The headlines of the leading newspapers on 29 July 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the judicial commission of inquiry, chaired by deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will handle each case of witness protection separately. The commission is investigating allegations of political ties to the criminal underworld.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Firstly, reports on the resignation of the DA’s spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, Emma Powell. She says she was threatened, harassed, and illegally monitored for her stance against the government’s relations with the most repressive governments in the world.
Then the website writes Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says the increase in Parliament’s restoration costs by two-billion-rand is not exceptional because the first amount budgeted was only an estimate.
And finally, it is reported that the 60-year-old woman from Bothaville who was attacked and raped may have been paralysed after being hit over the head with a hammer during the attack. No one has been arrested yet.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the mystery surrounding the alleged death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste has, according to political analysts given rise to conspiracy theories, reflecting a lack of confidence in law enforcement. The paper reports as the dust settles over a 6.3-billion-rand deal between the South African Reserve Bank and former Steinhoff, Ibex Holdings, the question remains – where is Jooste buried?
And secondly, the paper reports French president Emmanuel Macron’s recognition of Palestine is a turning point for the Middle East.
# Sowetan:
Reports on an incident where a young man was chained and beaten to death at an illegal drug rehabilitation centre. The Department of Social Work warns that there are many illegal centres popping up overnight.
# And The Citizen:
Writes one of the striking pilots of FlySafair writes that if the conditions of the pilots are not met, the airline can expect many to resign.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Also leads with Emma Powell’s resignation.
And secondly, the paper reports the woman who allegedly stole the nine-day-old baby from Mitchells Plain, Shamiema Jacobs, has been released on bail of four-thousand-rand. The move was met with mixed feelings.
EASTERN CAPE:
# Daily Despatch in East London:
Reports plans to move the Home Affairs office to the Hemmingways Shopping Centre in East London are met with mixed feelings.
And writes that there are calls from many quarters for the ANC to hold its provincial congress earlier.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the South African woman who was stabbed by a colleague on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Icon of the Seas in the Bahamas is recovering well in a Miami hospital.
And secondly, it is reported that the water supply across Pietermaritzburg has been interrupted.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports that more than 18-thousand people are looking for land in Windhoek. A municipal company that is supposed to speed up the delivery of land and housing in Windhoek, Novan Actus, has been registered after three years, but is still dormant.
Then the paper writes the mother of a baby who died after a first-year nursing student allegedly injected her with the wrong medication has now filed a claim for damages.
And finally, a political expert is reported to say that there should be consequences for municipalities with adverse audit opinions.