The headlines of the leading newspapers on 25 July 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports Ibex, formerly known as Steinhoff, has dropped its lawsuit against the state over the forfeiture of more than 6-billion-rand and settled with the South African Reserve Bank. The settlement relates to the breach of the country’s exchange control measures.
# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:
Writes about the behind-the-scenes duel in the government of national unity between ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and DA federal chairperson Helen Zille over the dismissal of the minister of Higher Education and Training.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports about the suspension of the Patriotic Alliance’s mayoral committee member in Johannesburg, Kenny Kunene. He says he welcomes the move because the PA does not want to make the same mistake as other parties in sweeping problems under the carpet.
Then the website writes about the shocking confession of Amber Lee Hughes in the High Court in Johannesburg about the murder of four-year-old Nada-Jane Thallita.
And finally, it is reported the DA has described the approval of the budget as a historic moment for the government of national unity and South Africa.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho says it has credible information about Basotho undergoing military training on certain farms in South Africa, to occupy South African territory. The land claimed includes parts of the Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
# Sowetan:
Reports the auctioneer who is to sell the Gupta homes in Saxonwold says factors such as stigma, fear, and high prices are contributing to the reason that the two largest properties have not yet been sold.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the upheaval in the management of South Africa’s law enforcement agencies is the source of the problem. Most of the heads have repeatedly left under a cloud.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports the Western Cape Education Department says it is ready to introduce the Bela Act in the province.
There are also reports on a Matie who got his python back and bionic cockroaches that could be used in warfare.
EASTERN CAPE:
# Daily Despatch in East London:
Reports the DA has criticised the “exorbitant” salaries of senior management of state-owned enterprises in the Eastern Cape.
And secondly, the paper writes that the video recordings of the deadly shooting incident at Walter Sisulu University have allegedly been lost.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes there is reason to be concerned about the number of trained medical personnel emigrating.
And secondly, it is reported that relatives are upset because housing is being built on graves.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports the mother of the alleged rape victim of the former Agriculture minister, Mac Hengari, has broken her silence. She says her daughter is a prostitute.
And secondly, the paper writes about the house that construction magnate and property developer Edmund Lafrenz built in Windhoek in 1960. The luxury residence is today the Hotel Thule in the capital.