Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 21 August 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports South Africa’s drug manufacturers have reached an agreement with the Department of Health under which private drug pricing rules will be reviewed. This follows the loss of about one-thousand-five-hundred jobs in the drug industry.

# Mail & Guardian:

Writes about former president Jacob Zuma’s plan to collapse the ANC in the Eastern Cape so that the MK Party can take control of the province in the local government elections in November.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Firstly reports, the ANC will today lay criminal charges against the DA’s chair of Federal Finance, Mark Burke, and the company he founded, Kastelo. The investment firm is being investigated by the South African Reserve Bank for breaches of exchange controls.

And secondly the website writes the designated evidence leader of the Public Accounts Committee, advocate Thandazani Madonsela, has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for objecting to Madonsela’s appointment. He says the president’s fears are not based on facts.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes during the trial of two well-known security bosses, Darren and Ferrel Govender, for the murder of Durban businessman Shailen Singh in 2024, it has emerged that an eyewitness, whose identity is protected by a court order, saw an armed bald man at the murder scene.

# Sowetan:

Reports Cosmo City Secondary School in Johannesburg has refused entry to a Grade 9 learner after he was absent for four months to attend an initiation school. The paper writes that the school says it was too long, but a pressure group believes the boy should not be punished for practicing his culture.

# And The Citizen:

Has a six-page supplement today on the Springboks’ clash with the All Blacks.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Leads with criticism of Ramaphosa’s decision to object to the Impeachment Committee’s evidence leader.

And secondly, the paper reports the 16-year-old from Malmesbury accused of being involved in an exploitation network has been referred for psychological observation.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports more than a hundred people gathered outside the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court to support rape victim Aviwe Nkume before she was due to face her alleged attacker in court.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Reports the driver of a car was rescued from the burning wreckage by emergency services after he was involved in an accident.

And secondly, it reports about Reece Pillay who was reunited with his dog, Apollo, thanks to the help of the public.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the Valuation Court has ruled that the draft valuation roll for Henties Bay be referred back to the valuer for the inclusion of all comments and objections raised during the court proceedings. After the revised roll has been made available for inspection for the required period of 21 days, the case will resume in the Valuation Court.

And secondly, the paper writes renovation work on the bridge connecting Osona Village with the Osona military base, which was supposed to last only six months, is still being delayed.