The headlines of the leading newspapers on 31 July 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team yesterday challenged the merits of the leave of absence of the minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu. The paper reports that Zuma and his MK Party argued in the Constitutional Court that the minister should have been dismissed and not placed on special leave to make way for a commission of inquiry.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Also reports on the MK Party’s application in the Constitutional Court. Zuma’s legal team argued that president Cyril Ramaphosa’s actions are inconsistent and that the people of South Africa do not need another commission of inquiry.
Secondly, the website writes the former chancellor of Stellenbosch University, former judge Edwin Cameron, says the decision to close Wilgenhof was a catastrophic mistake and a shameful abuse of institutional power.
And finally, it is reported the production company Hit Factory is suing Wynand de Villiers of Cool Concerts for two-million-rand after Steve Hofmeyr concerts in the Cape and Pretoria were cancelled.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes about a mother who allegedly gave her child a drug pipe to smoke. A video of the incident has spread like wildfire, and organisations nationwide are shocked and demand action
And secondly, it is reported although US President Donald Trump has said he does not plan to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa, analysts believe his presence is likely to become a focal point for media coverage and overshadow other important discussions.
# Sowetan:
Reports there are many questions about the police investigation after the National Prosecuting Authority withdrew all charges against Mduduzi Mnisi, who was charged with the murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose. Her body was found in an open field near her home in Durban Deep in Johannesburg.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the emigration of white South Africans is once again in the spotlight with statistics that have emerged that almost 500-thousand have left the country permanently in the past 25 years.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Leads with Cameron’s statements about Wilgenhof.
And secondly, it is reported the daughter of the woman who was murdered on the R-300 when her car broke down, Amanda Manentsa from Khayelitsha, turned 11 just a few days before the murder.
EASTERN CAPE:
# Daily Despatch in East London:
Reports fighting broke out in the Buffalo City Metro Council when the ANC tried to get rid of mayor Princess Faku.
And secondly, the newspaper writes there are more plans to move the Home Affairs office to East London.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes today is D-day for the trade agreement between South Africa and the USA.
And reports there was chaos during a council meeting of the Msunduzi municipality.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports illegal mining of mica is continuing in the Dorob National Park in the Namib.
Then the paper writes two accused in the Namcor-Enercon fuel scandal are facing a public auction order for a debt of about 5.5-million-rand.
And finally, three top executives of the National Cooperation Council of Namibia were reportedly seen at bars and clubs while they were supposed to be at an international summit. They allegedly spent around 35-thousand-rand each.