Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-11-06 i Mercury

Most African CEOs are planning acquisitions over the next three years, says KPMG in its 2025 Africa CEO Outlook survey, as business confidence in domestic economies and growth prospects recover amid the global race to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI). After surveying 130 top African CEOs, the KPMG survey report notes that 86% of African CEOs are planning acquisitions over the next three years, up from 77% in the same survey last year. It said this “signals a strong appetite for expansion” by the continent’s top corporates. “Confidence in domestic economies is also rising, with 63% of African CEOs expressing optimism about their country’s growth prospects up from 61% in 2024,” notes the report. Moreover, as much as 46% of Africa CEOs were aligning sustainability goals with their core business strategies,…

Market source indicates that listing could be imminent, subject to market conditions and approval Well known South African cellphone company Cell C plans to raise about R7.7 billion through a listing on the main board of the JSE, this after a long period of restructuring. Although a date was not yet disclosed, a market source indicates the listing may be “imminent.” The company, the fourth largest mobile operator in the country, announced on Wednesday that it plans to list by way of an offer of shares by The Prepaid Company (TPC), an owned subsidiary of JSE-listed telecoms group BLU Label, by way of a private placement to qualified investors, subject to market conditions and to JSE approval. The R7.7bn would include an overallotment option of R500 million and an allocation…

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) announced on Tuesday that it officially rolled out Phase 2 of the RMIS Traceability Platform today. RMIS at the launch said that this will bring South Africa’s red meat industry closer to full livestock traceability, improve disease response and support market access as South Africa deals with Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. RMIS said that the event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, along with representatives from organised agriculture and other key stakeholders. “It showcased the practical functionality of the platform across the value chain.” RMIS added that to encourage inclusivity, they also introduced the RMIS Movement App - a free, user-friendly tool developed for producers who are not yet using digital livestock management systems. “Phase 2 introduces API integration between the…

Hiring your first employee is a defining moment in your small business’s story. Although this big step could help you to accelerate growth and improve profitability, it also comes with some risks. Finding the right person will help you reach your business goals, but the wrong hire could sap your momentum, strain your resources or even cause financial losses. There is a lot to think about, especially if you don’t have a background in human resources. In addition to the financial and compliance aspects of becoming an employer, you’ll need to think about how your first hire will help you advance your business plan. Let’s run through some of the basics: Define what you’re looking for from your first hire As a small business owner, you’re probably running on a…

Gold Fields’ South Deep mine in Gauteng sold 20% more gold in the three months to September 30 over the previous quarter, and 22% more than a year before, boosting the global miners’ solid quarterly performance. The 86 300 ounces of gold sold at South Deep was well up on the 70 800 ounces sold in the corresponding September quarter of last year, an operational update showed. All-in costs (AIC) in rand terms were 3% lower quarter-on-quarter, mainly due to more gold sold, illustrating the asset’s leverage to increasing volumes. “The team continues to make good progress in improving stope turnaround, which is key to driving efficiency and realising incremental gains,” Gold Fields CEO Mike Fraser said in a statement. Group attributable production increased 6% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and by 22%…

Congratulations, mom! You’ve made it through the whirlwind of the first six weeks. If you’re currently wearing the same trackpants for the third day in a row, surviving on lukewarm tea, and feeling a complex mix of intense joy, exhaustion, and maybe a little fear, you are absolutely normal. ​Amid the nappy changes and cuddles, your six-week postpartum check-up is a crucial milestone, marking the official end of your initial recovery period. This appointment is much more than just a quick physical; it’s a comprehensive wellness check. Your gynaecologist or obstetrician is there to ensure your body has healed well and to support your mental and emotional health. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas your healthcare provider will focus on: l Physical healing and recovery​ Uterine involution: Your doctor…

A mother, who clandestinely took her six-year-old child in the middle of the night from where she and her now estranged husband lived in Denmark, has now been forced, through a court order, to return the child to her husband in Denmark. The Central Authority of South Africa and the father of the child turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to enforce the terms of the Hague Convention relating to international child abduction, to which South Africa is a signatory. The father told the court that the child should be returned to his country of habitual residence in Fredericia, Denmark, from where he was unlawfully removed in August and wrongfully retained by his mother. The mother, on the other hand, claimed the father gave consent for her to bring…

