Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 02 February 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the Jacob Zuma Trust has strongly denied that the former president is involved in any illegal actions by convicted American paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. This follows revelations by the US Department of Justice in which Zuma’s name is mentioned.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports the minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, says the regulations for the export of products to the European Union were compiled long before he became a member of the cabinet. The minister was criticised by Saai for the black empowerment aspect in the regulations.

And finally, the website writes about the death of swimming legend John Flanigan and the backlog with ballistics tests in the Western Cape. Both stories also appear on the front page of Die Burger.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes at the conclusion of the EFF’s second annual congress in Johannesburg, leader Julius Malema has once again called for the closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa.

And secondly, there is a report on the collapse of the South African veterinary service in the midst of foot-and-mouth disease.

# Sowetan:

Leads with: “TOP COPS AT LOGGERHEADS”. The paper writes about the tension and struggle between the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, major-general Lesetja Senona, and the provincial police commissioner, lieutenant-general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

# And The Citizen:

Writes Gauteng’s richest schools will have their provincial funding cut by up to 64-percent. Experts warn this will result in a devastating loss of teachers, services, and infrastructure.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports a swimming legend from Bloubergstrand, 80-year-old John Flanigan, died in a kayaking incident in the On the Rocks area on Saturday. He became the oldest swimmer to complete the journey to Robben Island last month.

And secondly, the paper writes the ballistics tests that were to be carried out within 90 days on almost three thousand confiscated firearms in the Western Cape have not been completed. The DA says this has a direct impact on the investigation of crimes.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports a DA ward councillor for Gqeberha, Margaret de Andrade, is accused of bullying her staff. Two staff members have allegedly already resigned.

And secondly, the paper writes the historic main library in Gqeberha has reopened its doors after a decade and has now become a tourism destination that focuses on the history of the city and the surrounding area.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes the head of the Hawks in the province, Lesetja Senona, has had his powers curtailed.

And reports Pietermaritzburg’s bus scheme has been scrapped.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports tour operators have questioned the award of a 25-year concession for access to Sandwich Harbour. The ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has made the award to Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari, which belongs to Kenneth Kapitako Napenda.

Secondly, the paper writes political analyst Rui Tyitnede believes that critics of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia’s director-general, Paulus Noa, do not see the long-term impact of corruption issues.

And finally, there is news about the so-called community hero of Gobabis who repaired the roads around the local nursing home, Huis Deon Louw.