Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-11-10 i Mercury

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver a cautiously optimistic Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, showing stronger revenue collection, contained expenditure growth, and a smaller-than-expected deficit, even as sluggish growth and high debt remain major fiscal challenges. According to Nedbank's economist, Isaac Matshego, the budget deficit is projected to narrow to 4.4% of GDP in FY2025/26, down from the 4.8% estimated in Budget 2025, thanks to higher-than-anticipated tax revenues and disciplined spending. “Revenue growth has been boosted by robust collections in personal, corporate, and value-added taxes,” Matshego said last week, noting that gross tax revenue could overshoot earlier estimates by R60 billion in FY2025/26 and as much as R200bn over the medium term. Available government finance figures for the fiscal year to date show a modest improvement…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has described Daybreak Foods as a “poster child” for successful business rescue, citing steady operational recovery, improved financial stability, and a well-managed turnaround plan that still retains significant cash reserves. Briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Finance on Friday, the PIC said Daybreak Foods’ business rescue practitioners had made strong progress in stabilising the company, maintaining labour peace, and restoring critical operations such as electricity and IT systems. “Daybreak Foods has become a model of how a well-managed business rescue process should function,” the PIC said. “The business rescue practitioners are reporting positive outcomes both operationally and financially.” Daybreak Foods CEO, Deon Botha, also told MPs that the company still holds R73 million from a R150m cash endowment allocated for the turnaround strategy, adding that “cash…

Many pensioners and investors in South Africa over the last two weeks became nervous and worrisome as share prices on the JSE moved weaker. Pessimistic views of an expectation of a strong and downward correction in equity prices surfaced amongst the public. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon warned this week of a “likely” 10-20% drawdown in equity markets at some point within the next two years, while the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England have both sounded the alarm bells. One almost gets the impression that the old saying of greed of the last ten months is quickly replaced by fears of big losses. Long-term strategies are quickly forgotten as asset prices undergo healthy corrections and adjustments. As uncertainty prevails on the next step for interest rates both…

The Foschini Group (TFG) share price was among the biggest losers on the JSE Friday, falling by 5.3% after it reported weak trading conditions that saw its interim dividend lowered by 18.8% to 130 cents a share. The share price traded at R85.55 on Friday afternoon, a price already well down from the R154.23 that it traded at a year before. The lower dividend was even though the group managed to increase revenue by 12.2% to R31.4 billion, supported by the inclusion of White Stuff in the UK - acquired late October 2024 - and growth in TFG Africa. The group’s management took advantage of the lower share price during the period, which they said was trading at a discount to intrinsic value, and 3.42 million shares were repurchased for…

Have you ever tried to describe a feeling so specific, so delicately human, that no English word could quite hold it? That tug between heartbreak and hope, or the quiet courage to keep going when the world feels heavy, those emotions exist, but English often fails to name them. Around the world, other languages have done what English hasn’t: they’ve given names to the unspoken corners of our hearts. As someone who often drifts between words and worlds, I’ve found English to be... limited. It’s practical, yes. But when it comes to the poetry of being human to the bittersweet ache of nostalgia, the thrill of near-love, or the fragile beauty of impermanence, English stumbles. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why so many of us find comfort in borrowing words…

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed an application that sought to challenge the appointment of Musa Mbhele as the city manager for the eThekwini Municipality. But this fight is not over and is likely headed to the Constitutional Court. The application had been brought by Bheki Mabaso, and the judgment was handed down last week. In the court papers, Mabaso was listed as a principal clerk employed by the municipality and had brought the application on the basis that, as an employee of the municipality, he had an interest in whether Mbhele was lawfully appointed. It was not clear yesterday whether Mabaso was still employed by the city. This battle to unseat the city manager has been ongoing for the past few months.The municipality was listed in the court papers…

Police have rescued three young women from Botswana who allegedly fell victim to a human trafficking scam after being lured by a syndicate promising them jobs in Sierra Leone, in West Africa. Spokesperson for the SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the women, aged between 20 and 23, were intercepted and rescued at the busy OR Tambo International Airport on Friday. “The victims were en route from Botswana to Sierra Leone via South Africa and Nairobi when they were intercepted and rescued by members of Interpol NCB (National Central Bureau) Pretoria and the Germiston Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit after landing at OR Tambo International Airport,” said Van Wyk. A preliminary report indicates that the Botswana High Commission in Pretoria had alerted Interpol to assist in tracing the missing…

The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) has revealed its proposed manifesto to contest in the 2026 local government elections. The ERPM held a meeting in New Germany, Pinetown, on Saturday, calling for the strengthening of active citizenry ahead of the election, believing that they can make an impact if they were part of the eThekwini council. The ERPM also wanted to elect candidates to represent citizens. Asad Gaffar, the chairperson of the ERPM, said there was a need to make sure the municipality was workable and his dream was to get 10 seats in eThekwini without weakening other political parties. “We looked at civic societies across the world, noting how little they could achieve from the outside. We need to step into that space. We want to be the adult…

As the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations reach the halfway mark, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has commended the smooth administration of the exams across all nine provinces. However, many learners have expressed mixed emotions over the mathematics papers, describing them as challenging but manageable. In a statement, the DBE reported that more than 920 000 candidates are currently writing their final examinations at 6 800 centres nationwide, with the process proceeding “smoothly, with stability, integrity and efficiency.” The department acknowledged public discussions about the perceived difficulty of the 2025 Mathematics Paper 1 and Paper 2, assuring learners that all NSC papers were “carefully set to assess a full range of cognitive abilities” and that standardisation ensured “no learner is unfairly disadvantaged”. There has been debate on social…