South Africa’s tourism sector continues its strong post-pandemic rebound, with the country recording more than 7.6 million international tourist arrivals between January and September 2025, a significant milestone signalling renewed global confidence in the nation as a top travel destination. According to the latest data released by the Department of Tourism, 7,634,261 visitors entered the country during this period, an increase of more than 1.1 million compared to the same time last year. Acting government spokesperson Sandile Nene described the results as “an impressive increase” that reflects “sustained recovery and renewed confidence in South Africa as a premier global tourism destination.” Nene said the figures point to improvement across key markets in Africa, Europe, and Asia. “The steady year-on-year improvement signals that South Africa remains an accessible, diverse and competitive…

More than 13 000 suspects were arrested across KwaZulu-Natal during October as police intensified operations to curb serious and violent crimes. According to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner’s Office, a total of 13 164 suspects were taken into custody through various policing efforts, including Operation Shanela. The arrests covered a wide range of offences, from murder and rape to drug-related and property crimes. “Various police operations, including Operation Shanela and day-to-day policing, have resulted in the arrest of 13 164 suspects for different categories of crime in the month of October 2025 in KwaZulu-Natal,” said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda. Among those arrested were 195 suspects linked to cases of murder and 214 suspects wanted for attempted murder. Police also arrested 262 suspects for rape, 11 for attempted rape, and…

In a scathing critique of South Africa’s coalition politics, Gift of the Givers (GoTG) founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman has called out dysfunctional municipalities and political infighting that leaves millions of citizens underserved. Speaking candidly this week about the state of governance in the country, Sooliman highlighted how power struggles and personal agendas have trumped service delivery, leaving critical decisions – including the national budget – hanging in the balance. The philanthropist stated: “The country is tired of promises, no delivery, corruption and nothing being done about it.” Sooliman said revelations from KZN police commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who had made damning allegations against high-ranking police officials and politicians, were a “game changer”. “The fact that the rot is being exposed is a good thing. People are becoming more conscious and…

Corbin Bosch claims the Proteas have no option but to approach the remaining two matches of the ODI series as “must-win” if the visitors are to salvage their tour of Pakistan. The Proteas have spent a lengthy period in Pakistan, their first all-format tour since England three years ago, which has been further exacerbated with the stringent security measures in place. Bosch, along with Tony de Zorzi, are the only Proteas still standing that have been in Pakistan from the start of the tour. Dewald Brevis is also still in Pakistan but is undergoing rehabilitation on a shoulder injury after being ruled out of the one-day series on Tuesday. The Test series finished on a positive note with the Proteas levelling the series in Rawalpindi - their first Test win…

The quiet efficiency of a skilled marker can make all the difference in a game of singles, ensuring that every bowl is judged fairly and every end flows smoothly. Recognising the importance of this role, Umhlali Country Club recently hosted a successful marker’s course, initiated by Umhlali CC’s Cheryl Mostert, a respected member of the Bowls South Africa Coaches Standing Committee. The course, run by the Port Natal Bowls District Technical Official Standing Committee (PNB DTOSC), drew an overwhelming response from bowlers eager to improve their understanding of the game. Coordinated by Umhlali Bowls Secretary, Joy Catto, the event took place at Umhlali’s top-class facilities and saw 29 participants attend from clubs including Umhlali CC, Darnall, Durban Collegians and Durban Bowling Clubs. The large turnout meant that extra facilitators had…

Jacques Henry Kallis has always laid the biggest claim to GOAT - Greatest of All Time - status in South African cricket. Kallis’ exploits stretch the discussion even further to him arguably being the world’s greatest cricketer ever due to the incredible numbers that he achieved over the course of his illustrious career. It is hard to argue with 13 289 Test runs, average of 55.37, and 292 Test wickets. It's almost the equivalent of India’s legends Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan’s numbers morphed into one. Add a further 11 579 and 279 ODI runs and wickets with the T20I small change of 666 runs and 12 wickets, and you have yourself one helluva cricketer. However, the question remains, and in some circles, it would be considered blasphemy considering we…

South Africa should adopt a long-term beneficiation strategy for platinum group metals (PGMs) through establishment of a commodity exchange, experts said on Wednesday, while also calling for miners of the precious metal to deepen research on wider use cases as the uptake of green hydrogen is emerging off a very low base. Despite their widespread use in internal combustion vehicles, PGMs are also considered essential for green energy transition as they can still be used in hybrid vehicles and in hydrogen vehicles. Nimrod Zalk, the chief research officer for climate and development at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, said on Wednesday that PGMs have become the largest mining sector in the South African economy as a big employer and revenue generator for the government. However, to sustain future…

