Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 16 January 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports South Africa is on the verge of one of its worst post-apartheid tragedies with the death toll of the illegal miners in the Stilfontein gold mine already at 78. So far, 166 miners have been brought to the surface.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports the Free State Education Department made a huge blunder by failing to invite its top matriculant, Susan Bender from Bethlehem, to the media conference at which it announced the top ten learners of 2024.

Then the paper writes the ceasefire agreement for Gaza will in all likelihood be concluded by tonight.

And finally there is also news about the rescue effort in Stilfontein.

GAUTENG:

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Writes the Stilfontein mining deaths are reminiscent of the Marikana massacre.

And reports in light of the growing controversy surrounding FlySafair’s flight overbooking practices, CemAir has taken a strong stance and distanced itself from the overselling of seats.

# Sowetan:

Leads with: “I WAITED FOR MY TURN TO DIE”. The paper spoke to one of the illegal miners from the Stilfontein mine. He says he sat among bodies waiting to die of hunger.

# And The Citizen:

Writes about a mother who was instructed to enroll her child at the Railway Secondary School in Tshwane but could only find an open field next to a tavern and railway station. It appears that the school has not yet been built.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports the teachers’ union, Naptosa, says that too much pressure is being placed on teachers to perform in the matriculation results. The union also questions the large number of learners who leave school from grade 11 to grade 12.

Then the paper writes Time Out has named Cape Town the best city in the world.

And finally, there is also a report on the top matriculant of the Free State.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports that there is anger and panic among the residents of Plettenberg Bay after a panga-wielding man attacked and robbed an elderly couple in Challenge Avenue on Tuesday morning.

And secondly, the paper writes about the first Daddy Cares Festival that will be presented by Doxa Family Care to promote active and positive fatherhood.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# Daily News in Durban:

Writes the state fears for the safety of witnesses if Ferrel and Darren Govender, who are on trial for the murder of businessman Shailen Singh, are granted bail.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports that there is frustration among the residents of the Kavango East region due to the lack of transparency after 24 people died in separate incidents of food poisoning in the past two years.

Then the paper writes the election dispute continues with the Independent Patriots for Change arguing that the court cannot rule on the validity of the presidential proclamation to extend elections.

And finally, it is reported that the water supply to the Hardap irrigation scheme has been restored on a 20 percent water-saving basis.