February,17 2017.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines:
Mkhwebane worried about public's mistrust
Zimbabwe to roll out 10 and 20 bond notes
And, ANC Youth League to brief media on NEC meeting

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is bothered by the public’s mistrust of her office.

She told members of the Gauteng legislature at the Johannesburg City Hall yesterday that by combing through social media pages, listening to callers during live radio interviews or going through newspaper columns, it was clear to her that there was a lot of discontent and distrust.

Last year, the DA was the only party in the National Assembly that opposed Mkhwebane’s nomination to take over from Thuli Madonsela. It claimed she worked for the State Security Agency while employed as an immigration officer in China. Mkhwebane said she was working for home affairs at the time.

Yesterday, she said she wanted to be a refuge for the poor and marginalised. South Africans' trust and confidence was critical for her office, she stated.

Mkhwebane would spend the next 78 days visiting provinces to make people aware of her office’s work.

Less than two weeks after President Robert Mugabe's government unexpectedly introduced 5 US "bond notes", a state-controlled newspaper says notes in denominations of 10 and 20 are likely to be introduced too.

The bond notes were first introduced in denominations of 1 and 2 at the end of November, ostensibly to ease a cash shortage by stopping the externalisation of hard cash. The notes have no value outside the country - but they are also causing havoc within Zimbabwe, where it's quickly becoming clear they are not interchangeable with the US, as the government insists they are.

Some shops are already offering discount to customers paying with hard cash, while forex merchants sell US at a 20 to 30% premium to those unable to withdraw it from their bank accounts.

The ANC Youth League will today brief media on the outcomes of its national executive committee meeting.

ANC Youth League spokesperson Mondli Mkhize said yesterday that the NEC discussed the transformation of the country’s economy, its demonstrations against Absa bank, a Competition Commission case, and education.

The league would celebrate the SA Youth Congress's 30th anniversary and its role in the liberation of South Africa from apartheid.

On February 10, several thousand ANCYL members, including the Black First Land First movement, brought the streets of central Johannesburg to a standstill during a march to Absa's headquarters.

Also making headlines:
North West to construct Zuma statue

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today