December 8, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

1‘I didn’t know him’: Julius Mkhwanazi distances himself from Van der Merwe murder

Story gist: Julius Mkhwanazi stated he did not know Marius van der Merwe, the murdered whistle-blower. CCTV footage shows Van der Merwe talking to his killers.
Left
CCTV footage shows murdered whistle-blower, Marius van der Merwe talking to his killers
— IOL
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Center
‘I didn’t know him’: Julius Mkhwanazi distances himself from Van der Merwe murder
— News24
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning IOL emphasizes CCTV footage depicting whistle-blower Van der Merwe with his killers, highlighting visual evidence and victim status for sympathetic tone. Center News24 centers on Mkhwanazi’s denial quote, neutrally reporting his distancing. Right-leaning outlets provide no coverage, absenting conservative framing on whistle-blower murder or suspect accountability.

2Will Ramaphosa stay or go? What you need to know about the ANC’s NGC

Story gist: South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) holds its National General Council (NGC). The event raises questions about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued leadership.
Left
No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
Will Ramaphosa stay or go? What you need to know about the ANC’s NGC
— Daily Maverick
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: No left- or right-leaning outlets covered the story. Center outlet Daily Maverick uses a neutral, explanatory headline posing ‘Will Ramaphosa stay or go?’ to outline NGC stakes without speculation or endorsement. Absent left coverage omits pro-ANC framing defending Ramaphosa; right absence misses potential emphasis on leadership failures or calls for change.

3BMA intercepts millions worth of stolen cars, drugs & counterfeit goods

Story gist: South Africa’s Border Management Authority seized stolen cars, drugs, and counterfeit goods worth millions at borders. Officials arrested 8,000 people for border violations.
Left
BMA seizes thousands of illegal goods and arrests 8,000 for border violations
— IOL
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Center
Drugs, stolen cars and counterfeit goods seized at SA borders as festive crackdown begins
— News24
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning IOL emphasizes arrests of 8,000 for border violations and thousands of illegal goods, highlighting enforcement scale. Center News24 focuses on specific seizures (drugs, stolen cars, counterfeits) during festive crackdown, neutral inventory tone. Right-leaning coverage absent, missing potential emphasis on immigration security or smuggling crackdown successes.