The headlines of the leading newspapers on 20 October 2026:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports former president Thabo Mbeki testified before the Khampepe Commission—which is investigating political interference in the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes—that he did not block any TRC-related prosecutions. Mbeki states that the National Prosecuting Authority failed to pursue these cases.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports president Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that South Africans are experiencing difficult times, but promised that things will improve.
The website also covers the Khampepe Commission. Mbeki stated that there was no value in arresting the late president FW de Klerk, as doing so would only have prolonged the conflict.
GAUTENG:
# The Star:
Writes a self-styled Kenyan preacher, Paul Mackenzie, and his associates have been convicted of the murder of 191 people—mostly children—linked to a notorious starvation cult. The paper reports, since 2023, hundreds of bodies have been discovered at the cult’s base in what has become known as the Shakahola Forest massacre. The pastor had encouraged his followers to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.
# Sowetan:
Reports the City of Tshwane has admitted it failed to warn residents of Bronkhorstspruit that the drinking water in the area had gone untreated for three weeks. More than 400 people—mostly children under the age of four—fell ill and required treatment for diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
# And The Citizen:
Reports Mbeki says allegations—that he helped apartheid-era leaders evade prosecution—are entirely false.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Reports on the numerous foreign assets owned by the South African government that have fallen into disrepair. South Africa’s overseas diplomatic properties are facing widespread neglect, structural decay, and a significant backlog of costly maintenance. The Auditor-General states that no one has been held accountable for looking after these assets.
Secondly, the paper covers the ninth India-Brazil-South Africa naval exercise currently taking place in Simon’s Town. It will continue until 21 October.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reveals how a 35-year-old man with an intellectual disability—who is also frail—was found locked inside a dark, leaking shack in an informal settlement in KwaNobuhle.
Secondly, it reports staff at the local post office are using their own mobile phones and airtime to keep the branch operational, following damage caused by vandals.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes a major property development in Pietermaritzburg has been halted due to legal and financial disputes, involving various court orders and insolvency proceedings that affect assets in the area. SG Knott Construction CC has been placed in liquidation.
And finally, from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports Namibia’s outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could cost the government an estimated 1.8-billion-rand in additional expenditure and lost tax revenue.
And the paper also reports the Public Service Commission wants government officials to be held personally liable for financial losses caused by blatant negligence.