CAPE TOWN, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are news items in South Africa's major news outlets on Friday:

-- President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken charge of the country's finances and had a strong hand in Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba's budget speech.

Officials with direct knowledge of budget preparations said on Thursday the president was deeply involved in ensuring the correct messaging is contained in Gigaba's speech, which carries the same themes of renewal and integrity as in Ramaphosa's state of the nation address. (Huffpost)

-- Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown said she didn't intentionally mislead Parliament by failing to disclose business dealings between Gupta-linked company Trillian and Eskom, pinning the blame on senior officials at the power utility. (Eyewitness News)

-- President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday the country is in an era where every South African yearns to see state-owned enterprises (SOEs) play the most meaningful role in the economy. (South African Broadcasting Corporation) Enditem