The headlines of the leading newspapers on 22 May 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports South Africa’s delegation to the US, led by president Cyril Ramaphosa, presented a united front during a heated discussion with US president Donald Trump, who has repeatedly tried to trap South Africans with unfounded allegations of a white genocide in the country.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Also reports on the White House meeting. The website writes political analysts such as Ntsikelelo Breakfast and Theo Venter agree that Ramaphosa defused the attack on the South African delegation. Venter says that following the “Kill the Boer” video that was shown, the government will now have to consider taking steps against Julius Malema.
And secondly, the website writes about snow in Clarens and Golden Gate in the Eastern Free State.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Reports Trump allegedly told Ramaphosa during the White House meeting to arrest Julius Malema.
And writes political parties in the government of national unity welcomed budget 3.0, saying it was pro-poor, while the opposition rejected it as superficial and out of touch with the country’s economic realities.
# Sowetan:
Leads with: “CALM CYRIL SURVIVES TRUMP’S AMBUSH”. The paper reports Ramaphosa and his heavyweight delegation were able to fend off Trump’s onslaught.
# And The Citizen:
Writes Ramaphosa’s team provided important support against Trump’s onslaught of fake news.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Leads with the same lead as Netwerk24 about Ramaphosa and his delegation who trumped Trump’s trap.
And secondly, the paper writes about the death of jeweller and philanthropist, Jenna Clifford at the age of 64.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Also reports about the Trump meeting and the video of Malema that was shown during the conversation.
And secondly, the paper writes because of Nelson Mandela Bay officials’ repeated failures to order tires for garbage trucks, the vehicles are now stranded in depots and the city has had to spend millions of rand on renting other vehicles.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes Donald Trump and South Africa have smoked the proverbial peace pipe.
And reports that budget 3.0 has finally been approved.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports that the San communities of Epikuro in the Omaheke region have apparently not received food aid for more than two months.
And secondly, the paper reports the woman whose body was found in Windhoek yesterday, according to witnesses, called out the name of her attacker before she died.