Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 13 February 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Is the first of many newspapers to report on president Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address last night. The paper writes Ramaphosa says trade fragmentation in the global economy is receiving government attention as the country seeks to strengthen its economy. According to Ramaphosa, tariff reform is important at this stage.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Also reports in full on the highlights of Ramaphosa’s speech and publishes the full text of the State of the Nation Address.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Also reports on Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address. The website publishes an outline of the ten most important points contained in the speech. There is particular focus on the deployment of the army to the Western Cape and Gauteng to assist the police, the water committee that will be established, and the lifestyle audits for senior police officers.

And secondly, the paper writes political parties experienced the speech mostly positively, but there are still many questions.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Also reports in full on the State of the Nation Address and has an extensive photo gallery of all the fashions on the red carpet. Some of the parliamentarians and their wives dressed up, but for some members, it was just another session. The paper asks whether less is really more.

# Sowetan:

Focuses on Ramaphosa’s announcement that the army will be deployed against illegal mining activities and gang violence, and also refers to the president’s water committee, where he will act as chairperson.

# And The Citizen:

Writes the water crisis in Gauteng could be the ANC’s swan song in the province.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Has the same lead story as Netwerk24 on the State of the Nation Address.

And secondly, the paper writes the late president Nelson Mandela’s furniture was rushed to Drakenstein Prison for a visit by Ramaphosa. And then removed again.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports violence broke out on the campus of the Nelson Mandela University when students protested about accommodation, registration, and transport. The police had to intervene with rubber bullets.

Secondly, the paper writes with the Great Fish River in flood, damage has been caused to several Karoo farms.

Finally, there are also reports about and reactions to the State of the Nation Address.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Firstly, also writes about the State of the Nation Address.

And secondly, the paper reports on the cleanup of sex workers in Pietermaritzburg and the IFP winning a ward councillor election.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports with stock theft and drug smuggling rampant in Aranos, farmers and the community have handed over a petition and list of 18 case numbers of unsolved cases to the Namibian police chief.

And secondly, there is news about Ronel Peters of the Ruach Elohim Foundation, which runs a baby box. The organisation has saved the lives of a total of 49 abandoned babies since 2018.