January 29, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

Marius Fransman says his leave is in the best interests of the ANC.

Zimbabwe opposition party demands Mugabe’s resignation.

And, the IEC warns parties not to tarnish it’s image ahead of the polls. 

The ANC Western Cape chairperson Marius Fransman says he will not fight the ANC's decision that he step aside pending an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against him because it is in the best interests of the party.

Fransman told a news agency that he would be "taking leave" during this time.

The leader confirmed receipt of the directive from the national office to step aside until the investigation into the allegations had been completed.

A woman accused Fransman of sexual harassment while they travelled to the North West for the ANC birthday rally in Rustenburg earlier this month.

Zimbabwe’s People’s Democratic Party (or PDP), an off-shoot of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai, has called for the immediate resignation of President Robert Mugabe to make way for a national transitional authority.

Party president Tendai Biti told a press conference in Harare yesterday that the ruling Zanu PF party had presided over the collapse of the country’s economy, leaving 76% of the population living in extreme poverty and 91% without jobs.

Biti said while the PDP agreed with the international community that Zimbabwe needed reforms, they were sceptical about letting Zanu PF lead the process as it was not interested in transformation.

The Independent Electoral Commission (or IEC) issued a stern warning to all political parties yesterday to refrain from making groundless statements about its credibility.

IEC vice chairperson Terry Tselane said they couldn’t continue operating with unsubstantiated allegations that were not correct, and added that political parties continued to tarnish their image.

He said if anyone had information that was correct, they should approach the IEC lawyers.

Tselane said they were worried that political parties, who regarded themselves as partners of the IEC, still tried to insult the organisation and bring it down.

Also making headlines:

The ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe  said ANC Western Cape chairperson Marius Fransman had no choice but to step down pending the investigation into allegations of sexual assault levelled against him.

And, more funding needed as El Nino dries out Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter[@PolityZA]
That’s a roundup of news making headlines today