December 2, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

Story gist: South African radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula is among five individuals charged over an alleged Russia recruitment plot.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets offer no coverage, omitting the story entirely and leaving those perspectives absent. Center outlets like BBC frame it neutrally with a straightforward headline identifying the accused, her profession, and the charges, emphasizing facts without tone, speculation, or emphasis on broader implications.

Story gist: Thulani Dlomo, former SSA boss, and a co-accused were arrested on charges of theft and fraud involving R12 million.

Bias summary: Only center-leaning News24 covered the story with a neutral, factual headline matching the title, focusing on arrests and charges. Left-leaning outlets absent, omitting any framing of the event. Right-leaning outlets also absent, lacking coverage from that perspective.

Story gist: South African officials propose new sin taxes on unhealthy products. The proposals come as U.S. funding for HIV care programs in South Africa decreases under President Trump.

Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning coverage found. Center outlet News24 frames the story with strong negative tone toward Trump (‘strangles’ HIV care), emphasizing U.S. policy cuts as causing South Africa’s need for sin taxes. Absent left perspectives might highlight global health inequities; missing right views could defend U.S. fiscal restraint or question South African tax hikes.

Story gist: South African Deputy President Mashatile announced the rollout of a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection starting in 2026 in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia.

Bias summary: Left-leaning IOL emphasizes government action by naming Mashatile and specifics like twice-yearly dosing and 2026 start. Center eNCA highlights innovation with ‘groundbreaking’ tone and lists countries. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting any conservative perspective on public health initiatives or funding implications in Africa.

Story gist: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a warning to one group of people in South Africa.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets did not cover the story, omitting progressive emphasis on equity or conservative critique of Ramaphosa’s authority. Center outlet BusinessTech framed it neutrally in the headline ‘Ramaphosa sends a warning to one group of people in South Africa,’ highlighting the president’s action without specifying the group, tone, or context, providing factual business-oriented reporting.