For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines: Zuma supporters warn Ramaphosa against firing him now, SABC confirms Social Development paid for interview And, Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa says to hold elections in four to five months

 

Zuma supporters warn Ramaphosa against firing him now

While some of Jacob Zuma’s staunch supporters are ready to see him leave the Presidency this week, others have warned party president Cyril Ramaphosa that removing Zuma now could shutter his fragile hold on the party and the unity they have portrayed. 

The ANC is holding its national executive committee meeting this week, where it is expected to discuss Zuma’s fate as head of state followed by a two-day NEC lekgotla to set the priorities for the government for the year.

News24 spoke to NEC members who have supported Zuma throughout his decade-long tenure who have expressed that they were ready to dump Zuma as they embrace Ramaphosa’s leadership, and others who will defend him for now.

 

ABC confirms Social Development paid for interview

The South African Broadcasting Corporation acting group CEO Nomsa Philiso yesterday said it was "not normal" to sell interviews, especially on   entertainment shows. 

This after a preliminary investigation confirmed that the Department of Social Development paid for an interview featuring Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and her spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, on Real Talk with Anele in December last year.

Philiso said selling interviews was not normal practice, she said, especially since politicians belonged in news and not entertainment shows.

The social development department, however, strongly denied there was anything amiss.

 

Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa says to hold elections in four to five months

Zimbabwe will hold elections in four to five months, a newspaper today quoted President Emmerson Mnangagwa as saying, the first time since independence the southern African state will conduct a vote that does not involve former ruler Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa, who took over after Mugabe was forced to resign in November following a defacto military coup, was speaking during an official trip to Mozambique, the official Herald newspaper reported.

The international community will be closely watching the vote, which is seen as a litmus test of Mnangagwa's democratic credentials and is key to unlocking badly needed financial assistance and repairing relations with Western powers and international financial institutions.

 

Also making headlines:

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed moves by prosecutors against companies accused of corruption and talked up the economy during televised remarks at a business breakfast.

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