December 12, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

Story gist: The EFF announced it will support the MKP in a no-confidence vote against Thami Ntuli in KwaZulu-Natal.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the story and any perspectives on the EFF-MKP alliance or its impact on KZN politics. Center outlet News24 used a neutral, factual headline mirroring the story title, ‘EFF to back MKP in KZN no-confidence vote against Thami Ntuli,’ with straightforward emphasis on the endorsement without tone or additional context.

Story gist: Advocate Ngcukaitobi accused National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi of lying under oath over evidence related to Mdluli.

Bias summary: Center outlet News24 frames the story neutrally with the direct accusation in its headline. No left-leaning coverage, absent emphasis on prosecutorial accountability or anti-corruption themes. No right-leaning coverage, missing potential defenses of law enforcement integrity or critiques of judicial accusations against officials. Coverage limited to centrist reporting.

Story gist: The United States excluded South Africa from the G20 summit. South Africa vowed a diplomatic push in response, with official Dangor stating the country will not gatecrash the meeting but allies warn the US of costs from sidelining South Africa.

Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning outlets covered the story, leaving those perspectives absent. The center outlet (News24) frames it through South African official Dangor, emphasizing restraint (‘won’t gatecrash’) alongside allies’ warnings to the US on sidelining costs, with a tone of diplomatic firmness and subtle pressure on US isolationism.

Story gist: ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula stated the party will win back power. The comment follows the ANC’s losses in last year’s South African elections.

Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning headlines provided; left perspective absent, potentially emphasizing ANC optimism; right absent, possibly highlighting party failures. Center outlet Daily Maverick uses skeptical, questioning tone in ‘Has the ANC learnt the lessons of last year’s elections?’, focusing on doubts about recovery and lessons learned over Mbalula’s confident prediction.

Story gist: A complaint against Andrea Johnson, candidate for head of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, was escalated to the ethics office. The development occurred during interviews for the NPA’s top job.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting scrutiny of the NPA leadership process. Right-leaning outlets also absent, forgoing potential criticism of candidate ethics. Center outlet Daily Maverick framed the story amid ‘best and worst moments’ from Day 1 interviews, emphasizing dramatic highlights over the specific complaint escalation and ethics implications.