May 22, 2017.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

Ramaphosa says South Africa must avoid "mafia state" fate

Zuma says whoever joins the ANC is blessed

And, DA asks Auditor General to probe unnecessary R81m advance payment to Zuma benefactor

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, seen as a top contender to lead the ANC into 2019 general elections, said yesterday that the country must not become a "mafia state" as he admitted his party had become associated with corruption.

Ramaphosa's comments were among the strongest he had made on governance as the race heats up to replace President Jacob Zuma, whose administration had been hit by scandals and missteps, prompting street protests and calls for him to resign or be removed.

Ramaphosa responded to a warning this week from the influential South African Council of Churches that graft was turning South Africa into a mafia state.

President Jacob Zuma has criticised the EFF for bringing the country's Parliament into disrepute.

Zuma took a jibe at the EFF while addressing an ANC rally in Nquthu on Sunday, ahead of the municipal by-election on Wednesday.

He said the ANC was the only party that would eradicate poverty, inequality and unemployment in the country. Zuma said whoever joined the ANC was blessed.

Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane needs to explain why President Jacob Zuma’s close friend Philani Mavundla was allegedly irregularly paid an advance of tens of millions of rand, the DA said yesterday.

DA spokesperson Leon Basson said his party would ask Auditor General Kimi Makwetu to investigate why “wealthy Zuma crony Philani Mavundla was given R81-million advance payment on a tender to address acid mine drainage”.

City Press reported yesterday that Mavundla, a construction magnate who once offered to pay Zuma’s portion of the upgrades to his home in Nkandla, was involved in a joint venture which was awarded the R1-billion contract to build an acid mine drainage plant in Springs, east of Johannesburg.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today