South Africa eyes import tariff cuts to aid manufacturing

(Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday his government may cut tariffs on some imported equipment and goods in a bid to boost the manufacturing sector and make it more competitive internationally.

In a briefing to discuss the outcome of a mid-year meeting of his cabinet and other senior officials, Mbeki said a healthier manufacturing sector was critical to the government's efforts to narrow the country's trade deficit.


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UPDATE 1-S.Africa's ANC nears decision on leadership spat

(Reuters) - ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe told a news
conference delegates were debating a number of non-binding
proposals on how to resolve a leadership crisis that arose after
Mbeki sacked his popular deputy president Jacob Zuma, once the
frontrunner to succeed him.




Mbeki, who has become an object of scorn for the country's
powerful trade unions and Communist party, has not ruled out
running for a third term as ANC chief although the constitution
prevents him from continuing to lead South Africa after 2009.


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South Africa police disperse hospital strikers

(Reuters) - South African police used stun grenades and a water cannon to disperse striking hospital workers in the port city of Durban on Thursday as a crippling public sector strike entered its seventh day.

The pay strike has highlighted the ideological battle facing the ruling African National Congress as it prepares to elect a new leader in December, with unions saying President Thabo Mbeki's business friendly policies have left millions behind.


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