Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 31 January 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the National Energy Regulator has granted Eskom a tariff increase that is less than half of what it requested, but still much higher than the inflation rate. The paper writes the increase will leave a deficit of 250-billion-rand for the power supplier over the next three years.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Writes while diplomats are engaged in a war of words about the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South African soldiers are dying.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Firstly, reports on the Washington air disaster in which 67 people died. The paper takes the reader step-by-step through the events leading up to the accident and the hours after.

Furthermore, the paper writes president Cyril Ramaphosa has still not responded after president Paul Kagame of Rwanda accused him of lying about a conversation between them.

And finally, it is reported that TLU SA has rejected the Agricultural Land Development and Conservation Act.

GAUTENG:

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Also writes about the obvious conflict between Ramaphosa and Kagame and reports on Ramaphosa’s silence after he was accused of misrepresentation.

# Sowetan:

Reports police statistics indicate that 250 children reported missing each year are never located and reunited with their families. A heartbroken mother told the newspaper that clothes and toys are a constant reminder of her daughter’s absence.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with: “DRC: SA LOOKS WEAK”. The paper also writes about Kagame’s attack on Ramaphosa. According to experts, Rwanda knows it is stronger than South Africa.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Devotes its entire front page to the American air disaster and carries the same story as on the Netwerk24 website.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality lost approximately 48.66-percent of its water supply during the 2023/2024 financial year.

And secondly, the paper writes the handover of hemp seeds to 26 budding Eastern Cape farmers will make the province the main producer of marijuana in the country.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes about the court appearance of Duduzile Zuma in connection with the 2021 protests.

And secondly, it reports that a crisis meeting has been held on South Africa’s involvement in the DRC.

And finally, from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the Kombat copper mine is suspending all operations over the next nine months.

Then the paper writes teachers from two schools in Rundu are refusing to return to their classrooms until the ministry has found a solution to the worm-infested ablution facilities at the school.

And finally, there is news about an initiative between the towns of Leipzig in Germany and Lüderitz, according to which a well-known German artist will transform a daycare centre in the port town into a work of art.