The headlines of the leading newspapers on 01 October 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Is one of many news sources reporting today on the death of the South African ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. The paper writes the former minister jumped from the 22nd floor of a hotel in Paris, according to the French newspaper Le Parisien.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Continues the reporting on Mthethwa. The website writes the window of a room on the 22nd floor of a Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris was apparently forced open with scissors. Mthethwa’s body was found in the courtyard of the hotel.
Secondly, the website writes a South African woman who has been living in the USA for eight years is possibly one of the victims of the shooting at the Mormon church in Michigan. Thelma Armstrong’s sister, Belinda Janse van Rensburg, says she has been informed that her sister is dead.
And finally, there is news about a group of boys from the Hoërskool Vredendal who allegedly created and distributed nude photos of classmates using AI. The school must now decide how to act.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the Tembisa Hospital scandal has sparked a storm of criticism against the government of national unity and led to urgent calls for prosecution. Politicians and analysts are demanding that those responsible be criminally charged.
And secondly, the paper also reports on Mthethwa and gives an overview of his career.
# Sowetan:
Reports on the Madlanga Commission and on evidence of how Minister Senzo Mchunu was influenced to disband the political assassination task force.
And secondly, the paper writes that the French authorities are investigating the death of Mthethwa.
# And The Citizen:
Writes that the French police are investigating the death of Mthethwa as a suicide. The paper also reports he is one of three police ministers whose names were mentioned at the Madlanga Commission about interference in the police.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports like Netwerk24 also about Mthethwa and the boys of Vredendal.
EASTERN CAPE:
# Daily Despatch in East London:
Reports the disaster management centre in Limbode has been completed.
And writes the elderly are being forced to spend their meagre pensions on drinking water after the taps have dried up again.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Also reports on the death of Mthethwa.
And secondly, the paper writes the approaching deadline for AGOA is having a negative impact on the economy.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports that the devastating wildfire that has consumed more than one-million-hectares in and around the Etosha National Park in more than a week is under control, and no human loss has been suffered.
And secondly, the paper writes delays in government projects in Kavango East, where poverty currently occurs in 70-percent of the population, are undermining poverty eradication.