Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 26 January 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC intends to replace underperforming local government leaders to regain the public’s trust. He says appointments should be made according to the performance of candidates.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Also reports on Ramaphosa’s speech at the lekgotla of the ANC’s NEC. He says interference in tenders is one of the main reasons for poor service delivery. He says local government must be insulated from political interference. Ramaphosa also admitted that an uphill battle awaits the ANC in the elections.

Then the website writes Ramaphosa says that if those whom the ANC has deployed in local government do not perform, they must be withdrawn immediately.

And finally, it is reported the NSRI is still searching for a 16-year-old boy who was swept away by sea currents off East London at the weekend. His 14-year-old friend was rescued.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes the minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says children can never be thought of as cargo. She spoke at the memorial service for two of the victims of the Vanderbijlpark accident held at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre in Sebokeng.

And secondly, the driver of the accident taxi, 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, is reportedly being ostracized by the community.

# Sowetan:

Reports on a primary school building taken over by zama-zamas and the community’s fight to get the school back. The principal’s office is now a tavern, and the classrooms are living quarters.

# And The Citizen:

Reports unions say there are one-thousand-200 doctors who have completed their fellowship year and are still unemployed because the government is slow to allocate a 21-billion-rand budget to create jobs for them at state hospitals. This is weakening the entire health system.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Firstly, reports opposition parties condemned the government for abstaining from a vote at a special UN session on the violence in Iran. The government was criticised for its inconsistent human rights record in prosecuting Israel but remaining silent on Iran.

And secondly, the paper writes about a leopard found on a power pylon in the Worcester area. It is the sixth animal to die in the past 12 months. Only in two cases have the animals been shocked to death.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports there is huge support for the Animal Protection Society after the Kariega branch was given the order to evacuate overnight.

And writes large parts of Gqeberha are still without power and water after two power pylons collapsed.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes Ramaphosa has made it clear that there is no place in local government for mediocre mayors.

And secondly, there is also a report about the memorial service for the victims of the Vanderbijlpark accident.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports state institutions must purchase local furniture to support the Namibian industry. Imports may only be made if local products are not available.

Then the paper writes Print Media Hub, formerly known as Newsprint, has been relocated to Diamond Square after a complete upgrade.

And finally, there is news about an elementary school that had to close its doors after a swarm of wasps moved into the school.