October 24, 2016.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines:

DA says Mbete refuses debate on politicisation of NPA

Zizi Kodwa says ANC NEC cannot resign

And, Mantashe denies official ANC meeting with Abrahams

Parliament needs to rise to the occasion and face head-on the attacks on South Africa’s constitutional democracy, the DA said yesterday.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete had officially denied the DA’s request for a debate of public importance on the politicisation of the NPA.

Reports on Sunday, which detailed how National Director of Public Prosecution Shaun Abrahams met Zuma at ANC headquarters Luthuli House a day before initiating flimsy fraud and theft charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan showed just why Mbete’s decision could not go unchallenged.

The ANC has dismissed a call by its chief whip, Jackson Mthembu, for the party's National Executive Committee to resign in the wake of various controversies.

Party spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the NEC could not resign because it was elected by the branches of the ANC.

On Sunday, the City Press newspaper reported on comments made by Mthembu in which he declared that the ANC's current leadership "reduced the governing party to something that left a bitter taste in the mouth".

An official ANC meeting did not take place with chief prosecutor Shaun Abrahams, the party’s secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, said in response to a Sunday Times article.

Mantashe denied any official meeting between the ANC and Abrahams.

The Sunday Times article reported that Abrahams had met with President Jacob Zuma and three cabinet ministers at Luthuli House – the party's headquarters – on Monday, October 10, a day before Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was charged with fraud.

Bongani Ngqulunga, Zuma's spokesperson also confirmed that the meeting took place but said the president was not responsible for inviting Abrahams.

Also making headlines:

The Young Communist League of South Africa Gauteng Province demanded the release of arrested #FeesMustFall students.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today