The finalisation of a strategic private-sector partner for the South African Post Office is imminent, pending the court’s review of the Business Rescue Practitioners’ (BRPs) report and the completion of processes to appoint the entity’s board. Minister for Communication, Digital Technologies and Innovation, Solly Mahlatsi, said at an economic cluster portfolio briefing in Parliament on Wednesday that the department was formalising all the bids for strategic partnership through an assessment process and was particularly keen on partners with e-commerce, digitalisation and warehousing capacity. Mahlatsi said, “The BRP has indicated there have been unsolicited approaches from the market. What we wanted to do was call out so we can assess who has the capacity and appetite to partner with the Post Office from a digitalisation perspective, a warehousing perspective, and even…

Vivo Energy Botswana and Pick n Pay have partnered to launch a new era of convenience retail with the country’s first Pick n Pay Go store, offering customers quality products and services from two leading names in fuel and retail. The new Pick n Pay Go format is designed for customers on the move and operated 24 hours a day. The stores will offer a broad selection of freshly baked goods, coffee, snacks, drinks, and daily essentials alongside fuel and lubricant services. The first location opened at the Shell Village service station, with additional sites planned for rollout in the coming months. The partnership formed part of Vivo Energy Botswana’s broader strategy to enhance customer experience by expanding the one-stop-shop model across its Shell service stations. Over the past…

Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York mayor caps an extraordinary rise for the local lawmaker who emerged from relative obscurity to lead a supercharged campaign for the US megacity’s top job. Since his surprise victory in the Democratic Party primary in June, New Yorkers have become used to seeing his bearded, smiling face on television – and on badges proudly worn by his supporters. The 34-year-old election winner was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin. He went to school in Cape Town in the mid-1990s when his father, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, accepted a post at the University of Cape Town (UCT). During their years in Cape Town, Mamdani attended St George’s Grammar School in Mowbray, one of the city’s oldest private schools. In interviews, Mamdani has reflected…

Department of Water and Sanitation says an outbreak of typhoid fever reported in Tshwane is not linked to the city’s water supply. There have been 48 cases reported in the Hammanskraal, Bronkhorstspruit, and the east of Pretoria since January. In a statement, the department said that tests showed that the city’s water supply is not the source of the outbreak. They commended the swift action undertaken by the City of Tshwane (CoT), the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in responding to the reported cases. Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said preliminary findings had ruled out the city’s water supply as the source of contamination. “From the samples taken by the City of Tshwane in all its water supply and distribution systems…

The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party has announced that Des van Rooyen will be the party’s new chief whip following Colleen Makhubele’s dismissal. His appointment was welcomed with the MK Party’s Women’s League saying he will advance socio-economic transformation, gender equality, and women’s empowerment across all spheres of governance. Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party announced that it had fired its chief whip in Parliament, Makhubele, replacing her immediately with MK Member of Parliament Van Rooyen. The party’s official statement did not specify reasons for Makhubele’s dismissal. However, a senior party insider told IOL the decision followed an internal report which recommended her suspension. “The internal report against Colleen called for her suspension pending investigations. “But we already had all the evidence – there was no need to investigate. The facts were…

South African workers lost R133 million in wages due to 114 strike actions in 2024, according to the Department of Employment and Labour. In its recently released annual industrial action report for 2024, the department noted that although not higher than 2023, workers across affected industries lost an estimated R133m in wages due to strike action. Wage disputes, particularly wages increment, bonus and other compensation benefits, constituted the main reason of work stoppages in the country during the period under review in the report. The report noted that while South Africa has seen impressive growth in average salaries with figures beating inflation, many South Africans find that the real increase in earnings is not enough to match the rapidly escalating cost of living. “The disparity between income growth and rising…

Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. His passionate pre-match speeches along with his bold statements are fast becoming his trademark. Upon arrival back in South Africa, he hauled one out of the top drawer. “We’ll bring the tsunami there,” said Mashimbyi, in reference to next year’s ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in England. “I’m kind of excited now, because when no one gave us a chance, we gave ourselves a chance. I know what to do going forward. We’ll make sure we leave no stone unturned for England,” he added. The fact that Mashimbyi is already looking ahead to the next major ICC event, and not simply basking in the glory of becoming the first national team coach to lead a senior…

