Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 12 February 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the International Monetary Fund has warned South Africa that although there is an upward trend in the country’s outlook, domestic and international risks will still have a negative impact on growth.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports forensic investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, testified before the parliamentary ad hoc committee that the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, lieutenant general Nhlanhla Mkhwnazi only told half-truths during his media conference on July 6 last year. O’Sullivan says there is no evidence of a so-called Big Five syndicate infiltrating the criminal justice system.

Secondly, the website writes president Cyril Ramaphosa will have to pay urgent attention to people’s questions about crime, corruption and unemployment during his State of the Nation Address today.

And finally, there is news of 26-year-old Barend Alkema, who was shot dead in a house robbery at his parents’ home in Centurion. He was a cricket coach at Laerskool Hennopspark.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Firstly, also writes about O’Sullivan’s testimony before the ad hoc committee, there is a report on the DA’s federal chairperson and intended mayoral candidate in Johannesburg, Helen Zille’s position on the city’s water crisis, and finally, the paper gives a preview of the State of the Nation Address.

# Sowetan:

Reports on a lawyer, Petunia Macingwane, who is accused of embezzling money from prospective homeowners. The Real Estate Market Regulator says this is only one of five cases being investigated.

# And The Citizen:

Writes water experts have made an urgent appeal to Ramaphosa to declare the water crisis a national disaster in his State of the Nation Address today and to make the funds available to solve the current problem. Promises about dams will not provide water for the people now; the infrastructure must be restored.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports on organised agriculture’s sharp reaction to the removal of veterinarian doctor Danie Odendaal from the ministerial task force to manage foot-and-mouth disease. He was replaced by doctor Gary Bauer from Wildlife Ranching.

And secondly, there is news about a young veterinarian who saved the life of an oncologist.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports numerous protesters were injured when the police yesterday took violent action against Grogro community members who were protesting about the provision of basic services in the informal settlement that has existed for 40 years.

And secondly, the paper writes Andrew Whitfield and Yusuf Cassim have been re-elected as the provincial leaders of the DA in the Eastern Cape. Whitfield has taken over the leadership from Nqaba Bhanga, while Cassim has been elected as the party’s Eastern Cape chairperson.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes the MK party’s labour and civil society organisation, LACO, has descended on another plant in Pietermaritzburg and created chaos through strikes and demonstrations over alleged unfair labour practices. Businesses such as Save Hyper supermarket had to close their doors.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports Namibia’s foot-and-mouth disease measures should, according to experts, be implemented immediately without any administrative delay.

And secondly, the paper writes the residents of the Kehemu settlement in Rundu are discouraged because for more than a decade parts of their residences have been underwater during the rainy season.