Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 07 January 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the head of the Special Investigation Unit, Andy Mothibi, as the national director of Public Prosecutions.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports there is serious division in the government of national unity over the military action of president Donald Trump in Venezuela. While the ANC condemns it, the FF Plus welcomed it and the DA says the ANC is hypocritical because the party does not make the same statement about Ukraine.

Secondly, the website writes former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma have submitted applications to remove former judge Sisi Khampepe as chairperson of the commission investigating interference in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

And finally, there is news about the fires in Mossel Bay and Pearly Beach.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Also writes about the ANC government’s criticism of the US’s actions in Venezuela. Ramaphosa made the position clear during the SACP’s Joe Slovo memorial lecture at the Avalon cemetery in Soweto.

# And The Citizen:

Like Netwerk24, also writes about the division in the government of national unity over Trump’s invasion of Venezuela.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports a father and his son from Worcester, Leon and Kyle Olivier, died when their motorcycle was thrown from a bridge in Parow onto the N1. It seems that the motorcycle went off the road in the bend of the Giel Basson off-ramp to the N1.

And secondly, the paper writes NSFAS has received approximately 900-thousand applications for funding for 2026. The aid scheme processes the applications to notify students before the start of the financial year.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Firstly, reports about the number of incidents of child abuse and neglect in the Bay that continue to rise.

And secondly, it is reported the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay have stepped in and helped to bring veldfires under control.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes that two men, aged 43 and 46 respectively, have appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court in connection with attacks in a tavern in Imbali.

And secondly, it is reported a warning has been issued for a severe heatwave in KwaZulu-Natal.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Writes about the photos of the award-winning Belgian wildlife photographer, Griet van Malderen, of the desert lioness, Gamma from the Skeleton Coast National Park.