Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 31 October 2024:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana says a lower than expected tax revenue of 22.3-billion-rand for 2024/25 has increased the consolidated budget deficit. He says a limited medium-term fiscal policy statement will keep the country on its fiscal consolidation path.

GAUTENG:

# Beeld:

Dedicates its entire front page to the budget. The paper reports early retirement packages for civil servants, rules to facilitate private investment for infrastructure and a rethink on the poverty allowance are some of the highlights from the medium-term budget framework.

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Also writes about the budget and reports that the 350-rand allowance will possibly be suspended by March next year.

And secondly, it is reported there are many delivery drivers in Johannesburg who do not have driver’s licenses.

# Sowetan:

Reports the Sekhukhune United soccer player, Shaune Mogaile has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide after a nine-year-old girl died in a car accident in Tembisa and two other people were injured. There allegedly was alcohol and drugs in the vehicle.

# And The Citizen:

Writes the rail agency PRASA is making good progress with 80-percent of the country’s rail network reopened and crime on trains reduced by 72-percent.

FREE STATE:

# Volksblad in Bloemfontein:

Also leads with the medium-term budget framework. The paper reports no additional funds have been made available for education and to support state enterprises.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Has the same lead as Beeld and Volksblad.

# And Cape Times:

Writes Godongwana says the education budget problems are the provinces’ own doing.

And also reports on the 350-rand allowance.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports Nelson Mandela Bay received just 89-million-rand for disaster relief after the June floods. However, the amount must first be approved by Parliament’s standing committee on Appropriations.

And secondly, the paper writes two elderly women were murdered and five learners were raped in the space of one night in the Bhityi area outside Mthatha.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# Daily News in Durban:

Leads with the abolition of the 350-rand allowance.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the current drought was a major focal point at the tabling of the Namibian mid-term budget, with the operating budget pushed up to 2.6-billion-rand.

Then the paper writes the new divorce law now allows for a spouse who cheats or mistreats a spouse to lose their share of the marital assets.

And finally, it is reported members of various political parties who travelled to Johannesburg to oversee first-hand the process of obtaining the ballots for the upcoming election have expressed their frustration with the Namibian Electoral Commission.