November 7, 2013
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:
 

President Jacob Zuma rejects Guptagate claims.

The US may consider easing sanctions on Rwanda.

And, two political parties plan to take legal action against e-tolling in Gauteng.

President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday denied claims by South African National Defence Force, or SANDF, officials that he was involved in the "Guptagate" scandal.

He told the National Assembly he had no prior knowledge, involvement or communication relating to the landing of a private plane at Air Force Base Waterkloof.

He reiterated that the president is neither directly or indirectly involved in the authorisation of civilian aircraft landing at airports such as AFB Waterkloof.

Two SANDF officials have testified at a military tribunal that former chief of state protocol Bruce Koloane had indicated to them that Zuma was behind the irregular landing of the plane. A government investigation, however, exonerated Zuma and his ministers, and found that the landing was the result of collusion and name dropping by officials.
 

A senior US official said on Wednesday that the US would consider resuming military aid to Rwanda if it found Rwandan support for the M23 Congolese rebel group believed to use child soldiers had ended.

On October 3, Washington said it would block US military aid to Rwanda because of its "support for the M23, a rebel group which continues to actively recruit and abduct children" and which has posed a threat to the stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Under US sanctions, Rwanda does not get US International Military Education and Training funds, which help train foreign militaries, or US Foreign Military Financing, which funds the sale of US military materiel and services.

Two political parties plan to take legal action against e-tolling in Gauteng.

The Freedom Front Plus said it would launch a court application to have the e-toll Act declared unconstitutional. The party said the application would be launched together with TAU-SA for farmers, the National Taxpayers Association and the South African Federation for Caravans and Camping Club.

The Democratic Alliance also announced earlier it would challenge the legislation introducing e-tolling in Gauteng, saying this could have far-reaching consequences for its roll-out in the province.

Also making headlines:

State-owned freight-logistics group Transnet has become the first South African company to list a rand-denominated bond on the international capital markets.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan asked the national assembly to extend by six months a state of emergency in three north-eastern states where the military is fighting a drawn out battle with Islamist militants.

And, after the success of the Congolese army and UN peacekeepers in defeating M23 rebels, the UN Security Council has agreed that attention should now turn to tackling other armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.