Top news items of S. African major media outlets

The following are highlights of South African major media outlets on Sunday.

-- The government is planning to impose limits on farm sizes to free up parcels of land to hand over to blacks, Gugile Nkwinti, the minister of rural development and land reform, said on Saturday, giving an insight into the workings of a divisive redistribution scheme.

The controversial Regulation of Agricultural Land Holdings Bill, which will limit the extent of land that can be owned by individuals and entities and will terminate land ownership for foreign nationals, would probably be published for public comment this month.(Business Day).

-- Divisions over the future of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan are deepening within the government and ANC alliance, with hardline positions being taken by those who back him and those who support President Jacob Zuma, in what is seen as a battle for control of the nation's purse.

Those sympathetic to Zuma warned this week that, although Gordhan would not be arrested or fired any time soon, he could find himself isolated if he continued with his "paranoia".(City Press).

-- President Jacob Zuma has launched what appears to be a spirited fight-back amid growing calls for him to step down. But it has also emerged that senior ANC leaders, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, are making it difficult for Zuma to hire and fire key government officials and Cabinet ministers.

Although ANC sources told the Mail & Guardian that Zuma had agreed to step down before his term came to an end in 2019, he appeared to launch a counter-offensive ahead of next week's national executive committee meeting to decide his political future, accusing some in the party of turning against him. Those who have been on the receiving end include Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Ramaphosa.(Mail & Guradian). Endit