Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 05 December 2025:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports that although the US tariffs have a negative impact on car exports, the current account deficit is improving.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Writes about the factional fighting raging within the ANC and about president Donald Trump who has now dragged the G20 fight into the gutter.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been suspended for 12 weeks after the incident during the Welsh match in Cardiff.

Then the website writes that the suspended minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, did not convince the Madlanga Commission with the reasons for disbanding the police task team.

And finally, it is reported that two-year-old Janickai Baartman died after a pillar fell on her at the VRT Primary School in Swellendam.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes former president Jacob Zuma has lost his leave to appeal against a High Court order requiring him to repay the 28.9-million-rand in legal costs in his arms deal case.

And secondly, it is reported that there is an urgent appeal to the ANC in Gauteng to save a sinking ship.

# Sowetan:

Reports it emerged at the Madlanga Commission that the approximately 700-thousand-rand that Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala paid to the deputy commissioner of the Ekurhuleni metro police, Julius Mkhwanazi, was a bribe to facilitate transactions.

# And The Citizen:

Writes stolen police weapons that end up in the hands of criminals are contributing to the crime problem. The police have lost about three thousand four hundred weapons.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Leads like Netwerk24 with the suspension of Eben Etzebeth.

Then it is reported the police have opened a judicial investigation after a man drowned in the Cape Town harbour yesterday. A five-year-old boy, possibly the man’s child, was rescued during the incident.

And finally, the paper writes cocaine worth 3.6-million-rand was found during a police raid in George. A suspect was arrested during the operation.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports that stronger water restrictions will be imposed in George.

And writes the repair work on roads has been stopped for the time being because the contracts have expired.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes after the decision on Zuma’s legal costs, the arms case against him will now be continued.

And secondly, the Proteas are reportedly preparing to win the one-day series against India.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Firstly, reports on women behind bars. The paper writes the women have experienced a cycle of abuse, silence, and neglect that begins in their childhood, continues in abusive relationships, and finally erupts in a moment of deadly violence.

Then the paper writes the Office of the Judiciary is reviewing the security measures for prosecutors and magistrates who handle sensitive cases.

And finally, it is reported that Namibia has carried out its first successful autologous stem cell transplant.