The headlines of the leading newspapers on 23 April 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the International Monetary Fund has lowered its growth outlook for South Africa and almost every other country in response to the tariff announcements by the US. South Africa’s expected growth rate has been lowered to just one-percent for this year and 1.3-percent for next year.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the accused in the Jacques Freitag murder case, Rudie Lubbe and Chantelle Oosthuizen have asked the court to force the state to disclose all the details in the murder docket.
Then the website writes the ANC has apparently spoken to the MK Party about inclusion in the government of national unity, but MK says it has rejected the request.
And finally, there is news about the 57-year-old father from Jeffreys Bay who was convicted on more than 700 charges related to sex crimes against children.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes Sthembiso Mdlalose, who is accused of starting the fire that killed 76 people in Marshalltown, Johannesburg in 2023, has pleaded not guilty.
And secondly reports, the select committee on Security and Justice has expressed concern about 31-million-rand spent on the salaries of suspended magistrates.
# Sowetan:
Reports Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has requested the State Security Agency to investigate the possibility of foul play in hospital fires after the Tembisa fire.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the DA says the ANC does not care about the poor and this is proven by its relentless efforts to push through the VAT increase.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports the billions of rand allocated for education in all nine provinces are still not enough. In KwaZulu-Natal, it is possible that teachers will not be paid this month.
Then the paper writes members of Parliament are upset because the report on the World Cup Netball Tournament hosted in South Africa in 2023 has still not been completed.
And finally there is news about the new love affair between Billy Ray Cyrus and Liz Hurley.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports nearly a million-rand worth of motorbikes were stolen from homes in Gqeberha in the past week. The police and private security companies have warned motorbike owners about a syndicate.
And secondly, the paper writes property owners in Nelson Mandela Bay, who are still waiting for three months of unpaid rent from NSFAS, have threatened to evict hundreds of students.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the Ithala banking group is seeking a 300-million-rand bailout from government.
And reports rural schools have been warned of flooding in light of the latest weather warnings of heavy rain.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports the shareholders of Paladin, the owners of the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine, are suing the company in an Australian court over a lower than expected production figure in the past financial year.
And secondly, the paper writes the former governor of the Otjonzondjupa region, James Uerikua, is concerned about the high farm prices fuelled by foreign buyers.