May 20, 2013.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines: 

South Africa’s Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe finds collusion and manipulation in the Gupta scandal.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf defends her governance record.

And, a regional force boosts the troop numbers in Central African Republic.

South Africa's justice minister on Sunday accused an Indian High Commission official and some South Africans of colluding to obtain permission for a plane chartered by a rich family close to President Jacob Zuma to use an air force base to land.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said the Gupta family had resorted to using diplomatic channels after their initial requests for a special reception at Johannesburg's main airport had been repeatedly denied.

The affair – dubbed "Guptagate" after the influential Indian-born Gupta family – has transfixed South Africa since the private flight landed at Pretoria's Waterkloof Air Force base last month with nearly 200 guests for a lavish family wedding. It has also shone an uncomfortable spotlight on Zuma's relationship with Gupta brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh, whose South African business empire stretches from mining and resources to aviation and technology.

Radebe said several criminal cases have already been opened, and he expects others to follow as the investigation unfolds. He said the preliminary findings already showed the name of the president and two other government ministers had been used to exert influence on civil servants.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has defended her government's record on good governance and transparency, following an independent audit that cast doubt on her anti-corruption efforts.

She said a recent audit of resource contracts by accounting firm Moore Stephens contracts had been commissioned to fix, and not hide, problems in the West African country. The independent audit showed that almost all the $8-billion worth of resource contracts signed by Liberia since 2009 violated the country's laws and showed widespread irregularities.

Sirleaf's opponents allege corruption, nepotism and mismanagement in Liberia's resources sectors and the audit report put the government in the uncomfortable position of deciding how to fix the problems.

However, she acknowledged that her government was doing what it could, but there are problems. She also noted that Liberia was one of the first African states to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which is a global programme that tries to help governments avoid corruption.

African military chiefs have agreed to more than double the size of a regional peacekeeping force deployed in Central African Republic, where authorities have struggled to contain violence after a rebel takeover.

Thousands of fighters from the Seleka rebel coalition led by Michel Djotodia marched into the capital Bangui on March 24, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee to neighbouring Cameroon, while accusing him of reneging on a 2007 peace deal.

Republic of Congo General Guy-Pierre Garcia, said that it is essential to modify the mandate of the regional force deployed to Central African Republic, and that it must be reoriented towards maintaining order and securing the election process.

The peacekeeping force, known as FOMAC, currently numbers 730 soldiers. However, following a meeting of regional army chiefs in Gabon, Garcia said the size of this force will be increased to 2 000 men

Also making headlines:

Nigeria bombs an Islamist insurgency and draws a sharp warning from the US to respect human rights and not harm civilians.

Sudan and South Sudan defuse a disagreement over rebel support, promising more talks.

And, after crushing Mali’s Islamist rebels, France is now pushing for a political settlement with Tuaregs rebels.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.