Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 26 February 2026:

The news is dominated by Budget 2026 today.

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports opposition parties have rejected Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget 2026, which he tabled yesterday, because it does not contain enough growth opportunities.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Firstly, offers a complete schematic explanation of the budget. The version is also carried as a main story in Die Burger.

Furthermore, the website reports on the State of the Province Address of the premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde. He says the Western Cape government will approach the courts if the national government does not reform the justice system or allocate more resources to the police.

And finally, there is news about 15-year-old Jude Stewart from Helpmekaar College in Johannesburg who died shortly after being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes Godongwana has announced a significant allocation of one-billion-rand each to the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force as part of a strategic initiative to combat organised crime.

And secondly, the minister is reported to have also announced a significant allocation of 26-billion-rand to improve HIV/AIDS programmes.

# Sowetan:

Reports a Soweto teacher allegedly gave a Grade 11 learner 92 blows with a piece of pipe because her essay was too long. The community is now demanding that the teacher be removed because the learners are too afraid to go to school.

# And The Citizen:

Leads with: “IT’S A GIVE AND TAKE”. The paper also gives a full breakdown of how the budget affects the taxpayer.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports on five ways in which the budget affects the consumer’s pocket. Furthermore, the paper writes that 400-million-rand has been budgeted for foot-and-mouth disease, tax relief of 13.7-billion-rand has been granted and social grants are increasing by 3.6-percent to make provision for inflation.

And secondly, there is news about a possible foot-and-mouth disease case that has been identified in the Swartland municipality area.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Firstly, like most of the other newspapers, gives a full analysis of the budget, specifically where it affects citizens.

And secondly, the paper writes about an extortion scam involving a prostitute, a police officer and a fake judge.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes a teacher at a pre-school on the South Coast, Melanie Wessels, escaped when she plunged 100 meters with her Corsa over a precipice at the Oribi Gorge.

Then it is reported that Pope Leo will visit Angola later this year.

And finally, the newspaper also has budget news.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports specific patient flow management systems will be assigned to civil servants when they have to exchange private hospitals for state hospitals on 1 April as part of Vision April 2026.

And secondly, the paper writes the future of in situ leaching of uranium mining in the Omaheke region will be determined entirely by technical evidence and scientific findings.