Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 24 February 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the Special Investigation Unit has uncovered permit fraud worth millions of rand in South Africa’s immigration system. The paper writes border permit fraud points to systemic corruption and failures with immigration control.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports a visiting psychotherapist and naturopath from Germany, 69-year-old Gary Firer, says he will never visit the country again. He was attacked on the access road to Cape Town airport with a brick through the car window. The couple have been visiting the country annually for the past 21 years and say they will never return.

Secondly, the website writes a total of 31 accused appeared in court yesterday after allegedly stealing 113-million-rand from the Mpumalanga Education Department. The group consists of officials, family members and service providers who colluded.

And finally, there is news about the rain in the Northern Cape. It has been welcomed everywhere and in some places up to 103-millimetres have been recorded. Raisin farmers, however, say the rain is causing them major problems.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said in his provincial address that it will cost 760-million-rand to solve the City of Johannesburg’s water crisis.

And reports the residents of Tembisa have protested about the constant power cuts that occur in the township.

# Sowetan:

Also reports on Lesufi’s speech. The paper writes the premier has undertaken to address municipal service problems and create 250-thousand jobs.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with: “THREE MURDERED EVERY HOUR”. The paper writes it is mostly young men who are murdered, and according to analysts, attention is only paid to the murders of women and farmers.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Also reports on the attack on Gary Firer from Germany.

And secondly, there is news about a preschool in Durbanville that was closed for a few days after one of the children contracted meningococcal meningitis.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports an investigation has been launched into the tender process and problems with the water supply in Makana. The Special Investigation Unit is investigating the municipality for tender fraud.

And writes that a weather warning has put the spotlight on the shortcomings in Nelson Mandela Bay’s ability to handle flooding.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes that the Msunduzi Municipality has accused the MK Party of sabotaging the city’s water infrastructure after a series of water outages that occurred in different areas.

And secondly, it is reported AARTO has suffered another setback as a lack of funds prevents further implementation. The paper writes the private sector is now being tapped for money.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports livestock theft in the Erongo region increased by 21-percent between 2024 and 2025, with the number of large livestock reported stolen increasing from 122 to 167.

And secondly, the paper writes heavy rainfall that fell nationwide over the weekend led to accidents, washed out roads, vehicles swept into rivers and occupants left stranded.