The headlines of the leading newspapers on 28 March 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa has in 2024 already agreed to the implementation of the Water Resources Infrastructure Bill. This paves the way for the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, which will be responsible for streamlining the country’s water resources management, generating private sector investment, and improving water quality in South Africa.
# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:
Writes about the problem of missing children in South Africa. The newspaper reports on the hundreds of children who disappear without a trace due to human trafficking, kidnapping, and murder.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Firstly reports, the Constitutional Court has decided not to grant AfriForum’s application for leave to appeal against the Kill the Boer song. The website writes the ruling comes amid widespread unhappiness that EFF leader Julius Malema sang the song on Human Rights Day.
Then the website writes that the minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the cabinet is still concerned about the misinformation that organisations such as AfriForum, Solidarity and their allies are spreading about South Africa abroad.
And finally, it is reported that a second student from the North-West University in Potchefstroom has died of unexplained causes in two days.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes the government has dismissed rumours that more than 70-thousand commercial farmers have applied for president Donald Trump’s offer for Afrikaners to move to the United States as refugees. The government says that according to data from AgriSA, StatsSA, and the Department of Agriculture, South Africa has just over 41-thousand commercial farmers.
# Sowetan:
Also reports on the country’s water crisis. The paper writes that the government has admitted that infrastructure neglect, municipal debt and crime have exacerbated water supply problems, which has forced Ramaphosa to call for an urgent and high-level national turnaround plan.
# And The Citizen:
Leads with: “WORLD-CLASS CITY – REALLY?” The paper writes there are doubts whether Johannesburg can be straightened out before the G20 summit.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports according to testimony in court the mother of missing Joshlin Smith screamed and swore furiously when she was arrested. Kelly Smith fell ill during the hearing yesterday and the proceedings had to be adjourned for two hours.
And secondly, the paper writes the leader of the ANC in the Cape Town metro council, Banele Majingo, has unexpectedly resigned and defected to the DA.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Babalwa Lobishe’s plan to disregard a directive from the National Treasury by writing off 2.6-billion-rand of irregular expenses has been thwarted by the ANC and EFF.
And secondly, the paper writes the National Prosecuting Authority has withdrawn the fraud and money laundering charges against seven former officials of the Eastern Province Rugby Union.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes about the appointment of the new American ambassador, Brent Bozell to South Africa.
And reports a new giant shopping mall, Westown Square, has opened in Durban’s western suburbs.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports the new minister of Finance, Ericah Shafudah, has tabled her maiden budget of 106.3-billion-rand in Parliament.
And secondly, the paper writes the luxurious Kalahari Sand Dunes Lodge at Kalkrand, which is located in an extremely dry region, has been flooded again, as was the case in 2021.