December 05, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

Zuma reassures investors after dodging credit downgrade

Zimbabwe secures 100 000 tons maize grain from Mexico

And, court to hear DA challenge to ICC withdrawal

President Jacob Zuma moved to reassure foreign investors this weekend after all three major rating agencies kept South Africa's investment-grade status, granting the scandal-prone leader a reprieve after prolonged political turmoil.

S&P Global Ratings downgraded the local debt of Africa's most industrialised country by one notch on Friday but retained its sovereign credit rating at one level above "junk" status, meaning Pretoria still holds investment-grade status with all three major agencies, including Fitch and Moody's.

Zuma called for a focus on boosting growth and creating jobs and "assured international investors that South Africa remained an important and strategic investment destination. 

Zimbabwe has reportedly secured at least 100 000 tons of maize grain from Mexico to help avert the hunger crisis that has affected more than four-million people in the southern African country.

Zimbabwe and a number of other sub-Saharan countries had been hit hard by El-Nino induced drought, forcing the country to import maize from other countries.

The DA's challenge to government's decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court will be heard in the High Court in Pretoria today.

Last month the Constitutional Court dismissed the party's application for direct access to challenge the decision.

On October 21, Justice Minister Michael Masutha told reporters that South Africa had initiated the process of withdrawing from the ICC by notifying the United Nations of its intention to revoke the ratification of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

Also making headlines:

South Sudan rival leaders snubbed Zuma’s proposal to meet in South Africa.

And, North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said poverty led to Marikana tragedy.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today