Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 23 February 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the US court ruling against president Donald Trump’s international trade tariffs has been widely welcomed, but there is still uncertainty about South African exports. The paper writes trade prospects are still weak.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports the Hawks arrested 20 people yesterday in connection with fraud worth 113-million-rand in the Mpumalanga Department of Education. Some of the suspects were arrested in Limpopo, Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Then the website writes about five-year-old Lemica Galant from Atlantis in Cape Town who was run over and killed in front of her mother, Mickalah. A thirty-four-year-old man has been arrested on a charge of culpable homicide.

And finally, there is news about the Proteas’ victory over India in the Super 8 match.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes president Cyril Ramaphosa has been criticised for delaying national health insurance. He wants the court applications on the fund’s constitutionality to be concluded first.

And secondly, it is reported the Johannesburg mayoral race has begun in earnest.

# Sowetan:

Reports the residents of the Sporong informal settlement in Randfontein are still living in fear, even though more police officers have been deployed to control the zama zamas.

# And The Citizen:

Also writes about the Johannesburg mayoral race. Herman Mashaba and Helen Zille are facing each other, but experts are of the opinion that Mashaba, with his ANC support, is currently the frontrunner.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports the decision by the US Supreme Court that Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are illegal is widely welcomed. The paper writes economists are warning, however, that South Africa should not celebrate too soon, because it is not clear how this will affect the tariffs against us.

And secondly, the paper writes that a young leopard was killed in the Huisrivier Pass between Calitzdorp and Ladismith. The animal is possibly one of three young leopards spotted in the area.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are delighted that the army will be deployed to combat gang violence in the area. However, community leaders say there are long-standing challenges that must first be addressed.

And secondly, the paper writes the Eastern Cape government is facing a debt problem of officials to the value of 253-million-rand.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Firstly, writes the Constitutional Court has confirmed that Misuzulu kaZwelithini is indeed the king of the Zulu people and has rejected the appeal of a part of his family that applied to the court.

And secondly, it is reported plans are being made on a wide front to save Tongaat Hulett.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports many conservation areas lack the capital and expertise to manage the concessions they have been awarded. The paper writes they have now approached the ministry to help them appoint private operators to develop and fund the projects.

And secondly, the paper writes there is currently no legislation that empowers the ministry of Urban and Rural Development to control rental prices.