December 5, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

Story gist: A South African man deported from Australia after attending a neo-Nazi rally returned to South Africa with his wife and child.

Bias summary: Left-leaning IOL frames with sensational tone (‘kicked out’, ‘neo-Nazi protest’) and video hook, emphasizing punishment for extremism. Center News24 uses neutral facts (‘visa revoked’, ‘attending rally’), focusing on return. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting potential emphasis on family reunification or immigration policy critiques.

Story gist: At the Madlanga inquiry, Julius Mkhwanazi confessed everything. Mchunu defended himself regarding the Cat VIP EMPD deal.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Mail & Guardian frames the Cat VIP EMPD deal as a mere ‘oversight,’ downplaying implications with neutral tone. Center eNCA reports straightforwardly on Mkhwanazi’s full confession and Mchunu’s defense, emphasizing facts without judgment. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting conservative framing that might highlight scandal or accountability.

Story gist: Johannesburg mayor described the impending ANC leadership shake-up as ‘not the end of the world.’ Jacob Zuma’s daughter entered the ANC Johannesburg leadership race.

Bias summary: No left-leaning outlets cover the story, absenting potential emphasis on ANC factional tensions or equity implications. Center News24 centers the mayor’s reassuring quote framing the shake-up mildly. Right-leaning The Citizen spotlights Zuma’s daughter’s candidacy, highlighting a high-profile challenger over the mayor’s stabilizing tone.

Story gist: A judge in former South African President Jacob Zuma’s trial questioned the National Prosecuting Authority’s ‘Stop Stalingrad’ case. The judge stated that any ruling will be appealed.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting potential pro-Zuma defenses or NPA criticisms. Center outlet News24 reports neutrally with the headline mirroring the story title, emphasizing the judge’s questioning and appeal prediction without partisan tone, emphasis on implications, or omissions of key facts.

Story gist: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South Africa will not lobby other nations to boycott the United States’ 2026 G20 Summit. The announcement follows diplomatic tensions between the US and South Africa.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Mail & Guardian frame the US as aggressively ‘ratcheting up diplomatic war’ against South Africa, emphasizing American hostility. Center outlets like News24 focus on South African Foreign Minister Lamola’s rebuttal to Senator Rubio, quoting claims the US has ‘no right’ to exclude SA. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential defenses of US policy or critiques of South Africa’s stance.