The headlines of the leading newspapers on 24 April 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the national commissioner of police, Fannie Masemola, and appointed lieutenant general Puleng Dimpane as acting commissioner.
# Mail & Guardian:
Writes there are many questions about a suspected suspicious affirmative action transaction entered into by the Industrial Development Corporation.
# Die Papier:
Also reports on Masemola’s suspension. The paper writes police expert, doctor Johan Burger, says Ramaphosa should have appointed a board of inquiry to determine whether Masemola is indeed involved in crime. Criminologist, doctor Guy Lamb, says the board could terminate the commissioner’s service.
Secondly, the paper spoke to Cilliers Brink of the DA and Willie Spies of the FF Plus, who are both mayoral candidates in Tshwane.
And finally, there is a report on road rage and the best and safest action in such cases.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Firstly, the suspended deputy commissioner of the Ekurhuleni metro police, Julius Mkhwanazi, who is appearing in court on various charges including fraud and corruption, says it is absurd that 400-thousand-rand was paid to cover up a traffic offence. He referred to a complaint against the city manager, Kagiso Lerutla, who allegedly paid someone to appear in court on his behalf.
And secondly, the website writes the secretary-general of the SACP, Solly Mapaila, says they could possibly find a home in the MK Party or EFF.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Also writes about the suspension of Masemola. The paper reports political analyst professor Sipho Seepe says that with the suspension, Ramaphosa is consequent in his action to let processes take their course. He says it allows him to do nothing and wait for action by the commission or another body.
# Sowetan:
Also reports on the suspended Ekurhuleni city manager who appears in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud and corruption. The paper writes the state alleges that Lerutla even paid someone 10-thousand-rand to remove a body from the scene of a fatal accident.
# And The Citizen:
Writes that no party is likely to achieve an outright majority in this year’s local government elections and according to experts, the subsequent coalition negotiations could easily degenerate into chaos.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Also reports on the suspension of Fannie Masemola. The paper writes that he is the fifth commissioner to be suspended after Selebi, Cele, Phiyega, and Sitole.
And secondly, there is news about a Matie who was rescued after a night on a cold riverbank.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports there are serious concerns about the condition of the Despatch reservoir. The problem is partly caused by frequent power outages at the Nooitgedacht water treatment plant that supplies water to the reservoir.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes a section of the N3 carrying traffic to Durban will be closed for the next two years for upgrading. During this period, existing Durban-bound traffic will be diverted in a counter-current direction to the widened northbound carriageway.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports only 49 out of the one-thousand-305-thousand prisoners released on parole in the past three years have reoffended.
And secondly, the paper writes Meatco employees took to the streets of Windhoek again yesterday to protest.