Morning Newspaper Report
The headlines of the leading newspapers on 19 February 2025:
NATIONAL:
# Business Day:
Reports US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has decided not to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in South Africa. He will amid growing tensions between the two countries, be represented by his deputy chief of missions at the US embassy, Dana Brown.
# And the Netwerk24 website:
Reports the murdered imam Moegsien Hendricks reportedly told his family to “lay low” if anything happened to him in light of the numerous death threats he received. His funeral has also been held in secret.
Then the website writes municipalities in the Free State will from now on, per an agreement with Eskom, keep any money owed to the power supplier in a separate account until it is paid over.
And finally, it is reported a mini tornado caused extensive damage in Pretoria North and Montana yesterday afternoon. Trees were uprooted and roofs were torn off.
GAUTENG:
# The Star & Pretoria News:
Writes ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is being criticised by ANC members in inner circles for using the ANC’s performance at the polls last year to isolate the party’s Gauteng chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi, ahead of the ANC’s 56th elective conference in 2027.
And secondly, it is reported that China will be watched at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Conference as the country begins to play a greater role in determining international policy.
# Sowetan:
Reports the minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says the power cuts in townships are not racist or directed against the poor. He says illegal connections and apartheid-era planning are to blame. Meanwhile, the Department of Health says there is a link between the lack of power and the loss of life in the affected areas.
# And The Citizen:
Writes the MK Party has proposed a plan under which retired engineers and managers should be brought together in a team to help struggling municipalities.
WESTERN CAPE:
# Die Burger:
Also leads with Moegsien Hendricks. Then there is a report about a pothole in Kakamas in which pigs are playing and finally the paper writes a Canadian woman’s hands were allegedly bitten off in the Caribbean Islands when she wanted to take a photo of a bull shark.
EASTERN CAPE:
# The Herald in Gqeberha:
Reports an independent study by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy has found that inefficient rail and port logistics cost the citrus industry more than five-billion-rand in 2024 alone.
And secondly, the paper writes the G20 summit currently being hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay has announced a new initiative against global youth unemployment with specific targets for 2030.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:
Writes about the latest developments in the shortage of medication in KwaZulu-Natal.
And reports there is concern in Pietermaritzburg after cases of rabies have been reported.
And finally from NAMIBIA:
# Republikein in Windhoek:
Reports residents of Gobabis, Witvlei, Gochas, Osona Village, and the Roshkor neighbourhood could face higher electricity costs due to the failure of their local authorities to claim the available tariff refunds.
And secondly, the paper writes significant dam level increases have been recorded in Namibia in the past week.