Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 21 February 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports in a move aimed at avoiding further diplomatic tension between South Africa and the US, president Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed the absence of key US officials from the G20 meetings, insisting it is not a sign of a boycott.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Leads with: “GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?” The paper writes as Donald Trump escalates his attack on Ukraine, Ramaphosa has invited president Volodymyr Zelensky for a state visit.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports firstly, on the devastation caused by the severe weather in some parts of the country. The paper writes six people have died in Kwazulu-Natal, in Klerksdorp people had to evacuate their homes, and in Limpopo, a dam wall has broken.

And secondly, the paper writes about the chaos that broke out on the campus of Stellenbosch University when students protested over housing and student debt.

GAUTENG:

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Writes the Special Investigation Unit is looking to take action against at least 12 companies that received R93 million for a R500 million project to renovate a Gauteng hospital leased by the provincial government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

And secondly, it is reported the government is planning to spend 1.03-trillion-rand over the medium-term spending framework on infrastructure projects through state-owned enterprises and government departments.

# Sowetan:

Also reports on the deaths and widespread damage following the severe weather in KwaZulu-Natal and the North West over the past week. The paper also has poignant photos of the flood damage.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with: “VAT ATTACK WILL HURT ALL.” The paper writes those who have not yet gone to bed hungry will not know the impact of a two-percent increase in VAT on poor people.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Firstly, reports on the Kotze couple from Wellington whose house was destroyed by the wildfires in the area. They lived on the Langkloof Rose Farm.

And secondly, the paper writes the mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, took on Elon Musk on X about the real situation in Cape Town. Musk commented on how unsafe South Africa is.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the cattle of the Colchester community were slaughtered by cattle thieves.

And secondly, the paper writes the Motherwell business community is opposed to the relocation of the residents of the Nomakanjani informal settlement as the move will cause protests and chaos.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Also writes six people have already died in the severe weather in KwaZulu-Natal.

And reports the IFP has called on the government to cut spending rather than increase taxes.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the US government has not only frozen funds for foreign humanitarian programmes but also suspended funding for international biodiversity conservation, which has a huge impact on environmental conservation and the fight against wildlife crime in Namibia.

And secondly, the paper writes the Erongo Regional Council still needs about 1.2-million-rand to complete the Ozondati-Omatjete water pipeline after the initial cost estimate fell short.