Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 20 February 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports Parliament postponed South Africa’s national budget for the first time yesterday. This follows after cabinet members of the government of national unity rejected Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s plan to increase VAT from 15- to 17-percent. The budget was postponed until March 12.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports economist Dawie Roodt described the postponement of the budget as a victory for South Africans. He says this is the first time that there are indications that the government of national unity is working.

Then the website writes about the widespread rains and flooding that have occurred throughout the north of the country. Residents along Schoonspruit in Klerksdorp are currently preparing to evacuate their homes amid rising water.

And finally, the page gives an overview of the scrapped budget that was never tabled.

GAUTENG:

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Writes Godongwana’s announcement sent shockwaves through the markets and also affected the value of the rand.

And secondly reports, the government of national unity is being criticised for postponing the budget.

# Sowetan:

Reports analysts believe that the postponement of the budget is detrimental to the economy and damaging to the public’s confidence in the government of national unity.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with: “BUDGET: WHAT’S GOING ON?” The paper investigates the reasons that led to the postponement.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Also leads with the postponement of the budget.

And secondly, the paper reports 82-year-old Hendrik Sass of Calvinia died when a tame black wildebeest attacked him. Sass was known as a top-notch wireman in the Northern Cape.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Also reports on the postponement of the budget.

And writes the Gqeberha police are investigating a case of fraud after 71 former matriculants lost tens of thousands of rands in what they claim were fraudulent tutoring classes.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes there is general unhappiness and disbelief about the postponement of the national budget.

And reports the deadline for spaza shops to register is just around the corner.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports 30 mobile clinics, 60 fully equipped ambulances, 813 medical specialists and seven new and upgraded mental health centres are part of Swapo’s dreams for Namibia’s public health system.

And secondly, the paper writes Swakopmund’s neighbourhood watch is facing a crisis that could force the organisation to cease operations by the end of the year.