Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 16 July 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports on president Cyril Ramaphosa’s court application against the section 89 report. The paper writes judge André le Grange told Ramaphosa’s counsel, Wim Trengove SC, in the Western Cape High Court that the president apparently believes that his word should carry more weight than the evidence against him.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says Nigeria and Ghana are trying to isolate South Africa and are using the migrant crisis to inflame it.

And secondly, the website writes the felt-tip pen with which Buzz Aldrin repaired a critical flaw in the Apollo 11 lunar module in 1969 is to be auctioned in New York and could fetch more than 19.5-million-rand.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party has been aware of the MK Party’s intentions to recruit former eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, for some time. He says Gumede’s decision will not harm the ANC’s preparations for the upcoming local government elections in November.

# Sowetan:

Leads with: “CYRIL’S BID TO AVOID HUMILIATION”. The paper reports the Impeachment Committee’s legal team has warned that if the president’s application is granted, it will undermine the rule of law and the ruling of the Constitutional Court.

# And The Citizen:

Writes the SAPS has to date spent a mere 15-million-rand from its one-billion-rand budget on crime prevention while gangs are waging a reign of terror in certain areas.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Also reports on Ramaphosa’s court application. The paper writes the Impeachment Committee’s legal team argued that a temporary suspension of the committee’s work could lead to evasion.

Then the paper writes the 39-year-old female referee, Aimee Barrett-Theron, has informed World Rugby and SARU that she is focusing on recovery for the time being. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

And finally there is news about the low pass rate in the new e-test for driving licences.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports that security at state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay will be upgraded at a cost of 76-million-rand.

And secondly the paper writes about a man who was attacked by a group of robbers disguised as police officers.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes that there is an urgent effort to stop the rollout of AARTO Phase 2. The Organisation Against Tax Abuse has filed an application with the High Court to review the legality of the government’s decision. OUTA argues that the government has not put in place key safeguards.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports that the ministry of Education has awarded the Namibia Training Authority a 540-million-rand contract to supply food to government hostels for six months without issuing a public tender.

And secondly, the paper writes a Ghanaian businessman who was once praised for his help in opening up West African markets for Namibian beef, owes Meatco 300-thousand-rand for products supplied to the Ghanaian market.