For more than two decades, the Springboks have largely had the upper hand over France — a record the world champions will look to extend when the two sides clash at the iconic Stade de France in Paris on Saturday night. Over the past 15 years, South Africa have lost to Les Bleus only once — a narrow 30–26 defeat at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille in 2022. It was a fierce and physical contest that went down to the wire, with the French just edging it in front of their passionate home crowd. But the Boks got their revenge the following year at the Rugby World Cup, stunning the host nation 29–28 in the quarter-finals at the same venue where they are set to renew their rivalry this weekend.…

Bafana Bafana will begin their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations next month in Morocco with an international friendly against Zambia next Saturday — at a venue yet to be announced by SAFA. Coach Hugo Broos faces a crucial few days ahead of that clash, as he prepares to name his final 23-man squad at SAFA headquarters in Johannesburg today. While the Belgian mentor is expected to stick largely with his tried-and-tested core, a few in-form players are making strong cases for inclusion. One such player is Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala, who has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks. The 21-year-old has made the most of his opportunities at club level, impressing with goals, assists and an increasingly mature all-round game. Having been called up late…

Former France lock Paul Willemse says his successor at international level Emmanuel Meafou can become “the bully” the team needs as Les Bleus prepare to host South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday. The 27-year-old Meafou, who weighs an imposing 145kg (319 pounds), is set to make his 10th Test appearance in this weekend's highly anticipated re-run of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris. The highly physical Springboks return to the Stade de France for the first time since going on to lift the Webb Ellis trophy on a fourth occasion two years ago. Pretoria-born Willemse made the bruising, ball-carrying role his own for France during a five-year Test career before having to retire aged just 32 in September due to concussion. Meafou has inherited his…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) on Tuesday hit back at allegations made by the United Democratic Movement (UDM), about the state of governance and the investments the PIC manages on behalf of its clients. David Masondo, the PIC board chairperson, said in a statement on Tuesday that the PIC is preparing detailed submissions to the Presidency, Parliamentary Committees and other government agencies, to substantially repudiate the "false and malicious allegations". "Since 29 October 2025, the UDM and its leader,Bantu Holomisa, have deliberately sought to mislead the public and important organs of state like the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), the Auditor-General and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). This was done by clearly misrepresenting confidential, internal information about PIC transactions and governance processes, for…

South African steel value chain stakeholders have criticised the International Trade Administration Commission’s (Itac) amendments to the Preferential Price System (PPS), in effect as of the beginning of this month, as having ignored evidence-based recommendations, amongst a series of uncorrected errors. In response to the gazetted amendments, steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) said the revised regulations again prioritise a small group of scrap-based mini-mills, to the detriment of the broader steel manufacturing ecosystem, including primary producers, downstream fabricators, recyclers, waste pickers, and industrial consumers. It said the concerning amendments are in addition to the delayed release of an independent scrap-industry study commissioned by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic), despite being completed months ago. This comes as Itac CEO Ayabonga Cawe announced reducing the discount for domestic ferrous…

We know exactly what you’re thinking - not another Startup20 piece. Surely by now, we’ve said all there is to say, written every reflection, and debated every policy point? But here’s the thing: in true African fashion, when something truly matters, we don’t just say it once. So yes, think of this as part of our grand tradition of mulling things over until the ancestors themselves nod in agreement, because this one really does matter. For those of us who’ve been in the trenches of the Startup20 process, the recommendations handover ceremony to the G20 felt like the final scene of an epic film, one filled with late-night writing sessions, spirited debates, and endless cups of coffee. It reminded us that policymaking, when done inclusively, can be an act…

The JSE continued its strong run into October with the FTSE/JSE Capped SWIX Index up 1.8% month on month (m/m), leaving the local bourse up 33.4% year to date (ytd). The shape of the JSE return in October was decidedly different to the themes, which dominated for the first three quarters of 2025. Precious metal miners were responsible for two-thirds of the JSE’s ytd performance through September, with gold and platinum miners rallying by 184% and 173%, respectively, over those nine months. Meanwhile, stocks geared to the domestic economy were up 4% in aggregate over the same period. During October, though, the precious metal miners were a drag on the JSE’s performance with gold miners down 5% m/m and platinum miners down 10% m/m, while the domestically geared companies…

