Top news items in major S. African news outlets

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The following are news items in South African major news outlets on Monday:

-- The Gauteng police commissioner has said that police will be placed on "high alert" pending the outcome of the African National Congress (ANC) election results.

Lieutenant General Deliwe Suzan De Lange said in a notice issued on Sunday to top Gauteng police officials that operational personnel are expected to remain ready for deployment to sustain any eventualities pending the outcome of the elective process. (News24)

-- The rand advanced to a three-month high against the dollar as delegates at the ruling African National Congress' conference elect a new leader.

Traders are betting Cyril Ramaphosa will win after gaining more branch nominations than his opponent, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. (Fin24)

-- As the African National Congress (ANC) prepares to know who is its next leader will be, some of the party's leaders are publicly endorsing their preferred candidates.

The race is now officially between Cyril Ramaphosa, who received 1,469 branch nominations, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who received 1,094 nominations. (Eyewitness News) Enditem