Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 20 March 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports the JSE is tumbling while even gold is starting to fall back. The only share that is doing well, amidst the rising oil price and weak rand, is Sasol.

# Mail & Guardian on Fridays:

Writes not even president Cyril Ramaphosa knew about minister Senzo Mchunu dissolving the police task force for political murders.

# Die Papier on Fridays:

Reports the National Prosecuting Authority and Special Investigation Unit still do not have easy access to important documents held by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. This is hindering the prosecution of state-capture suspects.

Then the paper writes about the arrest of Peet and Mel Viljoen in the USA and the huge reaction it has provoked in South Africa. According to an expert, the couple can hope they are extradited to South Africa.

And finally the paper speculates about the possibility of a fuel shortage in South Africa.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports president Ramaphosa says transformation should not just be a slogan in South Africa. He says sacrifices must be made to expand ownership.

And secondly, the website writes 50-year-old Liani van der Berg was seriously assaulted during a farm attack outside Coligny in the North West. She was attacked as she was on her way from her home to the horse stables.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Firstly, writes about the reasons for the ANC’s refusal to meet the new US ambassador.

Then it is reported that the leader of the All Citizens Party, Senathi Fisha, has announced her plans for combating crime. This is mainly based on stricter control over illegal immigrants.

And finally, the paper writes Emfuleni believes its overtime bill of 700-million-rand is not excessive.

# Sowetan:

Reports on a pensioner from Vosloorus’ age-grant nightmare and Sassa’s apparent unwillingness to help him. A person with the same identity number in Mamelodi is withdrawing his pension.

# And The Citizen:

Writes about 24-year-old Jonathan Gerds who is now pleading for his hand to be amputated after a doctor allegedly gave him the wrong injection. This led to an infection that will not clear up.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Reports it seems that the government’s statements on the availability of fuel are not in line with what is happening on the ground. Petrol station owners in the Free State and Northern Cape say they are struggling to get their hands on fuel. The paper also writes about the negative impact of the fuel price on the JSE and the expected high prices in April.

And secondly, there is news about newlyweds and their relatives who were attacked and robbed at a guesthouse outside Wolseley. This is the same guesthouse where a similar incident was reported in February.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports the latest power problems in Nelson Mandela Bay could take up to 21 days to restore.

And secondly, writes fuel rationing is becoming a reality in light of the Middle East crisis.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Writes concerns about the global fuel crisis are growing.

And secondly, reports the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has rejected an offer from the MK Party.

And finally, from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports the government has set December 2026 as the target date for the first flight of Namibia Air, the country’s planned new national airline.

And secondly, the paper writes the last of the auctions on behalf of the Namibia Revenue Agency of goods seized from Order With Me is taking place today.