November 14, 2025 – South Africa Headlines

Story gist: Over 150 Palestinian refugees were denied entry into South Africa upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The group, which flew from Israel, was stranded on the plane for hours.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Haaretz frame the story with emphasis on Gazans’ prolonged stranding on the plane after flying from Israel, adopting a humanitarian tone focused on vulnerability. Center outlets like News24 use neutral language, highlighting denial of entry to Palestinian refugees without added context. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any perspective that might downplay the incident or emphasize security concerns.

Story gist: Robert Mugabe’s son was sentenced for drug possession. The case was reported by News24.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provide no coverage, leaving perspectives on Zimbabwe’s political legacy and drug enforcement absent. Center outlets like News24 frame the story neutrally, focusing on the factual sentencing without emphasis on family ties to former leader Mugabe or broader implications for justice in Zimbabwe.

Story gist: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced changes to the National Executive, including the dismissal of Minister Dion George. A poll examines whether this action reveals tensions between the ANC and DA in the Government of National Unity.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets offer no coverage, omitting discussion of coalition fractures that might criticize ANC leadership. Center outlets frame the story neutrally as an official presidential announcement, emphasizing procedural changes without speculation on implications. Right-leaning outlets are absent, potentially downplaying the event to avoid highlighting DA vulnerabilities in the GNU partnership.

Story gist: Cedrick Nkabinde, chief of staff to Mchunu, testified before a South African parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee. He stated, ‘I have nothing to hide,’ during the session.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting progressive emphasis on government transparency and potential corruption probes. Center outlets like eNCA framed the event neutrally as a livestream of the committee hearing evidence, focusing on procedural aspects without speculation. Right-leaning outlets also absent, missing conservative critiques of political accountability or defenses of implicated officials.

Story gist: South Africa’s Reserve Bank officially adopted a new inflation target for monetary policy. The announcement occurred in Pretoria.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the story and potentially sidelining economic developments in emerging markets. Center outlets like Business Tech framed it neutrally with straightforward headlines emphasizing the official change without added context. Right-leaning outlets also omitted it, absenting perspectives on fiscal implications or international economic ties.