The headlines of the leading newspapers on 13 October 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports contrary to global trends, life expectancy in South Africa was worse in 2023 than two decades earlier, as a rising tide of non-communicable diseases undermined the country’s breakthrough against HIV/Aids. Life expectancy in the country fell to 66.55 years in 2023 compared to 67.73 in 1990.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports an 11-year-old boy from Thabazimbi allegedly accidentally shot and killed a farm worker while he was hunting guinea fowl. The boy and his father have been arrested and are expected to appear in court today.
Secondly, the website writes that the N1 near the Ingwe Lodge in Musina was still closed late Sunday night due to a bus accident earlier. Police would not release any further information on deaths or injuries. The bus was apparently en route to Harare.
And finally, there is a report about the funeral of Nathi Mthethwa in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman says a video showing him outside the posh Sandton home of Hangwani Maumela is purely coincidental. Maumela is a central figure in a massive corruption scandal involving the looting of more than two-billion-rand at Tembisa Hospital. Ramaphosa has denied ever meeting Maumela, who is related to him by a previous marriage.
# Sowetan:
Reports children in Gauteng are suffering from malnutrition despite provincial nutrition programmes. A total of 38 children died in the first three months of the year. The paper writes it is especially the children of undocumented migrants who are suffering the most.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the CEO of the KAL group, Sean Walsh, says South Africa will survive a trade agreement with the USA. He says that according to a report by the Agricultural Business Chamber, 39-percent of our agricultural products are exported to Africa and 25-percent to the EU.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports the suspended minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has demanded a guarantee from the police commissioner, general Fannie Masemola, that he and the police will stop defaming his name. Mchunu says that if the demand is not met, he will not hesitate to approach the courts.
Then the paper writes the Hemel-en-aarde road between the R-43 near Hermanus and Caledon will be completed by mid-2026. The route was damaged during severe storms.
And finally, it is reported that the National Weather Service has issued a warning about wildfires in the Karoo.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is in trouble after ignoring advice from its legal team and continuing with an expensive, drawn-out legal case. Now the municipality must pay more than 16-million-rand.
And secondly, the paper writes the 16-year-old Micah Klaasens, who was stabbed to death by classmates at Lawson Brown High School had a dream of playing for Bafana Bafana.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# Daily News in Durban:
Has a full photo gallery and reports on the funeral service of South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at the Siyabonga Sangweni sports ground.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports according to the Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority of Namibia’s latest annual report, the medical aid surplus stood at 1.7-billion-rand at the end of 2024. There was a growth in assets of 33.4-percent.
And secondly, the paper writes Namibia’s FNB Eagles made history by beating South Africa’s Proteas by four wickets in the first T20 match at the new FNB Namibia Cricket Ground.