The headlines of the leading newspapers on 12 August 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the Department of Home Affairs has approached the Treasury for emergency funds as the repatriation of migrants has exhausted its budget. The repatriation costs about 300-million-rand.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Michael Masiapato, told Parliament that while the repatriation of illegal migrants was underway, about four-thousand others were trying to infiltrate the country.
And secondly, the website writes the federal chairman of the DA, Solly Msimanga, has warned that the government of national unity will not be able to survive if the ANC elects a radical leader.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the special police task force in Motherwell in the Eastern Cape has made a breakthrough against a syndicate that was allegedly involved in a series of burglaries at homes and businesses in the area. Three suspects were arrested in the Mjondolo informal settlement and two firearms, ammunition and suspected stolen property were seized.
# Sowetan:
Also reports on the repatriation costs of migrants. The paper writes officials have warned that approximately 89-thousand migrants will try to return to South Africa illegally.
# And The Citizen:
Also writes about the expensive migrant repatriation. The paper reports that countries such as Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia must compensate South Africa for the expense.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports on the latest opinion poll among voters which indicates that the ANC’s support has fallen further and the DA is winning especially in Gauteng.
Then the paper writes a provider of pirated television channels at 160-rand may have to pay up to 6.2-million-rand.
And finally, there is news about Donald Trump who had to be moved in a catering van when he left Turkey due to an Iranian threat.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports on the Eastern Cape’s unemployment rate which continues to rise. It rose from 44.6-percent in the previous quarter to 47.5-percent. The paper writes unemployment in the province has long since reached crisis proportions.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the commission’s chairperson, judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has rejected the apology of the leader of the National Coloured Congress, Fadiel Adams, that his laptop is causing problems. Adams cited this as the reason for the late submission of documents to the Madlanga Commission.
And secondly, the paper reports on a pregnant South African woman who was allegedly arrested in Las Vegas, America.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports the Confederation of Namibian Fisheries Associations is threatening to challenge the decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate’s Sandpiper project in court. The confederation wants to know what scientific studies were carried out.
And secondly, the paper writes the safety value of the controversial speed bumps on Windhoek’s western bypass should be measured using various indicators rather than simply counting accidents.