Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 19 March 2024:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the National Treasury has expressed its concern about the 257 South African municipalities that have not spent billions of rand in allocated budgets and conditional grants. The Treasury says residents are meanwhile struggling with poor service delivery.

GAUTENG:

# Beeld:

Firstly reports on the trial of the alleged murderer of Magdaleen Prinsloo and her daughter, Ruzanne Weideman, who was shot and killed at Prinsloo’s house in Kosmos at Hartbeespoort Dam in November. Prinsloo’s husband, Paul allegedly shot them with a hunting rifle.

And secondly, there is news about a pumpkin called Bella that weighs 730.8 kilograms. It reigned supreme at this year’s 20th Goliat van Gat Pumpkin Festival.

# The Star and Pretoria News:

Writes FNB has closed all former president Jacob Zuma’s bank accounts. The bank says it is distancing itself from Zuma because of the VBS bank scandal.

And reports the residents of hostels are now also insisting on municipal services.

# Sowetan:

Reports it came to light from the confession of one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case, Bongani Ntanzi that he was an inexperienced tag-along who was manipulated by his co-accused.

# And The Citizen:

Write two ANC veterans, Matthews Phosa and Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi say the ANC has gone astray and corruption has eroded any progress that has been made.

FREE STATE:

# Volksblad in Bloemfontein:

Reports 32-year-old Lourentia Lombaard, who was arrested earlier in connection with the disappearance of seven-year-old Joslin Smith, has reportedly confessed. She appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

Then the paper writes 47-year-old Coert Botha of De Aar was sentenced to 66 years in prison after being found guilty of 13 charges of sexual crimes against minor boys.

And finally, there is news about the Bok Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 29 July. The tickets will be on sale from Friday.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Has the same lead as Volksblad.

Then the paper writes the community of Vanrhynsdorp is plunged into mourning after 11 residents, including three children, died in a truck accident on Sunday.

And finally, there is news about 15-year-old Chris Boshoff, a grade 9 learner from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, who was seriously injured during a mountain bike endurance ride.

# And Cape Times:

Writes Western Cape teenagers are the victims of anxiety and depression.

And secondly reports, the minister of Communications and Digital Technology, Mondli Gungubele did not want to reveal the number of redundancies envisaged at the South African Post Office.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports Nelson Mandela Bay is the murder capital of South Africa. The city is ninth in a global ranking and in the past week, there have been 25 murders.

And secondly, the paper writes the pharmacy at the Korsten Clinic can barely function but it is an important link in community health.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# Daily News in Durban:

Writes the municipal workers’ union, SAMWU says the suspension of eThekwini’s head of electricity, Maxwell Mthembu is illegal. He refused to fire members of his unit who participated in the SAMWU strike.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports a sequestration order has been obtained against a well-known local chartered accountant to recover about 103-million-rand that was allegedly embezzled.

Then the paper writes the decision of the Transport Commission of Namibia not to renew FlyNamibia’s air transport licence has been set aside and referred back to the commission.

And finally, it is reported that a farmer from the Otjiwarongo district suffered serious burns after a gas stove exploded on the Gemsbok farm.