Top news items in major S. African media outlets

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

-- African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Baleka Mbete has come out in defence of the ruling party, saying although some may think it is arrogant, only a few of its leaders might be, and the majority know how to accept when they are wrong.

Speaking at the funeral service of respected academic Professor Rok Ajulu, the husband of Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, in Pretoria on Saturday, Mbete took the opportunity to respond to a scathing attack on the party by Ajulu's friend and SaveSA leader and businessman Sipho Pityana earlier in the day.(News24).

-- The end of the worst drought in decades and the onset of an anticipated improved food supply are set to boost local economic growth in 2017.

A much bigger maize crop and a drop in food prices will also have a positive effect on food inflation and, in turn, consumer inflation. This could result in the first interest rate cut in the second half of 2017.(Fin24).

-- The South African Communist Party (SACP) has congratulated the ANC on its 105th birthday.

The SACP said on Saturday it expects the President Jacob Zuma to focus on unity and ridding the party of factionalism in his speech marking the event on Sunday.(South African Broadcasting Corporation) Enditem