Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 28 January 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the Hawks chief in KwaZulu-Natal, major general Lesetja Senona, testified before the Madlanga Commission that he was threatened several times by provincial commissioner, lieutenant general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports the director of Accountability Now, advocate Paul Hoffman SC, testified before the parliamentary ad hoc committee that the country’s criminal justice system is dysfunctional and is threatened by a culture of fraud and impunity.

Then the website writes only three out of the 51 learner transport vehicles checked in Gauteng passed the inspection.

And finally there is news about three people who were allegedly shot dead at a shopping centre in Gordon’s Bay last night. According to the police, an unknown number of people were injured.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes fuel prices may fall further in February.

Secondly, it is reported the Gauteng government will now become involved in combating foot-and-mouth disease in the province.

And finally, there is news about a milestone that the country has reached with more than ten-million visitors.

# Sowetan:

Reports Tselane Mautla appeared in the Moretele Magistrate’s Court in the North West in connection with the death of five-year-old Obakeng Minyuku from Hammanskraal. Mautla claims the weapon went off when she tested it. The police say they are investigating whether the weapon was licenced.

# And The Citizen:

Writes the police, in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, have exposed a fraud syndicate operating from Israel. A raid was carried out on call centres operating from Bryanston.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Also report on the Madlanga Commission. Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona was questioned about his links to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala following the disappearance of 200 million-rand-worth of cocaine from the Port Shepstone police station four years ago.

And secondly, the paper writes that Knysna’s water buffer has improved from 10 days to 17 days, but it is still critical.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the automotive industry in the Eastern Cape can no longer just sit and wait and hope that the economy will improve.

And secondly, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Council has rejected a proposal to write off a 137-million-rand debt.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Also writes about the Madlanga Commission. The paper reports that the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, Lesetja Sesona, has denied allegations that he abused his position to leak confidential information to controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the City of Windhoek says it is facing major funding shortfalls in both housing provision and road infrastructure. The city needs about 1.3-billion-rand.

And secondly, the paper writes fraud victims say gaps between cellphone operators, banks, and law enforcement allow scammers to continue their operations undisturbed.