Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 08 July 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports South African exporters to the US face a 30-percent tariff from August 1. This follows president Donald Trump’s announcement last night to, as he puts it, “move forward with more balanced and fair trade”.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Also reports on Trump’s tariffs. The website writes the rand weakened by up to 21-cents against the dollar in response. Trump also criticised BRICS, which he says promotes anti-American policies.

Then the website writes president Cyril Ramaphosa says he will only attend to the storm that erupted after the revelations of the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner upon his return from the BRICS summit in Brazil. Experts believe Ramaphosa will appoint a commission of inquiry.

And finally, there is news about the Jacques Freitag murder case. The accused and former lawyer Rudie Lubbe will not be released on bail at this stage.

GAUTENG:

# The Star & Pretoria News:

Writes Johannesburg councillor Kabelo Gwamanda has alleged that deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya ran an intelligence operation in Johannesburg, allegedly obtaining illegal spy equipment from Israeli contractors and abusing his position against his political opponents.

# Sowetan:

Reports on the taxi rank in Ekurhuleni that was built at a cost of 17-million-rand but is not being used by anyone. Santaco says they were not consulted and the rank is too far from shops or banks for commuters to use.

# And The Citizen:

Writes Ramaphosa has no choice but to act now concerning the allegations of lieutenant general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about political interference. The people of South Africa expect him to put an end to corruption in the police.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports 79-year-old Freda Kriek, a deaf resident of the Monta Rosa nursing home in Gardens, Cape Town, was murdered on Sunday morning on her way to church. The photo of a man allegedly running away from the scene was captured on CCTV.

And secondly, the paper writes that a study shows that Covid does have a long-term effect on the memory of patients.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Babalwa Lobishe, has terminated the mandate of the Metro Development Agency to manage the city’s world-class stadium, just one week before the Springbok test match this weekend.

And secondly, the paper writes fraudsters posing as police and customs officers are targeting their victims with false drug smuggling and money laundering allegations.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes that the minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, has hit back at allegations of political interference against him.

And secondly, reports about the huge drug problem at schools in Pietermaritzburg.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports more than 30 unclaimed bodies and more than 200 stillborn babies lie in state morgues awaiting a dignified burial that may never happen.

And secondly, the paper writes the Namibian University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia have begun to put internal structures in place in the run-up to the introduction of free tertiary education in 2026.