For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: GOOD Party says ANC caucus leader's switch to DA a 'betrayal'; South Africa producer inflation at 1.0% y/y in February; And, Zimbabwe president fires army chief ahead of planned protests

GOOD Party says ANC caucus leader's switch to DA a 'betrayal'

The Democratic Alliance today welcomed to its ranks the leader of the opposition and leader of the African National Congress in the City of Cape Town Council Banele Majingo, with the GOOD Party calling Majingo’s move a betrayal to his party and all members of the Cape Town opposition.

Majingo said after careful consideration, he realised that his personal values and principles were now more aligned with those of the DA. This comes as the City of Cape Town Council sat ahead of a motion of no confidence against Cape Town Council Speaker Felicity Purchase.

The motion was submitted in February by Majingo on behalf of the multiparty opposition. With Majingo’s resignation, the motion was dismissed from the agenda.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party said Majingo chose to “hide his decision” and was not present in council, when the motion of no confidence in Purchase was called.

GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor and Caucus Whip Jonathan Cupido said his party would now bring its own motion of no confidence against the Speaker.

South Africa producer inflation at 1.0% y/y in February

South Africa's producer inflation was at 1.0% year on year in February from 1.1% in January, statistics agency data showed today.

The Producer Price Index was at 0.4% in month-on-month terms in February, Statistics South Africa said.

And, Zimbabwe president fires army chief ahead of planned protests

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa acted to consolidate his hold on power with Tuesday's dismissal of a senior general, political analysts say, amid growing fears of a possible coup by former allies.

Mnangagwa, who took charge after a military coup that ousted longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, is facing growing dissent within his ZANU-PF party, which has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Some veterans of the Southern African country's war of independence have called for countrywide protests on March 31 to force Mnangagwa to step down. They accuse him of deepening the country's economic crisis and plotting to extend his rule beyond 2028 when his second term is due to end.

Mnangagwa denies those accusations and warned against "people who want to disturb our peace" during a ZANU-PF meeting in the capital Harare.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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