Election preparations are on track: IEC

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This stage will accommodate three SA television news channel. 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, says preparations for the upcoming elections on May 7 are on track.

Speaking to SABC Digital News on Wednesday, Mamabolo says: "We are confident that we are doing everything that needs to happen to ensure that South Africans are able to make their informed political choice."





Mamabolo also says it is important for the IEC to maintain a positive working relationship with the media. "The relationship with media houses, including the public broadcaster, has been phenomenal and we hope that we will keep that relationship going to inform the electorate."

The Results Operations Centre (ROC) is important for the elections. Mamabolo says it is hub where the IEC coordinates the electoral process. ROC is aimed at creating facilities for the media, political parties, IEC officials, Chapter 9 institutions and other stakeholders.

As the election results come in, the media and politicians will be able to see the results on two big screens with numbers changing. Analysts will also get a chance to comment on the results on the analyst’s desk.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will be one of the media houses that will be in the ROC, informing the public about all the latest developments on the elections results. TV and radio stations are expected to broadcast live from the venue. SABC Digital News team will also bring you updated coverage of the elections on the election website, SABC news website as well as social media platforms.

The IEC is expected to launch its ROC, ahead of the elections, on the 30th of April.

Meanwhile, the IEC is currently facing threats from unions to boycott the polls should its current head, Pansy Tlakula, refuse to resign. Tlakula has been fingered in an independent forensic audit as well as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report into the leasing of the IEC's R320 million head office in Centurion, Pretoria.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and AgangSA leader Mamphela Ramphela have also called for her resignation.The African National Congress has defended Tlakula', saying her issues did not impact the credibility of the elections.
Click below to listen to Independent Electoral Commission Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo.

 http://iono.fm/e/79992?autoplay=1 

This article first appeared on SABCNews site.  It was done by Sthembiso Sithole.

SA can regain biggest economy in Africa position: Economist

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Nigeria’s economy overtaking South Africa’s
can be attributed to the fact that it is a major oil producer.(REUTERS)

Chief Economist at Efficiency group, Dawie Roodt says South Africa can easily become the biggest economy in Africa again.

The National Bureau of Statistics says Nigeria will rebase its GDP on Sunday. This move will boost its estimated size by anything from around 40 to 70%, and is almost certain to push it ahead of South Africa to become Africa's biggest economy.



Roodt says in order for South Africa to be the biggest economy in Africa, it has to have right micro economic policies.

Download episode (MP3 236.4 KB)

 He says South Africa’s economy is much more sophisticated than Nigeria’s economy. Nigeria’s economy overtaking South Africa's can be attributed to the fact that it is a major oil producer on the continent.

Download episode (MP3 145.6 KB)

This article first appeared on the SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole.

Govt to use social media to lure youth to Freedom month activities

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The Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile, says government will use social media to promote its Freedom Month programmes.


Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile during
the launch of Freedom Month in Pretoria.

He was speaking at the launch of Freedom Month in Pretoria on Thursday. Mashatile says many South Africans, especially the youth spend most their time on social media such as Twitter.

Mashatile says: "We need to reach young people through social media. We have many


programmes that we will be promoting on Twitter. It is important to get young people involved in the celebrations of our 20 years of freedom and 20 years of democracy."

Some of the campaigns that government will be intensifying during the month of April include the "Tell your story campaign" where South Africans will have an opportunity to narrate their stories of freedom and democracy. South Africans from all walks of live are encouraged to tell their stories.

The theme for the 2014 Freedom Month celebrations is "South Africa - a Better Place to live in. We have a good story to tell".

Mashatile says the 27th of April is a historic milestone and all South Africans should celebrate it. "In less than a month from today, on the 27th of April, it will be twenty years since all South Africans exercised their democratic right to vote in our country’s first democratic elections.

"In many ways this historic milestone was a culmination of what we fondly refer to as the "South African miracle"; where as a nation we were able to rise above our bitterly divided past and hold hands towards a shared future," says Mashatile.

Freedom Day commemoration and celebrations will be held at Union Buildings on 27th April and President Jacob Zuma will give a keynote address.

Click below to watch to Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSiCl0WUvQ

Click below to see pictures of the event: PHOTOSNACK

http://www.photosnack.com/FEDFB57EFB5/pti0rsll

 

Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile and Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane launched Freedom Month in Pretoria. The theme for the 2014 Freedom Month celebrations is “South Africa - a Better Place to live in. We have a good story to tell”.

 

Here are some of the tweets from the event:

 

 

 @SITHOLEEXPRESS As promised! Somizi performing at #FreedomMonthLaunch #20YOF #SABCNews

 

 

 

@GCIS_Media The GCIS Auditorium where the #FreedomMonthLaunch is taking place. @20_YOF #20YOF pic.twitter.com/in0ypiBXdB

 

 

This article first appeared on SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole.

Many political parties won’t make it to Parliament: Analyst

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A total of 29 political parties will contest the national elections on May 7.

Wits University's School of Governance Professor Susan Booysen says although a large amount of money has been paid by political parties, some of them may not see their “investment” bear fruit.

Regardless of the deposit money that parties managed to pay, many of them won’t make it to the Parliament, explained Booysen. “It could mean financial wound [for those small parties], like the Kiss party that we have seen in the previous years."

