Morning Newspaper Report
The headlines of the leading newspapers on 23 July 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the head of the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption, Andrea Johnson, admitted to the Madlanga Commission that she had incorrectly applied a legal test when assessing a corruption complaint against the head of Crime Intelligence, Dumisani Khumalo.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the Nkabinde investigation has acquitted the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Andrew Chauke, of all charges brought against him by former NPA boss Shamila Batohi.
And secondly, the website writes a 70-year-old woman has been arrested by French police for the murder of 65-year-old South African, Karen Carter. Carter was stabbed eight times with a sharp object in the driveway of her home in France in April 2025.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the water problems in eThekwini are getting worse. Durban is losing 65-percent of its drinking water from the system and the municipality reportedly has 12-thousand leaks to repair. The paper also reports there are problems with paying contracted plumbers.
# Sowetan:
Also reports on Andrea Johnson’s error of judgment and writes that it caused a lot of damage. The paper writes the Madlanga Commission has questioned the mandate and competence of the investigation directorate.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the DA has denied that its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille, at 75, is too old to lead the city. The party says she has brought down ANC administrations before and can do it again.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports the challenges facing the minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and leader of the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie, are only getting bigger. The latest development is that the DA wants to file a complaint with the Public Protector regarding unlawful appointments. There are also questions about his Central Karoo fundraising campaign.
Secondly, the paper writes the Impeachment Committee wants president Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the committee in person. Legal advice is currently being sought on this.
And finally, there is news about a Southern Cape nature reserve that wants to register the protea as an emoji.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the African Independent Movement has given the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Babalwa Lobishe, 48 hours to resign. The party says that if he does not do so, they will take it further at the national level.
And secondly, the paper writes the body of the beloved blogger from Nelson Mandela Bay, Wayden Ben, was found in Gelvandale under suspicious circumstances. The police are investigating.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the steps taken by the Treasury to withhold funds from municipalities are now starting to cause serious problems.
And secondly, it reports the spread of the Ebola outbreak is increasing daily. The newspaper refers to it as a pandemic.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports that the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia has acquitted senior managers of the Namibia Institute of Pathology of criminal offences relating to the state institution’s controversial 5.3-million-rand executive vehicle scheme.
Then the paper writes one of the world’s most prestigious speed sailing events, the Lüderitz Speed Challenge, has its wings clipped this year due to a lack of sponsors.
And finally, there is news about the German daily Allgemeine Zeitung which is 110 years old.