The headlines of the leading newspapers on 22 March 2024:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports the former CEO of Steinhoff, Markus Jooste who is accused of being the mastermind behind South Africa’s biggest fraud case, committed suicide to avoid surrendering himself for arrest. The paper writes according to sources he shot himself.
# And Mail & Guardian on Fridays:
Writes the speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, apparently misled investigators about her movements. Furthermore, it is reported president Cyril Ramaphosa was apparently already informed earlier this month that she was going to be arrested in connection with corruption charges.
GAUTENG:
# Beeld:
Dedicates its entire front page to the alleged suicide of Markus Jooste. The paper reports Jooste apparently said he was going for a walk near his home near Kwaaiwater in Hermanus and then shot himself. Another hiker came across him, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mediclinic in Hermanus.
# The Star and Pretoria News:
Also writes about Markus Jooste and reports on the special leave of Mapisa-Nqakula amid corruption allegations.
Then the paper also reports there are calls for a speedy investigation into the SAA transaction.
# And Sowetan:
Leads with: “MARKUS JOOSTE – A CONMAN WHO GOT AWAY WITH IT”. The paper also reports on his alleged suicide.
FREE STATE:
# Volksblad in Bloemfontein:
Has the same lead as Beeld about Jooste.
And secondly, the paper writes 24-year-old Lerato Tseko Selepe was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his part in the murder of seven people on a farm in Kestell in 2022.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Also devotes its entire front page to the Jooste suicide and leads with the same story as Beeld.
# And Cape Times:
Writes how the police came across a wounded Markus Jooste.
And reports Parliament is still unhappy with NSFAS over its budget.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports water samples taken in rivers in Nelson Mandela Bay indicate elevated levels of E.coli. A total of 73-percent of the samples exceed the threshold of accepted bacterial contamination.
And secondly, the paper writes an investigation at spaza shops in Nelson Mandela Bay indicated that they are selling canned food that has expired and rotten meat and vegetables because their refrigerators are not working.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# Daily News in Durban:
Writes the relationship between the ANC and the traditional Zulu premier, Thulasizwe Buthelezi is very tense.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports on the success of Ruben Lambrechts’ social media campaign to raise money for drought relief. Even though the ministry of Agriculture said he was an opportunist, he has already collected 50-thousand-rand.
And secondly, the paper writes the insurer, Momentum Namibia has distanced itself from the alleged fraud scheme that led to a sequestration order against Michael Hough Bronkhorst. Some 103-million-rand embezzled from customers must be recovered.