January,10 2017.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Government to help matrics on social grants
Kenyan president signs election amendments law despite opposition rigging fears
And, Department of Trade and Industry commits to helping local poultry industry

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini is today expected to announce how her department will help the matriculants of 2016 on government grants to study further.

In 2016, the department partnered with the Department of Basic Education and National Student Financial Aid Scheme to ensure that poor and vulnerable pupils who passed matric could receive funding to study.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta approved a law yesterday requiring back up plans for an August election if electronic voting systems fail, despite fierce opposition from rivals who say any manual arrangements will open the ballot to rigging.

Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga disputed the result of the 2013 race, which he lost to Kenyatta after electronic voter identification and other election systems collapsed. He has led opposition to the new law.

The build-up to the 2017 vote has already been marred by protests and clashes with police that led to at least four deaths. Last year's demonstrations were sparked by a row over who sat on a committee overseeing the conduct of the election. The government agreed to replace the commissioners in a deal with the opposition.

The Department of Trade and Industry yesterday said that government had been working with the local poultry producers to address the challenges in the industry as a result of chickens imported from European Union countries.

The dti was responding to the plea made by the Food and Allied Workers Union for government to tighten regulations of imported chickens in a bid to save jobs in the South African poultry industry.

At least three major South African chicken producers have announced steps to begin retrenching more than 3 500 workers combined in order to remain a going concern as they struggle under heavy competition from cheap imported chickens.

To keep in touch with the news while you are on the move, visit m.polity.org.za

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today