Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-03 i Mercury

Sales in September 2025 climb to 54 700 units, the highest level since September 2015 South Africa’s new vehicle market recorded its strongest month in a decade, with sales in September 2025 climbing to 54 700 units, the highest level since September 2015. It was also the third consecutive month of volumes above 50 000 units and rounded out 12 months of continual growth for the new vehicle market. According to figures released by the Automotive Business Council (Naamsa) on Thursday, the September sales total marked a 24.3% increase compared with the 44 000 vehicles sold in the same month last year. The strong performance came against a backdrop of easing inflation, firm but restrictive monetary policy, and an expanding range of imported models. Encouragingly for households, consumer inflation slowed…

The South African automotive industry faces a tough operating environment but remains focused on long-term success, Jeff Gable, Head of FIC Research at Absa CIB, told delegates at Naamsa Auto Week in Gqeberha this week. Gable said shifting consumer preferences are reshaping the domestic market. “Households also continue to turn towards SUVs, and so local production of these vehicles has been strong, whilst sedan sales are under a lot of pressure,” Gable said. In the new energy segment, Gable said mild hybrids have gained traction with local buyers due to affordable price points, while full electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles remain out of reach for most consumers. On the manufacturing side, Gable warned that South African Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) face mounting challenges. “For those SA firms that face off…

Africa Bitcoin Corporation’s (ABC) net asset value (NAV) per ordinary share would increase by 108% to R13.40 by the end of the six months to August 31, compared with the same period a year before. The company, which until recently was known as Altvest Capital, saw the secondary listing of its shares and preferred C ordinary shares become effective on the Development Capital Board of the Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX) on Thursday. This listing formed a central part of the company’s multi-exchange listing strategy, aimed at broadening access to regulated Bitcoin exposure across Africa and internationally. The company is also offering up to 1 million shares at N$11 per share, in a capital raise, the proceeds of which are expected to be used to acquire Bitcoin for the company’s treasury.…

The financially constrained KwaZulu-Natal Education Department will soon commence with procurement of learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) after receiving an R800 million bail out from the provincial treasury. In a joint media briefing in Pietermaritzburg yesterday, Finance MEC Francois Rodgers announced that he has sourced funds for LTSM and to assist the department in running the final examinations for all grades. Rodgers, who had announced a few days earlier that the Education Department has no available funds to order textbooks, said after meeting with MEC Sipho Hlomuka, they agreed that the department would receive R800 million to start placing orders for the textbooks for next year. “On the LTSM, we are looking at R881m which is what we tried to take out of the baseline of the department. The…

The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nkosazana Meth, has announced that the government aims to create one million job placements, most of them for young people, by 2030. This comes as South Africa continues to grapple with rising unemployment. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa, the national unemployment rate has climbed to 33.2%, with young people being the hardest hit. In a parliamentary response to questions posed by Economic Freedom Fighter MP Mbali Dlamini, the minister acknowledged that youth unemployment in the country was a growing crisis that can no longer be ignored. “It is for that reason that it is placed at the top of the action priority list,” Meth said. “We also know that if we tackle it successfully,…

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga is standing firm in her refusal to freeze new orders for arms manufacturer Denel, despite the state-owned enterprise’s financial failure to meet parliamentary reporting deadlines. Motshekga asserts that her ministerial role does not extend to interference in Denel’s commercial dealings. She made the statement days after she wrote to Parliament, requesting an extension to table Denel’s 2024/25 annual report after the entity failed to meet the stipulated September 30 deadline because the audit for the 2024/25 financial year has not yet been finalised. Replying to parliamentary questions from DA MP Chris Hattingh, Motshekga said while her department was the government’s shareholder representative, Denel was governed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). “This means it operates as a government business enterprise with its own legal identity,…

ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula has slammed businessman Brown Mogotsi as “a reflection of a bad ANC member, if he is indeed one”, warning party members to be aware of “comrade tsotsis.” It has been alleged in testimony before the Madlanga Commission that Mogotsi used his ties to the ANC to get money from alleged criminals for his benefit or to fund ANC activities. WhatsApp messages shared at the commission document how businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of rand to Mogotsi for protection and also for access to classified documents from the SAPS. During a media briefing, Mbalula said the ANC will not tolerate or associate itself with such groups of individuals who use the party’s name for such a reason. “Siphoning money in the reports and…