Amazon South Africa expanded its delivery service to offer customers more flexibility and control over their orders. The company announced the launch of Multiple-Delivery Windows, a new feature that allowed shoppers in major cities to choose their preferred delivery time slots, offering a more predictable and convenient online shopping experience. The new service was made available in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, enabling customers to schedule deliveries up to a day in advance and choose from three time windows, morning (8AM to 1PM), afternoon (1PM to 6PM), and evening (5PM to 8PM). By introducing the feature, Amazon addressed one of South African online shoppers’ most common frustrations: uncertainty about when packages would arrive. “We know South African customers lead busy lives and value convenience and predictability,” said Robert Koen, Managing…

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia yesterday said the press conference by KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on July 6 was unusual and had him worried. “His appearance before the public in full military regalia, armed and so forth worried me and I made a statement to that effect after my appointment. “I said at the time, which I maintain is correct, that kind of public statement was not in the ordinary situation in the expected situation, appropriate because police have command structures. There is a national commissioner and there is a minister and a president,” Cachalia said. He was giving testimony to the parliamentary inquiry that is probing the allegations that were made by Mkhwanazi at the press conference. Mkhwanazi’s explosive press conference led to the suspension of then Police Minister…

The KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure department has gone to court to force a contractor, who carried out shoddy work, to pay back the money that the company received. The contractor had been awarded a tender to do renovations and build extra wards at Nkonjeni Public Hospital in Mhlabathini outside Ulundi, in the north of the province. However, the department recently suspended the contractor for doing substandard work and wants to recoup money from it. Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer announced this during a joint media briefing with the provincial Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi this week. The two MECs did an oversight visit at a project that has dragged on for 12 years at King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban. Meyer also announced a crackdown on 75 stalled projects…

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka has condemned the burning of several classrooms and offices at Mpolweni Secondary School in the uMgungundlovu District. The incident took place in the early hours of yesterday morning. Hlomuka condemned the arson and vandalism, describing it as a “criminal and cowardly attack” on the future of learners. He said that such behaviour would not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Despite the damage, the school hall was not affected, and matric learners will continue writing their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations as scheduled,” he said. Hlomuka said no criminal act would derail the province’s commitment to ensuring matric examinations proceed without disruption. “This is a disgraceful and deliberate attack on the education of our children. For anyone to burn and vandalise a school – especially…

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the English champions must build from the back after producing their best performance of the season to beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Prior to a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, Liverpool had lost six of their previous seven games and gone 10 matches without a clean sheet. Madrid arrived in Merseyside in free-scoring form, but were limited to very few opportunities as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prevented an embarrassing score for the 15-time European champions. “It is easy to say now because we won twice in a row. In a world of chaos you have to stay calm and see perspective of things” said Van Dijk. “We all know how football works - it can change overnight." Arsenal…

With head coach Rassie Erasmus set to name his Springbok line-up today, all eyes are on the selection dilemmas that will have tested the Bok brains trust ahead of Saturday’s crunch November Test against France at the Stade de France in Paris (kick-off 10.10pm). Injuries, form, and tactical balance have made this one of Erasmus’s trickiest team sheets since returning to the hot seat. The loss of Ox Nché has forced a rethink in the front row, while flyhalf, lock, and midfield combinations all carry intriguing questions of experience versus evolution. Whichever way Erasmus leans, the selection will reveal plenty about how the Springboks plan to approach this Test — whether to grind it out the traditional way, or unleash a fresher, faster brand of rugby that signals a new…

LIV Golf will abandon its abbreviated 54-hole format in favour of 72-hole tournaments in 2026, officials said on Tuesday. The Saudi-backed circuit, whose name is derived from the Roman numeral for '54', had previously touted its three-round tournaments as a core distinction from traditional golf events. However the 54-hole format prevented LIV events from earning Official Golf World Rankings points, making it harder for LIV players to qualify for golf's majors. A statement from LIV on Tuesday said the circuit's events will now be played over four days, with most starting on a Thursday. "As we enter our fourth season as a League, the move to 72 holes marks a pivotal new chapter for LIV Golf that strengthens our League, challenges our elite field of players," LIV Golf chief executive…

The Kaizer Chiefs train is slowly but surely moving. The club has its return on capital investment - the youngsters, particularly Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi - to thank. Shabalala and Vilakazi were on song when Chiefs thrashed newcomers Orbit College 4–1 at FNB Stadium in a league match on Tuesday night. Shabalala scored a brace and assisted Vilakazi’s third goal and Flavio Silva's late strike. Chiefs not only drew level with champions and then-log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on 22 points after the game - despite trailing on goal difference - but they also eased the pressure on the team and co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. The duo had come under heavy scrutiny after the club decided to retain them as co-coaches following the sacking of their superior,…