The headlines of the leading newspapers on 26 March 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports president Donald Trump nominated a conservative activist and father of one of the Capitol attackers on January 6, 2021 as the new US ambassador to South Africa. Leo Brent Bozell the Third now heads the US Agency for Global Media, which owns the government-backed media house Voice of America.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Firstly, reports on the charges of, among other things, sexual assault and crimen injuria against former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers. Details of the alleged attack were contained in evidence in the Malmesbury Regional Court.
Then the website also writes about the nomination of the far-right Brozell as ambassador to South Africa.
And finally, reports on 36-year-old Hugo Ferreira who pleaded guilty in the High Court in Pretoria to charges of raping and murdering his eight-day-old baby daughter, Caithlyn.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Reports opposition to the VAT increase in the budget continues to grow with many political parties and organisations rejecting it due to the negative impact it will have on consumers.
# Sowetan:
Reports there are serious questions about the financial management of the South African Football Association after it emerged that the governing body had not paid salaries for the second time in three months.
# And The Citizen:
Reports corruption in the police is deep-rooted and extends to management levels. Experts are concerned that it is almost impossible to remove the rotten apples.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has once again lashed out at EFF leader Julius Malema who sang the Kill-the-Boer song again over the weekend. AfriForum has also asked president Cyril Ramaphosa to distance himself from the song.
And secondly, the paper writes about an elderly Boland woman who almost got into bed with a giant cobra.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the Eastern Cape is not bankrupt, but the province could struggle to balance its books in the future if its revenue collection falls short. This follows requests from provincial departments for an additional 8.1-billion-rand.
And secondly, the paper writes the kidnappers of Grant Cotterell of Gqeberha are still holding his dog hostage after he escaped. The kidnappers are now demanding a ransom for the dog.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the KwaZulu-Natal government has been rewarded with an additional budget allocation from the National Treasury for managing its previous budget better than other provinces. The MEC for Finance, Francois Rodgers says some of the funds that KwaZulu-Natal has now received were not being spent by other provinces.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports the new Namibian president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah requires a fast and agile cabinet. The paper writes the former Environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta does not hold a grudge because he was left out of the new cabinet.
And secondly, the paper writes despite the serious rain damage at Kalkrand, Sandhof’s lilies are still a pleasure.