Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 01 October 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports taxi boss Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni denied before the Madlanga Commission that he played any part in the arson attack on 51 buses following a meeting held by president Cyril Ramaphosa in Mpumalanga in 2025. Testimony before the commission points to a link between the exertion of pressure and the attack, but Sibanyoni maintains his actions were limited to legitimate business operations.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports Israel intends to tighten controls over pilots flying into the country after an Airdubai co-pilot, en route to Tel Aviv, attempted to stab the pilot to death and crash the plane with passengers on board. He was overpowered by cabin crew and passengers.

Secondly, the website reports the leader of the National Coloured Congress, Fadiel Adams, has approached the High Court in Pretoria to prevent the withdrawal of charges against the national police commissioner, general Fannie Masemola.

GAUTENG:

# The Star/IOL:

Reports United Phosphorous Limited and three of its directors appeared in the Durban Regional Court in connection with alleged violations of environmental legislation stemming from the 2021 unrest. The facility, where pesticides were stored, was set alight by looters during the unrest, creating a pollution hazard.

# Sowetan:

Also reports on Sibanyoni’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission and the arson incident. The paper writes a subsequent attempt by taxi owners to take over the Putco bus service was thwarted.

# And The Citizen:

Writes experts are of the opinion that president Ramaphosa’s plans to combat gender-based violence have merit but will fail due to a lack of resources.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports on the ongoing conflict between US Ambassador Brent Bozell and the South African government. South Africa intends to formally summon Bozell again after he criticised the government in the media.

Secondly, the newspaper reports that the 211-year-old church bell belonging to the Evangelical Church in Bethelsdorp, Eastern Cape, was stolen and possibly sold for scrap metal.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the launch of the Nelson Mandela Bay Film Office—held in conjunction with the local boxing fraternity at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in June—exceeded all budget limits. While 300-thousand-rand was initially budgeted for the event, the actual cost—incurred without municipal approval—was 2.8-million-rand.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Reports that the Oval cricket stadium in Pietermaritzburg is set to undergo renovations at a cost of R1-million. And secondly, it is reported that a 46-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the so-called photo-swapping scam, in which the photographs in the passports of legitimate South Africans are replaced with those of illegal migrants.

And finally, from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports a consignment of Namibian meat worth millions of rand, currently en route to Europe, will—in light of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak—depend on Namibia’s traceability system and the requirements of the importing countries.

And secondly, the paper writes women in Namibia’s rural areas have an average of about five children each, compared to an average of slightly more than three for women in the country’s towns and cities.