Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 19 October 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the DA has once again made it clear that it is not prepared to negotiate with the MK Party or the EFF to form a coalition after the elections. The DA’s mayoral candidate in Johannesburg, Helen Zille, says the party remains focused on achieving an outright majority.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to fully recover before returning to work. Mbalula collapsed shortly after the Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding the party’s candidate lists.

Secondly, the website reports an unmanned truck caused extensive damage in Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal after rolling down a road and crashing into seven houses. Several people were also injured.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Reports a 35-year-old man from Bangladesh, Nadim Hoshen, was abducted during a hijacking in Villiers, Free State. The kidnappers are allegedly demanding a ransom of three-million-rand for his safe release. The police investigation has yielded no leads so far, and it is unclear where Hoshen is currently being held.

# Sowetan:

Reports residents of Hammanskraal are threatening not to vote on November 4th, as nothing has yet been done to address the provision of drinking water in the area. They state that there is no point in voting for empty promises.

# And The Citizen:

Reports while the ANC may celebrate the Constitutional Court ruling as a victory, experts argue that the court acted in the interest of voters, protecting them from the ANC’s incompetence.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports Ramaphosa stated the DA was included in the Government of National Unity following the previous elections for specific reasons, and that despite significant policy differences, the government has already achieved a great deal. He added that there are no plans for the DA to leave the GNU.

Secondly, the paper reports former president Jacob Zuma has been discharged from the hospital after an eleven-day stay.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports although the field at the Westbourne Oval in Gqeberha remains in reasonable condition, the clubhouse and other buildings have been stripped by vandals.

Secondly, it is reported Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has called for the exposure of those who manipulated the ANC’s voter lists in the Eastern Cape.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Reports on growing concerns regarding the rise in forged medical certificates, which are increasingly being used to justify absenteeism from work.

Secondly, the paper reports France is currently calculating the cost of damages following violent protests over the cost of living.

And finally, from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the delay in the tabling of the long-awaited Construction Industry Bill is due to repeated consultations and the complex nature of the construction sector.

Secondly, the paper writes former First Lady Penehupifo ‘Penny’ Pohamba, who passed away on Saturday, was celebrated as one of the women who helped shape Namibia’s history following independence.