Africa highlights: Tuesday 4 April 2017

Summary

New SA finance minister Gigaba withheld junk status information
SA union Cosatu calls for Zuma to step down
Pink Star diamond sells for record sum in Hong Kong
Thousands 'flee South Sudan border town'
Nigerian author shortlisted for top UK prize
Huge fire in Cairo
Michelle Obama 'natural hair' photos widely praised
Email stories and comments to africalive@bbc.co.uk - Tuesday 4 April 2017

Live Reporting

Hugo Williams and Tom Spender

SA athletes top Africa doping tablepublished at 09:30 British Summer Time 4 April 2017
More than 1,900 athletes were sanctioned for doping in 2015, new World Anti-Doping Agency figures show.
The 1,929 punishments for failed drug tests were an increase of 14% on the previous year, when 1,693 doping offences were carried out.
Wada says increased focus on investigations, intelligence gathering and whistleblowing are behind the rise.
South Africa had the sixth highest number of violations, with 59, the most of any African country.
Read the full story here
Image source, BBC Sport
Image source, BBC Sport
SA finance minister to address media on credit downgradepublished at 09:08 British Summer Time 4 April 2017
Image source, AFP/Getty
Image caption,
Mr Gigaba has been meeting with former finance minister Gordhan
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South Africa's new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba will address media this morning after ratings agency S&P downgraded the country's credit rating to junk status for the first time in 17 years on Monday.
He is due to speak after meeting with sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
S&P blamed President Jacob Zuma's controversial cabinet reshuffle on Friday for the downgrade.
The Treasury has been sharing information about how the downgrade could affect South Africans in their daily lives:
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Ratings agency Moody's said on Monday that it was placing South Africa on review for downgrade, Reuters news agency reports.
Read more: Can President Zuma survive outcry over sacking?
'Biggest ever' Botswana earthquakepublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 4 April 2017
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A strong earthquake struck in a remote region of Botswana on Monday evening near the renowned Kalahari game reserve, sending shockwaves across the southern African country.
The Botswana government said it had not had any reports of injuries.
The magnitude 6.5 quake's epicentre was nearly 250 km (155 miles) north-northwest of the capital Gaborone at a depth of 12 km (7 miles), the US Geological Survey said.
Tremors were also felt in neighbouring South Africa.
"We certainly felt (the quake) here in central Gaborone. The buildings ... were trembling," said Botswana's chief government spokesman Jeff Ramsay.
"We don't have an reports of casualties or damage yet but its a bit early to tell."
Kgosi Kgomokgwana, the traditional chief of Moiyabana, a village close to the epicentre, said: "This is the first time we have felt something like that in this area."
Today's wise wordspublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 4 April 2017
Our African proverb of the day:
Quote Message
The path of a liar is short."
A Swahili proverb sent by Zakayo Ndiritu, Nairobi, Kenya
Good morningpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 4 April 2017
Welcome to BBC Africa Live where we will bring you the latest news from around the continent.