Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 18 August 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa, upon assuming the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community, said the full potential of the region’s economy has not yet been unlocked. Ramaphosa says the region must increase local production, remove tariff barriers and improve infrastructure.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports 27-year-old Lelethu Nkosana, who pleaded guilty in the High Court in Gqeberha yesterday to the murder and rape of eight-year-old Veronique May from Langa in Kariega, was described as a monster by the victim’s mother, Destiny. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

And secondly, the website writes 49-year-old Lucas Mmakgathi from Rustenburg in the North West was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he strangled his two-year-old son with a shoelace in 2024.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes the MK Party and United Africans Transformation have once again filed an urgent application for leave to appeal against a ruling by the Western Cape High Court in favour of Ramaphosa on the activities of the Impeachment Committee. The paper reports the application was filed yesterday.

# Sowetan:

Reports on the testimony of controversial businessman, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, before the Madlanga Commission. The paper writes the testimony was characterised by Matlala constantly dodging questions because it could incriminate him in criminal cases.

# And The Citizen:

Writes Ramaphosa made no mention of migrants, deportation or xenophobia when he urged SADC countries to turn borders into bridges for stronger economic ties.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports on the refusal of bail to controversial businessman and suspended lawyer, Peet Viljoen. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria ruled that Viljoen does not have a fixed address and that there is a risk of interference with state witnesses.

And secondly, the paper writes the deputy leader of the EFF, Godrich Gardee, says the party will not back down in the local government elections. The EFF is aiming to take control even in Stellenbosch and Constantia.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Leads with: “JAILED FOR LIFE!” The paper also reports on the sentence of Lelethu Nkosana for the murder and rape of eight-year-old Veronique May.

And secondly, the newspaper writes about the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog that was dragged 200 metres into the sea.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes the city is preparing for a massive strike after the South African Municipal Workers Union accused the Msunduzi Municipality of bargaining in bad faith and failing to meet key workers’ demands. The strike is expected to affect not only refuse collection but also repairs to the power and water networks.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports there is concern about the amount of so-called slimming injections flowing into Namibia. The paper writes according to a pharmacist, it is not only about the safety of patients, but also about medication being imported and sold illegally and tax being evaded.

And secondly, the paper writes a total of 18 rhinos have been poached for their horns in Namibia this year, with 13 in protected areas and five on commercial farms.