The headlines of the leading newspapers on 28 May 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa defended black economic empowerment during question time in Parliament. He says it is intended to broaden participation in the country’s economy to include the previously disadvantaged. It should redress the white dominance of the economy and increase black participation.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Leads with the acquittal of Matie student Theuns du Toit of crimen injuria after he urinated on a fellow student’s belongings in 2022. The court found that Du Toit had no malicious intent.
And secondly, the website reports Ruan Beetge, who is charged with the murder of Brandon Pretorius outside the Malboer hangout in Boksburg, should not be granted bail according to the state because he has a history of violence.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes Ramaphosa finds himself in a storm after his much-discussed trip to the United States last week, which critics say was less about diplomacy and more about relaxing regulations so billionaires Elon Musk and Johann Rupert can speed up the lucrative Starlink deal.
# Sowetan:
Dedicates its entire front page to pay tribute to actor Presley Chweneyagae who passed away yesterday.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the minister of Communications, Solly Malatsi, has come under criticism from members of Parliament over the proposed Starlink project. The paper reports the MPs wanted to know if international companies are now in control of South Africa.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Also leads with the acquittal of Theuns du Toit.
Then it is reported after the City of Cape Town received thousands of objections to its plans to introduce new tariffs, it will now table a new version of its budget.
And finally, there is news about the search for the person who won the 68-million-rand Powerball jackpot.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports a group of foreign nationals has gathered outside a police station in Addo after coming under attack from the community over the death of a resident outside a local tavern at the weekend.
And secondly, the paper writes about the former Humansdorp prosecutor, Vicky Rossouw, who is filing a nine-million-rand damages claim against the state. She was arrested after she allegedly failed to report the sexual assault of a child.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes president Ramaphosa is preparing to announce important projects.
And secondly, reports South Africa is busy preparing for the G20 summit.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports a 70-year-old resident of Swakopmund was stabbed with a knife by four masked men during an armed robbery at his home in Swakopmund’s Vogelstrand. His wife was tied up. Police say the attack occurred when the man went to the kitchen to make coffee and turned off the house’s alarm system.
And secondly, the paper writes the minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, has confirmed that decades-old transport permit policies are at the centre of growing unrest in Walvis Bay’s taxi industry.