Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 09 January 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the withdrawal of the National Freedom Party threatens the stability of the KZN coalition. According to analysts, the NFP’s exit could cause the collapse of the provincial government.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Writes the ANC is busy turning on its charm in view of the election later this year. The campaign forms part of the party’s 114th anniversary celebrations. The general feeling is that the SACP, which is not participating in the election with the ANC, will not succeed.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports the Weather Service has dismissed rumours on social media about a cyclone Baron heading towards South Africa as fake news. The service says heavy rainfall is expected over the escarpment, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo and the north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

And secondly, the website writes COSATU and several other organisations have protested outside the US embassy in Pretoria. The union says the US has no right to take countries as it pleases.

GAUTENG:

# Sowetan:

Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa should brace himself for a service delivery mess when he visits the North West for the 114th birthday celebrations of the ANC.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with ‘BACK TO SCHOOL SHOCK’. The paper writes a huge shock awaits parents who have to buy school uniforms, shoes, and bags. It can easily cost more than three-thousand-rand per learner.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports the police have paid almost 25-million-rand to suspended members in the past two financial years. In one of the cases, a general has already been suspended for seven years and is still receiving his full salary. The suspensions extend across all ranks.

And secondly, the paper points out that while the City of Cape Town is urging people to save water, residents and businesses are using 73-million litres of water per day too much. Cape Town has warned that water restrictions may be imposed if this continues.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Today focuses on the fires that continue to rage in the Kouga area and the huge effort of firefighters to bring it under control. Air support has been called in from George, and the municipality had to issue evacuation orders.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Also writes the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity is currently in a precarious position due to the National Freedom Party withdrawing with immediate effect. The decision leads to a 50-50 power struggle in the legislature, which leaves the province’s governance uncertain.

And secondly, it is reported the KwaZulu-Natal government is supporting lieutenant general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for a second term as provincial police commissioner. The premier, Thami Ntuli, says he has leadership and maintains a good crime-fighting record.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Firstly, reports on the hundreds of election officials in Namibia who have not yet received any payment. The election was in 2024.

And secondly, the paper writes about the negative impact of crime on tourism in Namibia.