The headlines of the leading newspapers on 18 August 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources says a recent Western Cape court ruling that overturned the government’s authorisation for drilling in the sea at Mossel Bay by TotalEnergies is harming South Africa’s competitiveness.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Firstly, reports on grade 11 learner Sandra Leshabela from Polokwane, who made her position clear during this past weekend’s national convention. She said politicians should realise that it is the people who pay their salaries and they should listen to the people. She was disappointed afterwards that president Cyril Ramaphosa did not attend the convention.
And secondly, the paper writes the NSRI says they are still searching for pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray who crashed into the sea off the coast of Durban on Friday while performing an aerial stunt.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes a family in Boksburg North may have to wait up to 10 years for a toxicology report after the death of their 41-year-old son. The family was promised in April that the autopsy report would be available within eight weeks, but has since been sent from pillar to post, without answers.
# Sowetan:
Is still reporting on the Maponya taxi murder in Soweto. The paper writes one of the survivors still has a bullet that needs to be removed from his jaw. And secondly, it reports a local church held a service at the murder scene.
# And The Citizen:
Leads with: “NOT NATIONAL, NO DIALOGUE”. The paper writes this is the conclusion of experts about the national convention, especially in light of important national participants who have already been excluded.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Firstly, reports about three fishermen who died on Friday at Shelly Point on the West Coast when their boat capsized. The deceased are all from St Helena Bay.
Then the paper also writes about the outspoken Sandra Leshabela at the national convention.
And finally, there is news about chicken thieves from Delmas in Mpumalanga who stuffed 50 chickens into the trunk of a BMW before fleeing. They were caught after a wild chase.
EASTERN CAPE:
# Daily Despatch in East London:
Reports the decision on the fate of the learners of the David Mama Senior Secondary School who bullied a girl will only be announced later.
And writes a local mother will sue the provincial government for 1.3-million-rand after her baby was switched at birth.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes the Msunduzi Metro carried out a successful operation against drunk drivers in Pietermaritzburg this past weekend.
And secondly, it is reported that the residents of Henley Dam will get a safer bridge.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports employees of Namibia Wildlife Resorts say the chief financial officer is responsible for, among other things, water shortages and a lack of safety equipment.
And secondly, the paper writes political analyst, professor Henning Melber, says in his resignation from Swapo that he has fooled himself as much as Swapo has betrayed the people.