Suzuki South Africa has been in the news for a while now for all the right reasons. They’re consistently second on the sales log, getting involved with various sponsorships and supplier agreements with the central theme around it all being fun and not taking themselves too seriously. The Swift remains their most popular product and the cult-like Jimny the most high-profile, but there’s also the flagship Grand Vitara hanging around in the background. Exterior Like all their products, there’s nothing flashy or polarising about it. The Grand Vitara GLX AT AllGrip Hybrid we had on test simply gets on with the job of, well … being a Suzuki. By SUV design standards, it’s a well-proportioned vehicle with its clamshell bonnet and multi-level honeycomb grille flanked by three-point LED daytime running…

The staggering revelation from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) that R2 billion was siphoned out of Tembisa Hospital is not just another corruption headline. It is a post-mortem on the moral collapse of our governance system. It reveals a cancer that has metastasised fed not only by corrupt officials and politicians but by a banking sector that profits from the proceeds of crime while pretending not to see, while closing the accounts of black entrepreneurs, professionals, and organisations under the guise of reputational concerns, while they themselves being complicit in aiding criminal syndicates. Under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), financial institutions are legally obliged to detect and report suspicious transactions. Yet billions flowed from a public hospital to a web of front companies and into luxury assets, without raising…

It seems absurd to think now that the Proteas Women’s team travelled on economy flights, juggled full-time jobs whilst playing for the national team, and arrived at World Cups simply excited to return home with some free memorabilia. But in truth, that wasn’t too long ago, as former captain Mignon du Preez recollects in an exclusive interview with Independent Media ahead of the Proteas’ opening World Cup showdown with England in Guwahati today. “Yeah, I made my debut in 2007 for South Africa, my matric year, and I was listening to (Proteas allrounder) Marizanne Kapp speaking about her first World Cup and I remember like, we got to the World Cup, there were no photo shoots, there was no television,” said Du Preez, who played played 269 matches and scored…

When youngster Canan Moodie runs out at Twickenham in the No 13 jersey against Argentina, he will have another opportunity to stake a serious claim for one of the Springboks’ hotly contested jerseys. At just 22-years old, he already displays the game intelligence and positional awareness that mark him as a long-term option in the midfield. He’s been thriving in that outside centre role, and it doesn’t matter who he plays next to. He’s had success with veteran Damian de Allende on his inside and utility-back Damian Willemse, while his combination with André Esterhuizen brought one of the biggest Bok victories over the All Blacks in 2023 at Twickenham. So, whoever he is partnered with for a certain Test, he has been grabbing his opportunities. On Saturday, in the deciding…

The Carling Knockout Cup returns to the Premier Soccer League calendar with its newfound reputation for giving smaller teams within the Premiership a realistic shot at silverware. This reputation is well deserved, thanks to the recent triumphs of Stellenbosch FC and Magesi FC. Stellenbosch, though a club on the rise, claimed their first major top-flight trophy by winning the inaugural Carling Knockout in 2023. Stellenbosch, coached by Steve Barker, were from then on a club on the rise as they went on to register the “Beer Cup” as their first top-flight silverware – what a way to open their trophy account, after all, they are from the Winelands. They defeated TS Galaxy 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final. This victory was a significant milestone for the…

Africa must urgently strengthen its health financing systems and reduce reliance on increasingly unreliable external aid, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said on Thursday. Speaking at the African Union’s 8th Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, Godongwana warned that the continent’s health sector faces multiple crises, including underfunding, overstretched systems, and rising debt-service obligations. "This challenge adds on the existing increase in our debt-service obligations and diminished fiscal space to make available for domestic health spending," he said. "These challenges demand that we take charge in strengthening the resilience of our health financing whilst strategically weaning ourselves off external financing that is becoming less reliable." Godongwana highlighted South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency as an opportunity to place Africa’s concerns at the centre of global economic reform.…

Earlier this week, Discovery CEO Adrian Gore issued a stark but vital reminder: in emerging markets like South Africa, narrative drives reality. This is not just an elegant turn of phrase. It is how markets function — and a warning that the stories we tell about our country can either attract or repel the investment, talent, and trust we so desperately need. “The flywheel has to turn, and if you get it wrong at any point, it’s problematic,” Gore cautioned the audience. When narrative spins virtuous, it creates a reinforcing cycle: positive perception invites capital inflows, tourism, innovation, and confidence. But when it spins vicious, perception deters investment, erodes trust, and makes even incremental progress invisible. Narrative as Causality South Africa’s fundamentals are not as dire as the prevailing commentary…

