Making headlines: Zuma says he does not know the reasons for Grace Mugabe's exit; ANC elders dead set on a national consultative conference in October; And, Cosatu says it's President Ramaphosa and nothing else

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Zuma says he does not know the reasons for Grace Mugabe's exit

President Jacob Zuma says he is not the person to ask about the reasons for Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe being granted diplomatic immunity by one of his own ministers.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane pressed Zuma during a round of follow up questions in Parliament, asking him what the reasons were for allowing Mugabe to leave the country following allegations of assault.

Zuma told the National Assembly that he was not a lawyer, that he did not know the points of law, and that he was not involved in the process.

Agang SA MP Andries Tlouamma followed up by asking how Zuma could "open the country up to abuse", and allow foreign leaders to come into the country and beat citizens.

Zuma said that he had not opened the country up to abuse.

ANC elders dead set on a national consultative conference in October

ANC stalwarts and veterans will hold a national consultative conference to address the challenges faced by the party, Reverend Frank Chikane said yesterday.

The national consultative conference will take place at Gallagher Convention Centre from the 20th until the 22nd of October, Chikane said.

He said the first day of the conference would be dedicated to interaction with civil society and that anybody who was South African was welcome.

Chikane said that the last two days of the conference would be focused on the crisis in the country and the ANC.

And, Cosatu says it's President Ramaphosa and nothing else

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has rejected talks of a "Plan B" in case Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa loses the top spot in the ANC December elective conference.

The Cosatu leadership was addressing the media yesterday following the federation's CEC meeting that ended on Wednesday.

The federation has already endorsed Ramaphosa, who is expected to face-off with National Executive Committee member Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for the presidency of the governing party.

Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the central executive committee made it clear that the federation does not have a plan B or C on this matter.

Ntshalintshali said they were supporting Ramaphosa with the intention to ensure that he was elected as president of the ANC in December and of South Africa in 2019.

 

Also making headlines:
MPs to interview remaining 12 candidates vying for SABC board posts
And, Malema's land invasion trial to continue

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today