Top news items in major S. African media outlets

The following are news highlights in major South African media outlets on Friday.

-- The South African Reserve Bank emphasized it was merely putting its hiking cycle on hold when it left interest rates unchanged on Thursday.

It again revised economic growth downwards to 0.6% from an earlier forecast of 0.8% for the year, warning of a "worsening growth outlook". First quarter growth was "barely positive", it admitted. (Business Day)

-- The process to find a successor to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has started in Parliament. Madonsela's term of office ends in October.

Reading out a draft resolution to the parliamentary programming committee Friday, House chairperson Cedric Frolick said that an ad hoc committee needed to be established to select a suitable candidate. (City Press)

-- The African National Congress (ANC) caucus in Parliament has demanded the legislature immediately investigate allegations that a bodyguard of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)leader Julius Malema entered the National Assembly chamber during Tuesday's clashes between the opposition party's MPs and parliamentary security guards.

Addressing journalists during a media briefing on Thursday, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu described Tuesday's chaos, which ensued after the EFF insisted it would not allow President Jacob Zuma to speak in the National Assembly, as "thuggery". (Mail & Guardian) Endit