Financial insecurity is not only about depleted bank accounts, it chips away at psychological resilience. When people lack financial confidence, they carry an invisible burden that permeates every aspect of their well-being. Sanlam’s Age of Confidence campaign shows that most South Africans will need to work until the age of 80 to retire comfortably. That sobering projection alone creates a heavy psychological strain. Added to this, our 2025 Sanlam Benchmark report found that 44% of households have already dipped into emergency savings simply to make ends meet, a clear sign of how fragile financial and mental resilience have become. A study confirms the link; financial resilience is associated with an approximately 37% decrease in the occurrence of mental health disorders. Importantly, the study also shows that this relationship is mediated…

Nasionale Pers’ Amsterdam and JSE-listed subsidiary Prosus said Thursday that the tender offer for Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET) had completed successfully, with strong support from JET shareholders. The announcement sent Prosus’ share price up by 3.01% to R1244.69 on the JSE on Thursday morning, a price that had risen by a strong 57.9% over 12 months. In contrast, the JSE All Share Index was up 1.56% at the same time. The offer had exceeded the Acceptance Threshold of the transaction, with 90.13% of JET shares tendered, and the transaction has been declared unconditional, following its swift approval by the European Commission in August 2025. Prosus CEO Fabricio Bloisi said: “I’m very pleased with the outcome of the tender offer, and excited to welcome JET to the Prosus ecosystem. JET has…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report has exposed how criminal syndicates bypassed standard tender processes to loot Tembisa Hospital of more than R2 billion. The investigation, prompted by the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran, found that corrupt officials colluded with the service providers to exploit weaknesses in the procurement system. Deokaran, who was an official at the Gauteng Department of Health, had uncovered massive corruption related to fraud, corruption and maladministration at the hospital and the syndicates had devised devious means to avoid regulatory triggers. Deokaran was the first to identify suspicious payments to over 200 companies, totalling around R850 million at Tembisa Hospital. However, the amounts identified by the SIU investigation now exceed R2bn. Deokaran was killed in August 2021, after exposing large-scale corruption and fraud. At least…

A 34-year-old man from KwaMashu has been sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison by the Durban Regional Court for two murders, one of which occurred at the township’s hostel. Musawenkosi Ncube was convicted on four charges: robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of murder, and the unlawful possession of a firearm. The court heard that Ncube killed Sphiwe Fana Nxumalo in Effingham during November 2021. The following month, December 2021, he robbed a store in Phoenix and stole a firearm. In January 2022, he used this stolen firearm to kill Sibusiso Dube at the KwaMashu hostel after an argument. The acting regional court magistrate stated that Ncube failed to provide any compelling reasons for the court to deviate from the minimum sentences. Ncube had informed the court that…

A former police sergeant and a motorist have each been sentenced to 15 years in prison for their role in an elaborate but unsuccessful attempt to defraud the Road Accident Fund (RAF) of R5.4 million. The East London Commercial Crimes Court handed down the sentence this week after convicting claimant Xolani Somtsewu, 47, and ex-sergeant Mandlenkosi Njekanye, 52, of fraud and obstructing the ends of justice. The court ruled that their sentences would run concurrently. Therefore, the men will effectively serve 15 years behind bars. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Somtsewu lodged a fraudulent RAF claim following a motor vehicle accident on the N2 near Komga on December 31. “In his claim, he stated that he had been driving a Nissan NP300 when he lost control…

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced an extension of the termination notice period of its Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Postbank. The notice period will now be for an additional three months. In a statement, Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said this is to allow the executive authority time and space to deliberate on various issues from the two entities and give guidance. Letsatsi said Sassa was committed to prioritising the needs of its millions of beneficiaries and enhancing their customer experience. This comes after Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe, in a statement, announced that the MSA with Sassa remains in place and will continue unchanged until an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted and deliberated on the matter. This meant the MSA did not terminate on September 30…

BMW’s new era has finally commenced with the recent unveiling of its first Neue Klasse model, the all-new iX3. Ushering in a whole new style and technological blueprint for the Bavarian brand, it will influence other models far sooner than you might have thought. BMW is set to launch more than 40 new or facelifted models in the next two years in an almost desperate bid to prevent the rest of its line-up from appearing dated. However, the current internal combustion (ICE) models won’t move over to the new platform as such, but they will be extensively updated. In a recent interview with Autocar, BMW’s Neue Klasse chief Mike Reichelt said that while most of the existing models will retain their current body structure, the updates will integrate the most…

