The headlines of the leading newspapers on 13 May 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa and his American counterpart, president Donald Trump, are expected to hold a high-level meeting in Washington later in May with the aim of restoring diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries. The paper writes the Afrikaners who were received as refugees in the USA will also be discussed.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the 49 Afrikaner refugees were warmly received at Dulles Airport in Washington. The US deputy secretary of State, Chris Landau, and the deputy secretary of Homeland Security, Troy Edgar, met the group and said it was a privilege to welcome them to the land of freedom.
Secondly, the website writes Ramaphosa may meet Trump as early as next week. Trump said yesterday that the Afrikaner refugees will receive citizenship.
And finally, there is news about the Prevan Pillay murder case in the High Court in Cape Town. Different versions of the murder and the hiding of the victim’s bakkie came to light in court.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi is set to sack several senior officials following revelations of widespread misconduct and financial irregularities. The move comes after a damning report by the Gauteng ethics advisory council exposed how high-ranking government figures were living far beyond their means and engaging in illegal business dealings with the state.
# Sowetan:
Reports the Tanganani Primary School in Diepsloot has finally opened. However, construction work is still underway and the school is short of eleven teachers.
# And The Citizen:
Writes Trump has, according to the American embassy in Pretoria, extended the refugee offer to all minorities persecuted in South Africa.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Has the same lead as Netwerk24 about the arrival of the Afrikaner refugees in the USA.
Secondly, it is reported the Western Cape police have confirmed that the inquest into the death of Markus Jooste is almost complete.
And finally, there is news about the goat, Next Level from Griekwastad, which was sold for 2.3-million-rand.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports well-known businessman and former EP rugby player, Rob Evans has appeared in court in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg in Oyster Bay.
And secondly, the paper writes patients, including pregnant mothers, have expressed their dismay at the dire conditions at public hospitals in the Bay. According to them, the additional 10 posts approved by the Department of Health will not bring much change.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the KwaZulu-Natal government will take action against contractors who do not meet their obligations to the Department of Public Works.
And secondly, it reports about a newborn baby discovered in bushes.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports an aggrieved group in Lüderitz is calling for an urgent financial audit of the town council’s finances from 2014 to 2024.
Then the paper writes the Windhoek High School is taking the ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture to court over the appointment of the new principal.
And finally, it is reported that the neonatal unit of Mediclinic in Swakopmund is being named after the beloved paediatrician doctor Silvia Möhrchken.