The headlines of the leading newspapers on 05 August 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the Institute for Race Relations says the Expropriation Act rewrites the Constitution’s compensation test. The paper writes the institute says it accepts land reform, but argues that the Expropriation Act may favour reduced compensation.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says struggling municipalities will only improve if voters elect competent councillors on 4 November.
And secondly, the website writes about the Section 89 Impeachment Inquiry against president Cyril Ramaphosa. The story is Die Burger’s lead.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes Cape Town International Airport has resumed normal runway operations after a Kenya Airways plane’s tyre burst during landing. This necessitated the temporary closure of the airport’s main runway and caused flight disruptions. The Airport Company says the runway has since reopened, but airlines are still experiencing delays.
# Sowetan:
Leads with: “ZUMA PARTY’S ISIPHITHIPHITHI”. The paper reports there is disarray in the MK Party. There is speculation that former president Jacob Zuma is moving senior members of the party out to make way for his son, Duduzane, as deputy president, thus ensuring future leadership for the family.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg is on the verge of collapse. The hospital is suffering from unpaid suppliers, frequent shortages of supplies and operations being randomly postponed. Sources in the hospital say suppliers no longer have confidence in management.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports the chairperson of the Section 89 Impeachment Committee, Makashule Ganas, argues in court documents before the Constitutional Court that Ramaphosa’s obligation to give an account in a constitutional inquiry cannot be considered irreparable harm to him.
Secondly, the paper writes a student from Akademia’s Paarl campus, 18-year-old Paul Klaasen, collapsed and died during a touch rugby match.
And finally, there is news about artificial intelligence that can be used by ChatGPT to order you a taxi.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has been ordered to stop the introduction of the flat-rate electricity tariff structure. The High Court in Gqeberha has granted an interim order in this regard. Residents’ money must also be refunded.
And secondly, the paper writes the popular amusement park, Playland, will not return to Gqeberha for the 2026/2027 season. The owners say that due to the significant increase in the rent, it is unfortunately no longer financially viable for them to continue.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the DA is calling for an urgent investigation into the Umbulwane housing project on which 120-million-rand has already been spent. According to reports, only 90 of the planned 505 housing units have been completed.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports there is confusion about the future of the government’s Task Force for the Review of State-Owned Enterprises after its chairman, professor Joseph Diescho, said that the eleven-member task force was suddenly disbanded. There are also reports that the task force’s work has simply been suspended pending a review.
And secondly, the paper writes that the ministry of Health and Social Services has earmarked almost 793-million-rand for the upgrade of hospital infrastructure and equipment.