Bafana Bafana have risen from years of uncertainty into a side of rare consistency, a long-awaited sight for a nation that once ached for stability. Now, with momentum on their side, they stand on the threshold of a moment that could etch their names into history. On Thursday, Hugo Broos announced a 23-man squad entrusted to take on two crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda over the next two weeks. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and South Africa are looking to make their long-awaited return since they last featured on the global stage as hosts in 2010. South Africa currently sit second in Group C, level on 14 points with leaders Benin, who edge them on goal difference…

The Springboks are on the cusp of history as they aim to secure back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time when they face Argentina in the second Test at Twickenham tomorrow afternoon. A bonus-point victory in London (3pm kick-off) will be enough for the world champions to clinch the title. Importantly, they will know at kick-off exactly what is required from them in this decisive clash. Here are five players who could be crucial to the Boks’ cause as they chase a second consecutive Championship crown. Backing Up His Statement Performance The Boks’ young star fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu stole the show in Durban, scoring a record-breaking 37 points in the 67-30 victory. He delivered a commanding performance to steer the team to victory — but now comes a sterner…

AmaZulu FC coach Arthur Zwane has called on his youthful squad to develop greater mental strength as they prepare for their next challenge against defending champions Magesi FC. Usuthu secured a valuable point in their midweek league clash against Kaizer Chiefs, playing to a 1-1 draw at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday. An early strike from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya gave the KwaZulu-Natal outfit the lead, but Mduduzi Shabalala equalised shortly after to ensure the points were shared. AmaZulu now sit on 12 points after eight matches, just one behind neighbours Golden Arrows, over whom they hold a game in hand. Their attention now shifts to the Carling Knockout round of 16, where they face Dikwena tsa Meetse at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, with kick-off set for 6pm. The KZN side will…

The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) has raised alarm over growing cases of eFiling profile hijacking, warning that the scam poses a serious threat to taxpayer confidence in the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the long-term credibility of the country’s digital tax system. In its long-awaited draft report on eFiling profile hijacking, released for public comment after repeated postponements at Sars’ request, the OTO said the practice exposes both systemic weaknesses and service delivery failures in how Sars assists victims. eFiling profile hijacking typically involves fraudsters using stolen personal details to access taxpayer profiles, submit false returns and claim refunds. The OTO said the scam is most common among personal income tax and VAT cases, with fraudulent claims usually under R10 000 but sometimes reaching up to R100…

Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal remain deeply concerned about the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, with many warning of escalating costs and long-term risks to the agricultural sector. The Agriculture Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) said on Thursday that farmers in the province are calling for stronger interventions, noting that the crisis affects not only beef producers but also dairy farmers who face significant cost burdens. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz chief economist, said the issue dominated discussions during a September 29 engagement with agribusiness representatives in the province. “The general sentiment from folks in the region was that the agricultural conditions are favourable, which is a picture we painted from a national perspective in our previous letter,” Sihlobo said. “However, one aspect that got many people in the room engaged was the…

South Africans are significantly indebted, with a large portion of their monthly income going towards servicing debt. This means that for every R100 of disposable income, South Africans currently owe R62.70. We’ve observed a combination of high interest rates, rising living costs, and slow income growth driving the high levels of indebtedness. This has led to a notable increase in overdue debt payments, particularly in unsecured loans and credit cards, as the average household debt-to-disposable income ratio stands at 62.7% as of the first quarter of 2025. What your credit score influences Your credit score is a three-digit number that reflects how reliably you manage your credit obligations. Lenders use it to determine whether you qualify for credit and what interest rates you will be charged. A higher score means…

Trustco Group Holdings, the shares of which are suspended on the JSE, on Thursday received a R5 million fine and another public censure by the JSE for selling off shareholding in its mining subsidiary, Meya Mining, without shareholder approval. Meanwhile, Trustco shareholders still await the publication of the latest annual results to August 31, 2024, which the company has blamed on JSE updates to auditor accreditation criteria that impacted Trustco's audit obligations as a Namibian company. Shareholders also await the release by the company of its stated plans to delist from the JSE, Namibia Stock Exchange, and the OTCQX Market in the US. Meya Mining is registered in Mauritius and operates a diamond mine within the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. During 2021, Namibia-based Trustco held 65% of Meya Mining…

KEY partners in the government of provincial unity are at loggerheads over the decision of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to offer a pension fund to traditional leaders. The DA and the IFP have expressed opposing views on the matter, with the DA warning that the government is not in a financial position to afford the expenditure. However, the IFP fired back, stating that the DA’s warning was misguided. CoGTA announced on Wednesday that it has reached a historic milestone with the official approval of the KZN CoGTA Pension Fund for Amakhosi by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). “This approval confirms that all regulatory requirements have been duly fulfilled, paving the way for the formal implementation of the pension fund. The initiative is being rolled…

