Making headlines: Zuma has no plans to announce free education programme; Nzimande warns ANC about kicking out SACP members from Cabinet; And, Zuma's legal costs a new dispute

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba

Zuma has no plans to announce free education programme

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has no plans to announce a programme for free higher education until he reviews the report of a commission studying the feasibility of such a programme, his office said in a statement yesterday.

The rand slipped to a one-year low on Friday amid reports Zuma was preparing to introduce free higher education, which would put added pressure on public finances.

The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported that government was considering a range of budget cuts to pay for free tertiary education.

Nzimande warns ANC about kicking out SACP members from Cabinet

If South African Communist Party leaders are not elected for top positions in government during the upcoming elective conference, the party is ready to contest the 2019 elections, general secretary Blade Nzimande warned yesterday.

Speaking at the party's Red October rally in Durban, Nzimande did not mince his words, warning the ANC that kicking out communist party leaders from government positions would not be taken lightly.

Nzimande was fired by President Jacob Zuma during his second surprise Cabinet reshuffle this year, in October. His axing was seen as a show of force and clamping down on dissent in his Cabinet.

Zuma's legal costs a new dispute

South Africa's main opposition party said it had asked the High Court to force President Jacob Zuma to disclose how much the state has spent on legal fees to fight corruption allegations against him.

Federal Council Chairperson James Selfe said yesterday in a statement the opposition party had asked the court to direct the president to write to parliament within five days confirming the total amount spent.

The DA walked out of a parliamentary session addressed by Zuma on November 2, in protest over the potential cost to the public purse of his legal fees.

Also making headlines:
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will return to London today where he will lead 'Team South Africa' to the World Rugby Council announcement of the Rugby World Cup 2023 host venue.

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