She regrets the fact that individual money is put in the elections, saying that parties that will go to parliament will be refunded their deposit. Booysen also emphasised on the fact that smaller parties will have huge responsibilities once in parliament.

A total of 29 parties will contest the national elections on May 7, following Monday’s deadline for parties to submit all outstanding documentation and pay election deposits.

On Tuesday, the IEC announced that four political parties, including Iqela Lentsango – Dagga Party, Lekgotla for Democracy Advancement and South African Progressive Civil Organisation, were removed from the national ballot paper after failing to submit their documentation and pay election deposits on time.

For parties to participate on the elections, they are expected to pay R200 000, for provincial elections R45000 is required and for all the 10 elections, its R605 000, among other prerequisites.

One of the parties removed from the national ballot paper is the Africa Unite Party (AUP). The party has expressed disappointment. AUP vice-president, Charles Badenhorst says the cut-off affects them as the party. He says they didn’t have money that is requested by the IEC. Badenhorst says he wishes that the IEC can reduce the amount of money so that all parties can afford to participate in the national elections.

Earlier this month, Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) challenged the IEC’s elections deposit model in the North Gauteng High Court.But the court dismissed the application by EFF.

Professor Steven Friedman says the IEC should not change anything regarding the requirements that parties should follow in order for them to contest in the elections. Friedman says the party that can't raise money, it can't win support. He says he doesn't think that the money required by the IEC is high compared to the international standard. 

This article first appeared on SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole.

Political manifestos usually unrealistic documents: Analyst

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The DA and EFF launched their
 election manifestos on the weekend. SABC

Professor Steven Friedman says across the board political manifestos are usually quite unrealistic documents.

Speaking on SAfm AM Live, Friedman said: "All political parties continue to promise things which are simply not possible, like the six million jobs."

Over the weekend different political parties launched their manifestos. In its manifesto, the Democratic Alliance (DA) promises to address jobs, education, corruption and equal education, party leader Helen Zille said on Sunday.

"The manifesto we release today is a 'manifesto for jobs... Job creation is only possible if we cut corruption," Zille said in a speech prepared for delivery at the launch of the DA's 2014 election manifesto in Polokwane, Limpopo.

"Jobs are possible. Six million real and permanent jobs are within our grasp if we seize the moment at this election... We will stop politicians and their families doing business with government."

The ACDP also launched its election manifesto in Soweto on Saturday

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, made a number of promises to thousands of his supporters at Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa on Gauteng's East Rand on Saturday.

However, according to Professor Friedman, the EFF is not going to be in government therefore they can make any promises because they won’t be called to implement those things.

Some of those promises are a minimum wage of R4 000 a month for all South African workers, with higher figures for several sectors. He said if elected, the EFF would expropriate land without compensation, nationalise 60% of the country's mines and banks, and take over all big retail stores.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) also launched its election manifesto in Soweto on Saturday. One of the things party leader Kenneth Meshoe mentioned was a coalition government after May 7 elections.

Commenting on ACDP manifesto, Professor Friedman says he doesn’t see a coalition government happening anytime soon and that it might only happen in 2019.-Edited by Sthembiso Sithole.

Click here to listen to Professor Steven Friedman.

This article first appeared on SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole.

Drinkers and smokers to pay more for their vices

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Sthembiso Sithole


Cigarettes will cost 68c more per pack of 20. (SABC)

Excise duties on alcoholic beverages (especially beer, sparkling wine and spirits) will increase by between 6.2 and 12 percent. There will be no rise in the excise duty on traditional African beer or beer powder, Finance Pravin Gordhan said during his 2014 budget speech.

Gordhan says:  “An increase in excise duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are proposed, adding 9 cents to the price of a 340ml can of beer and 68 cents to a packet of 20 cigarettes.”

The Minister also announced an R4.80 increase of a bottle of whiskey.


The Minister chuckled as he said, “Members who want to leave right now to have their shot of whiskey before the increase, all these increases in sin tax come into effect immediately.”

Personal income tax relief amounts to R9.25 billion and about 40 per cent of the relief goes to South Africans  earning below R250 000 per year.

On the fuel levy and Road Accident Fund, the minister proposed an increased that will take effect from the second of April.

“In recognition of recent increases in the imported cost fuel, the general fuel levy increase is limited to an inflation-related 12 cents per litre, and the road accident fund levy will increase by 8 cents per litre.”

According to the Minister,  great strides have been made to improve the tax system.

Gordhan says: “We have also improved the fairness of the tax system by taxing residents on their worldwide income and taxing capital gains.”

These changes have brought the South African tax system more in line with international principals and have substantially broadened the country’s tax base.


This article first appeared on SABCNews site. It was done by Sthembiso Sithole during Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's 2014 budget speech in Parliamnet.

SONA 2014: Public expectations.

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President Zuma has reiterated that SA
has a ‘good story’ to tell in his SONA.

As President Jacob Zuma puts the finishing touches on his State on the Nation Address, SABCNews Digital journalist Sthembiso Sithole took to the street to find out from people what their expectations ahead of Zuma's speech are. - See more at:

http://trendingnewsroom.com/channel/sabcnews/6563/sona-2014-public-expectations#sthash.hu1f1vGI.dpuf

http://trendingnewsroom.com/channel/sabcnews/6563/sona-2014-public-expectations