Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 02 February 2024:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports French entertainment giant Canal+ has made a 46-billion-rand buyout offer for MultiChoice. This will according to the paper test the African pay television monopoly’s rules on foreign ownership and control of the media.

# And Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Is questioning South Africa’s case against Israel at the World Court. The paper investigates who is actually behind the idea.

GAUTENG:

# Beeld:

First of all, reports on a crime syndicate that harasses farmers in the North West. According to the DA, the farmers have already suffered losses of five-million-rand in the past three months. Although information is provided to the police, they allegedly do nothing.

Then the paper writes about the six-year-old Yorkie from Zeerust in the North West, Bessie, who was rescued after a scorpion stung her.

And finally, the actor, Alec Baldwin is reported to have pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. The case is related to the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

# The Star and Pretoria News:

Writes about a human trafficking syndicate that was exposed in Johannesburg.

And reports on the types of scams that the newspaper’s readers should be wary of this year.

# Sowetan:

Reports on the dark past of Pieter Groenewald of Groblersdal who is on trial for assault with his stepson. The paper writes he allegedly committed two murders in the past and fled abroad where he was arrested.

# And The Citizen:

Writes with 85-percent of the South African Air Force’s planes grounded due to financial problems, there are many questions about the control of the country’s airspace.

FREE STATE:

# Volksblad in Bloemfontein:

Reports the Bloemfontein regional court has ruled that the charge against a deputy director in the Free State premier’s office, Abigail Nakedi, is valid. She allegedly bought a release certificate for a prisoner.

Secondly, the paper writes that a woman from Vioolsdrif in the Northern Cape who allegedly molested children in her Bible study classes was refused bail in the Springbok Regional Court.

And finally, there is news about the new principal of the Sand du Plessis High School, Riana Nel.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Leads with the fires that have devastated the Western Cape in recent weeks. The paper reports on a firefighter, Frank Douglas of Hangklip, who lost all his and his family’s possessions in the fire. They were able to save their two dogs and parrot.

And secondly, the paper writes that Markus Jooste’s alleged mistress, Berdine Odendaal, is currently trying to get hold of some of the funds in her frozen bank accounts.

# And Cape Times:

Firstly, supports calls for the Western Cape to be declared a disaster area.

And reports that millions of rand have already been paid out to dead Sassa beneficiaries.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports opposition parties in the Nelson Mandela Bay Council called for the penalty rate for water use to be lowered. With Impofu Dam’s level at 45-percent, the chances don’t look good.

And secondly, the paper writes the driver of a bus transporting learners in Addo was killed and three children were seriously injured when the vehicle was hit by a train.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# Daily News in Durban:

Writes Philani Mavundla of the Abantu Batho Congress is denounced as a hypocrite because he supported the ANC mayor of eThekwini in the motion of no confidence.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports that an investigation has been launched into alleged gross mismanagement at Meatco. The chief executive and management are involved in the investigation.

And secondly, the paper writes that many houses in a mass housing project in Windhoek are still empty.