Top news items in major S. African media outlets

he following are highlights of South African major media outlets on Thursday.

-- Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane still insists he was not speaking in his personal capacity when he issued a statement calling for President Jacob Zuma to set up a commission of inquiry into banks' conduct when they closed the Indian Gupta family's accounts.

Zwane, in a reply to a parliamentary question by Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier, said four of the five recommendations in the controversial September 1 statement were approved by the Cabinet.(Business Day)

-- The University of Cape Town may have to close for the year if ongoing Fees Must Fall protests last longer than three weeks, Vice Chancellor Max Price said on Wednesday.

The academic year could still be completed if classes resumed on October 3, but it would be disastrous if classes remained suspended beyond that, he told reporters. (News24)

-- Wits University in Johannesburg is on Thursday running a poll by SMS and intranet to determine if the campus population wants the academic programme to resume next Monday.

Lectures and tests have been suspended since last week, following violent protests by students demanding free higher education. (South African Broadcasting Corporation) Endit