British primatologist Jane Goodall, who transformed the study of chimpanzees and became one of the world's most revered wildlife advocates, has died at the age of 91, her institute announced Wednesday. Goodall “died peacefully in her sleep while in Los Angeles” on a speaking tour of the United States, the Jane Goodall Institute said in a statement on Instagram. In a final video posted before her death, Goodall, clad in her trademark green, told an audience: “Some of us could say ‘Bonjour,’ some of us could say ‘Guten Morgen,’ and so on, but I can say, ‘Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! That's ‘good morning’ in chimpanzee.’’ Tributes poured in from conservationists, politicians and entertainers. “I'm deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Jane Goodall, our dear Messenger of Peace,” said UN chief Antonio…

The South African government says it’s not making any assumptions about how Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa died, as French authorities continue to investigate the circumstances around his tragic fall from a Paris hotel. Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes said yesterday that, despite speculation in the media, no conclusions will be drawn until official findings are released. Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to France, died after falling from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Paris earlier this week. His sudden death has shocked the nation and left many questions unanswered. Speaking to the media outside the family home in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, Botes said the French police are finalising their investigation, including a post-mortem, and that early findings are expected by Sunday. “We came to update…

As the first significant rainfall of the summer graces South Africa, many drivers are faced with not only the treacherous conditions typical of wet roads but also an increased risk due to residual oil and rubber build-up from the winter months. The weekend rains have served as a reminder that as temperatures rise, so too does the level of caution needed behind the wheel. With oils and rubbers that have accumulated over winter finally lifted but not completely washed away, roads can be particularly perilous for motorists. Eugene Herbert, the CEO of MasterDrive, is urging drivers to exercise heightened awareness and care as they navigate these slippery stretches. “If you do find the roads more slippery than expected, follow these tips: the most important thing is to gradually reduce your…

The last few generations of the Hyundai Santa Fe were solid, practical and somewhat underrated contenders in the large SUV market, but I doubt many people can even remember what they looked like. Confession: I’m busy googling them now. It’s unlikely that the fifth-generation Santa Fe will ever suffer the same fate. Its boxy new design is way more “out there”, even if there are a few hints of Land Rover’s Defender, which is never a bad thing. Out on the streets, the new Hyundai attracts a great deal of attention and admiration from many, although its blocky rear end is not universally favoured. The new Santa Fe is also Hyundai’s first hybrid model to be offered locally, and though many buyers will miss the diesel engine that’s no longer…

The big changes to the Sharks team for their second-round United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons on Friday night are the shift of Edwill van der Merwe from wing to full-back, and the promotion of Junior Springbok Jean Smith to fly-half. Speaking from Newport, coach John Plumtree said he had long identified Springbok Van der Merwe as a potential full-back, despite the 29-year-old never having played there before. “We lost Yaw Penxe to injury last week and I immediately thought about Edwill at full-back, because I believed he was one in the making even before he came to us from the Lions,” Plumtree said. “Edwill is a smart player; he can kick long and is excellent in the air. He’s 29 and has been around the track, so he…

The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix will see a significant adjustment that could alter the complexion of Sunday’s race, with the FIA confirming an increase to the pitlane speed limit at Marina Bay. After years of operating at 60 km/h, drivers will now be allowed to run through the pitlane at 80 km/h, provided the safety trial during Friday practice sessions proves successful. The change may seem minor, but in a race where track position and pit stop timing can make or break a strategy, the implications are potentially game-changing. At roughly 400 metres long, the Marina Bay pitlane has always been one of the most punishing in Formula 1. Under the old 60 km/h restriction, the time loss for a stop was substantial, making teams reluctant to commit to two-stop…

Cedric Kaze knows that, like animals, football teams can be most dangerous when wounded. And so, while all Kaizer Chiefs fans anticipate a smooth passage to the next round of the Carling Knockout Cup, the Amakhosi co-coach preaches caution. “It’s unfortunate that the history of the last fixtures that Kaizer Chiefs won against Stellenbosch (FC) is not going to be of any help in this game,” Kaze said ahead of Sunday’s first-round clash against the inaugural winners of the domestic league cup. Temporarily in charge of Chiefs alongside Youssef Ben Khalil while the club continues to resolve issues with coach Nasredinne Nabi, Kaze says the team is intent on winning the Carling Knockout. But he knows just how tricky the clash with a Stellenbosch side that has seemingly forgotten how…