JUST on 14 months ago Rob Walter was stumped. The former Proteas white-ball coach was left exasperated after facing yet another question on Quinton de Kock’s international future. “I don’t know, to be dead honest. For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again,” Walter said. “I’ve left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen.” At that stage, De Kock had officially retired from ODI’s but was in limbo about his future availability in the T20 format for the national team. De Kock never contacted Walter, who has since left the Proteas to continue his coaching journey with New Zealand’s Black…

and Enable Capital deals — chair Masondo Public Investment Corporation (PIC) board chairman, David Masondo, has said the new board was reviewing past bad transactions on principle, including appealing the arbitration process in the dispute where it had to pay R400 million to its loanee Acapulco as it defaulted on a loan and the R100m down the drain in an Enable Capital Investment. Masondo, the deputy Minister for Finance whose incumbency in the board is a result of re-enforcing governance processes at the PIC, said the board owned up to the bad deals in the past and was implementing recommendations by the Judge Mpati Commission regarding them but that internally, the entity was revving the exit processes. This is after the PIC has had to pay Acapulco Trade and Invest…

After roughly two decades of legal warfare, public spectacle, corporate brinkmanship and constitutional detours, the long-running battle between Vodacom and Nkosana Kenneth Makate has finally come to an end in the Please Call Me battle. It is difficult to describe the moment without invoking the ancient parable that has shadowed this saga from the start: the story of a shepherd who stood before a giant armed with nothing but resolve and a sling. In South Africa’s modern corporate arena, Makate has long been cast - fairly or unfairly -as the David to Vodacom’s Goliath, a lone idea-man challenging a telecommunications behemoth with vast legal and financial resources. With the announcement that the parties have reached an out-of-court settlement, the stone has finally landed, and the giant has stopped swinging.…

A former employee of the mighty organisation, Statistics South Africa, Sihle Khanyile, now a graduate of Michigan University, with a Masters in complex sampling had lunch with me last week. He is visiting home and is now based at the Saudi Statistics Authority in the Emirates. He reminds me of my advice to him when he left for Michigan. He was looking for a specific public lecture and noticed many people heading in one direction. He chose not to follow them, but then spotted a Chinese person and asked the person where the lecture he was looking for was being held. The Chinese person replied that he was also going there. The two of them went together — to a place where few others were headed. An equivalent and relevant…

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) has raised alarm over the growing number of deaths linked to crime and security incidents across South Africa’s rail network, warning that the crisis underscores the country’s broader socio-economic challenges. According to the RSR’s State of Safety 2024/2025 report, security-related fatalities in the rail sector have risen sharply over the past five years — from 13 deaths in 2021/22 to 58 in 2024/25. The regulator presented its findings during a roadshow in Durban on Friday, revealing that KwaZulu-Natal was the hardest-hit province. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 2 707 railway-related occurrences, with 67% attributed to security-related incidents, the highest number of fatalities (24), and 52 injuries. RSR’s head of safety management, Deepak Budhram, said the findings highlight how the country’s persistent crime problem spills into the rail sector,…

It started innocently enough – with my tween daughter scrolling through TikTok, giggling at dance challenges and cute animal videos. But lately, her feed has taken a turn. Now it’s filled with glossy beauty influencers promoting serums, exfoliants, and toners – the kind of skincare routines that belong in a luxury spa, not in the bathroom of a 12-year-old. I’ve found myself standing by the sink watching her layer products she doesn’t need, worried about what it’s doing to her young skin. As a mother, I’m far from alone in this concern. According to dermatologists, the rise of TikTok “skinfluencers” is a worrying trend among children and tweens, who are developing lifelong skin issues because of the overuse and the misuse of products. Dr Sandy Skotnicki, a top dermatologist and…

The ANC finds itself embroiled in renewed debate over the efficacy and sincerity of its “step-aside” rule, following the announcement that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s offer to step aside from party duties was declined. This decision, amid two ongoing inquiries into serious allegations against Mchunu, casts a long shadow over the party’s much-touted renewal process, prompting critics to question if it is a hollow exercise selectively applied, based on who faces allegations. The ANC officially confirmed this week that Mchunu had expressed willingness to step aside from organisational work. This followed the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate claims of Mchunu’s interference in sensitive police investigations. However, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula clarified that Mchunu’s offer was declined, allowing him to remain active…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has met His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, in Rome, where he called for a renewed global spirit of solidarity, equality and justice in the face of rising conflict, deepening inequality and environmental crisis. Ramaphosa was in Rome on Friday for a working visit to the Holy See, accompanied by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola and his daughter, Keneilwe Ramaphosa. It was South Africa’s first high-level engagement with Pope Leo XIV, who was appointed Pontiff in May following the passing of Pope Francis. According to the Presidency, the visit serves to strengthen co-operation between South Africa and the Holy See in areas such as humanitarian aid, climate justice, emergency response and peace building. The Holy See has diplomatic ties with over…

Prospective pensioners were warned through a recent judgment by the Financial Services Tribunal to carefully read retirement paperwork because a mistake could be costly, as a Pretoria woman found out when she lost R94 000 in an irreversible tax deduction. