The headlines of the leading newspapers on 08 April 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports deputy president Paul Mashatile says the DA’s rejection of the fiscal framework has set a precedent for how his ministers in the government of national unity can approach legislation in the future. He says this includes the Revenue Division Bill and the Appropriations Bill.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports Mashatile says the only way the DA can remain in the government of national unity is to vote for the budget.
Then the website writes the rand has fallen to its weakest level against the British pound. The rand traded at 25-rand-five-cents in response to president Donald Trump’s global tariffs.
And finally, there is news about the evacuation of properties against the Vaal River after five of the Vaal Dam’s sluices were opened.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes Paul Mashatile has taken the lead in encouraging the DA to reconsider its position within the government of national unity following their refusal to vote in favour of the 2025 national budget. The paper reports the business sector is also continuing to put pressure on the ANC to retain the DA.
# Sowetan:
Reports on the ongoing taxi war in Soweto. In the latest incident, witnesses say it is clear the killers intended to kill taxi drivers. One of the associations says they have already lost 63 members in the past ten years.
# And The Citizen:
Writes that it looks like the state-owned South African Airways will finally take off. The bookings are at 72-percent which is enough to break even.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Has the same lead as Netwerk24 about Mashatile’s statements about the DA.
And secondly, it is reported Graeme Pienaar from Gqeberha came across a mortar while he was looking for his dog’s toy in his garden.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports almost a year after the collapse of a building in George, a parliamentary briefing revealed procedural violations and a lack of oversight that contributed to the disaster that claimed 34 lives.
And secondly, the paper writes about a two-year-old boy from Gqeberha who ran across the street to get a lollipop when he was hit by a car.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the welcome rain is causing dams to overflow nationwide.
And reports that international markets have been hit hard by Donald Trump’s tariffs, but China has decided to fight back.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports residents in the northern regions are hit by the floodwaters of the “efundja”. This is the water flowing in from Angola after heavy rains.
And secondly, the paper writes the largest dam in Namibia, the Neckartal Dam, had an inflow of more than 70.959-million cubic meters of water per second and is now full.