The headlines of the leading newspapers on 13 May 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube is under pressure with the Public Protector investigating the procurement process of textbooks for grades one to three.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, says 97 people in the country who had contact with the hantavirus have already been traced. A total of 86 of the people are in Gauteng. Motsoaledi says they will be monitored over the next six weeks.
And secondly, the website writes that judgment is reserved in the eviction application regarding the occupation of Transnet land in Cape Town.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the minister of Health’s official car was involved in a fatal accident on the N1 in Limpopo. A mother and child died in the incident. The police are investigating culpable homicide.
And secondly, it is reported that the controversial KwaZulu-Natal activist, Ngizwe Mchunu, has strongly denied that he himself set fire to his house in Mbumbulu near Durban.
# Sowetan:
Reports the future of the government of national unity is uncertain. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the party will not protect Ramaphosa if he is found to have acted improperly.
# And The Citizen:
Leads with “MISSING BILLIONS LEAVE TOTS STRANDED”. The paper has investigated the billions of rand being looted from social management.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports many roads and passes in the Western Cape are still closed after severe storms in the area. The provincial government has appealed to residents to be patient while repairs to infrastructure continue.
And secondly, the paper writes the minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, says the crisis with the vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease has now been averted.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the latest unemployment figure for the Eastern Cape is not promising at all. The province’s 42.5-percent is the highest in the country.
And secondly, there is news about tributes for drama teacher and animal rights campaigner, Linda-Louise Swain.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes parts of the hundred-year-old roof of St Mary’s Church in Pietermaritzburg have been stolen. The roof tiles are made of copper and lead.
And secondly, it is reported that the investigation into those exposed to the hantavirus is still ongoing.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Report the ministry of Health and Social Services has admitted that infrastructure and staffing shortages contributed to the escape of a mentally ill patient last month.
Secondly, the paper writes that the names of the three German victims and pilot of the plane crash in the Sossus Vlei area have been released.
And finally, there is a report about an investigation into tribalism in the Windhoek city police.