Making headlines: SA opposition parties welcome Mugabe's resignation; Former NPA head left willingly, court hears; And, Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa to return home

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

SA opposition parties welcome Mugabe's resignation

South African opposition parties yesterday evening welcomed the resignation of Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwean president.

Hailing the resignation as a victory for the Zimbabwean people, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane lamented that Mugabe's Zanu-PF party remained in power.

In a statement released shortly after the news broke, Maimane said the story of Robert Mugabe was not a unique one and added that it was all too familiar on the continent.

A once liberator of his people, Mugabe brought division, instability, and economic ruin to Zimbabwe as he made the unfortunate transition from liberator to dictator.

The Economic Freedom Fighters called on people to accept the settlement reached by Mugabe and Zanu-PF, which was said to include full immunity for him and his family.

Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota said in a statement that the party "rejoiced with the people of Zimbabwe - at least to the extent that it has been a bloodless departure".

Former NPA head left willingly, court hears

Former National Director of Public Prosecutions Mxolisi Nxasana willingly vacated his office after he was "seduced" with a settlement agreement, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard yesterday.

Nxasana was seduced by the money and he wasn't entitled to the money...he was willing to leave and he vacated office," Hilton Epstein SC, who represents the National Prosecuting Authority argued.

Freedom Under Law, Corruption Watch and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution are seeking an order declaring Nxasana’s removal invalid.

Nxasana accepted a golden handshake from President Jacob Zuma worth R17.3-million and left the NPA in 2015.

Before that, an inquiry into his fitness to hold office was without explanation halted abruptly.

The organisations want his removal set aside and the golden handshake repaid.

And, Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa to return home

Zimbabwe's former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is expected to be sworn in as president following the resignation of Robert Mugabe, will return home today, a ruling party ZANU-PF official said.

Mnangagwa, whose sacking this month prompted the military takeover that forced Mugabe out, was expected to land in Zimbabwe at 11:30 GMT, said Larry Mavhima, an ally of the former vice president.

Mnangagwa, who fled from Zimbabwe in fear of his safety after being sacked this month, could be sworn in as president later today or tomorrow and is likely to lead ZANU-PF into elections next year.

Also making headlines:
President Jacob Zuma will no longer be travelling to Zimbabwe today, in the wake of the resignation of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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