema was discharged from hospital, SABC news reported, paving the way for his disciplinary hearing with the ANC to resume this week. He was admitted to a private hospital in his home province of Limpopo with flu-like symptoms, the youth wing of the ANC said last week. Malema, seen as a potential future ANC leader, faces suspension or expulsion from the party if found guilty.

Also making headlines:
Still haunted by memories of West Africa's bloodiest civil war, Liberians hope tomorrow's presidential election will shore up peace and lay the foundations for prosperity instead of producing the grist for more violence.
And, Libyan transitional government forces attacked deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi's security headquarters in Sirte, hoping that once the buildings had been captured the fight for the city would be won.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today.