Morning Newspaper Report

The headlines of the leading newspapers on 31 July 2026:

NATIONAL:

# Business Day:

Reports minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, announced the suspension of three senior officials of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption. The paper writes this follows explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission. It was alleged that IDAC officials abused their investigative powers.

# Mail & Guardian:

Writes the parliamentary leader of the African Transformation Movement, Vuyo Zungula, says the money found in a couch on president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm could have been money intended for the ANC rather than for the president.

# And the Netwerk24 website:

Reports on the murder of a 68-year-old father and his 40-year-old son who were attacked in their home in Virginia in the Free State. Although the website speculates about their identities, the police have not yet released their names.

And secondly, the website writes the mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has criticised the Public Protector’s report on service delivery in Cape Town. He says most of the issues in the report have already been addressed and she has been informed about it.

GAUTENG:

# The Star:

Writes the Gauteng Political Murders Task Force has discovered the body of missing EFF member, 51-year-old Aaron Makola, in a bush in Delmas. He was allegedly shot dead before his body was left there. He has been missing since July 10.

# Sowetan:

Also reports on the intervention at IDAC. The paper writes all 122 employees will undergo lifestyle audits and all criminal cases investigated by the directorate will be independently reviewed.

# And The Citizen:

Writes according to meteorologists, the El Niño weather phenomenon that is on its way towards the end of the year could have serious consequences. Bigger hailstorms, drought and scorching heat are ahead of us.

WESTERN CAPE:

# Die Burger:

Also reports on the suspension of the three senior officials at IDAC. The paper writes minister Kubayi has given the assurance that the directorate will be straightened out.

And secondly, the paper writes about the cabinet’s decision to extend the validity of certain codes of driving licences to ten years.

EASTERN CAPE:

# The Herald in Gqeberha:

Reports there is a good chance that the Chinese tyre manufacturer, the Sailun Group, will open a plant in Nelson Mandela Bay. This will mean an economic injection of two-billion-rand for the city.

KWAZULU-NATAL:

# The Witness in Pietermaritzburg:

Also writes about the validity period of driving licences that will be extended.

And reports on the South African swimming star, Chad le Clos, who is now the most decorated athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

And finally from NAMIBIA:

# Republikein in Windhoek:

Reports a psychologist, Dr. Shaun Whittaker, says Namibian boys are not inherently more prone to crime than girls. However, they are shaped by poverty, violence, trauma and harmful social expectations.

Then the paper writes the deputy sheriff has been ordered to seize the assets of the businessman and husband of the speaker of the National Assembly, Onesmus Amadhila, to recover 471-thousand-rand in legal costs.

And finally there is news about the festival; “Afrikaans: Hartklop van boeresport tot boeke” which will be presented tomorrow for the second year in Ongwediva.