December 13, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

Story gist: South Africa formally asked fellow G20 members to object to its exclusion by the United States. EFF leader Julius Malema compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler and called for closer ties with China.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like IOL highlight Malema’s inflammatory Trump-Hitler comparison and pro-China advocacy, emphasizing anti-US rhetoric. Center outlets like Daily Maverick report neutrally on South Africa’s formal G20 request without added commentary. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting perspectives critiquing SA’s stance or defending US policy.

Story gist: Ekurhuleni human resources head Linda Gxasheka was suspended with immediate effect. The suspension relates to metro police chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets frame the suspension dramatically as HR boss ‘in firing line’ over police chief, emphasizing conflict. Center outlets report neutrally using the official phrasing. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential focus on municipal governance accountability or criticism of local administration handling.

Story gist: A four-storey temple collapsed in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, prompting rescue efforts. One person died.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, leaving those perspectives absent. Center outlet eNCA framed the event with emphasis on the single fatality in the KZN temple collapse, using direct language focused on death toll while omitting specifics on building height, precise location, or ongoing rescues highlighted in the story title.

Story gist: Statistics South Africa released a report stating millions of people have been lifted from poverty in South Africa over two decades.

Bias summary: Left-leaning IOL acknowledges progress over two decades but emphasizes South Africa still fighting poverty. Center Stats SA highlights children and youth bearing the burden of remaining poverty. Right-leaning outlets provide no coverage, omitting any framing of the poverty reduction achievements.

Story gist: Two Department of Basic Education officials were suspended after National Senior Certificate question papers leaked in Pretoria. Pupils at seven Pretoria schools accessed the seven leaked papers.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Daily Maverick emphasize pupils accessing leaked NSC papers at specific schools, highlighting student involvement. Center outlets like News24 briefly list it as ‘Matric cheats’ in a top stories roundup, downplaying details. Right-leaning coverage absent, omitting potential focus on government accountability or education system failures.