July 9, 2015.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union quits gold wage talks.

Load-shedding drags down sub-Saharan Africa growth.

And, government welcomes the finding on TB Joshua church guest house collapse.

South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (or AMCU) abruptly quit gold wage talks on Wednesday, raising the threat of strike action in a sector reeling from falling prices and rising costs.

"We declared a dispute because there is no progress," AMCU chief negotiator Jimmy Gama told a news agency. The next step would normally be for AMCU and the producers to go to talks chaired by a government mediator.

If they fail to reach agreement, AMCU, which led a five-month stoppage last year in the platinum sector, could embark on a strike.

Alternatively, it could seek its own direct talks with the employers, separate from other unions. Any strike requires a certificate from the State mediator.

Three other unions remain committed to the collective negotiations with AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold and two smaller producers.

The departure of AMCU, known for its brinkmanship, throws a spanner into the industry's bid to work out deals simultaneously with four unions. "It's not ideal," the employers' chief negotiator Elize Strydom said. 

AMCU's demands are the highest. It was seeking a more than doubling of wages for its lowest-paid members against industry offers of hikes of up to 13%.

The Gross domestic product (or GDP) growth rate in sub-Saharan Africa will average 4.2% in 2015. This is according to the latest World Bank report.

In its Global Economic Prospects report for June 2015, the World Bank made a 0.4% downward revision of the region's GDP growth rate.

The report also attributed this to deteriorating prospects in Angola and Nigeria in the wake of the sharp oil price drop.

The ongoing difficulty in overcoming electricity shortages in South Africa was also noted as a hindrance to growth in the region.

The World Bank added that risks to the outlook remained tilted to the downside.

Growth in the region is, however, expected to pick up to an average of 4.6% in 2016 and to accelerate to 5.0% in 2017.

The South African government has welcomed the conclusion of the Nigerian coroner’s inquest into the collapse of a guest house, owned by Nigerian preacher TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of all Nations, which killed 116 people last year.

“Government notes the ruling that the Synagogue Church of all Nations must be investigated and prosecuted for negligence,” said acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams in a statement on Wednesday.

Williams said she hoped the inquest’s conclusion would bring closure to the families who had lost loved ones in the incident.

A total of 81 South Africans, who were visiting the church in Lagos were killed.

A news agency reported that coroner Oyetade Komolafe said in his ruling that the church must be investigated for not obtaining the relevant approval before embarking on the construction of the building.

"The church was culpable because of criminal negligence resulting in the death of the victims," he said.

Also making headlines:

South Africa has eight of the top 15 universities in Africa but its higher learning institutions are rated as the worst performing among the Brics emerging market nations.

South Sudan rebels warn President Salva Kiir of more fighting if he stays on.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari held his first meeting with campaigners calling for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants in the north-eastern town of Chibok last year.

And, United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous pushes for South Sudan arms embargo.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today