Top news items in major S. African media outlets

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The following are news items in South African major news outlets on Wednesday.

-- The South African rand was off to a firm start as traders bet on President Jacob Zuma stepping down on Wednesday at the earliest.

By 08:47 Wednesday the local unit was steady from its previous overnight close at R11.92 to the U.S. dollar.(Fin24)

-- The African National Congress is appealing to South Africans not to panic amid much confusion and uncertainty about President Jacob Zuma's political future.

The party has postponed its special National Executive Committee meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday in Cape Town which was expected to recall President Zuma.(Eyewitness News)

-- The office of beleaguered President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin was on his way to South Africa.

This followed press reports that Zuma would be hosting Putin at his official residence in Pretoria. (South African Broadcasting Corporation) Enditem