Major news items in leading S. African media outlets

The following are news highlights in leading South African media outlets on Monday.

--Families of three mine employees stuck underground at Vantage Goldfields' Lily Mine may have to wait for another six months before they can receive closure on the fate of their loved ones, the mining firm's chief executive Mike McChesney announced. (The Star)

-- French state-owned energy giants EDF and Areva, which will bid to build SA's nuclear power stations, will seek partnerships with private investors such as large industrial users of electricity, says French special envoy on nuclear energy Pascal Colombani.

The request for proposals to build 9,600MW of nuclear power is expected to be issued by the end of the month. France, Russia, China and the U.S. have expressed interest in the project, but the deciding issue is likely to be the financing solution, as SA has a constrained fiscal framework. (Business Day)

-- A report by Pretoria News warns of substantial implications for investment once South Africa became a "junk country" as professional investors, such as hedge funds, pension funds and asset managers are prevented by policy from investing in junk countries. (Pretoria News) Endit