Top news items of S. African major media outlets

The following are highlights of South African major news outlets on Thursday.

-- Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday night defended his conduct in the Hawks probe against him, saying through his attorney that he had not responded to the Hawks because he was not by law required to do so; that the request was "absurd"; and he was not prepared to play along with the unit's attempt to humiliate him. (Business Day)

-- The reason the Guptas have not been charged for corruption is because the police organs are controlled by President Jacob Zuma, who has been captured by the Guptas. These claims, which the Presidency and the Guptas have repeatedly denied, were made by Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Fin24 in his parliamentary office in Cape Town. (Fin24)

-- All people with HIV will from Friday begin treatment upon diagnosis irrespective of their CD-4 count. This is in line with the World Health Organization's new HIV guidelines which says every HIV positive person should be initiated on treatment immediately after diagnosis.(South African Broadcasting Corporation) Endit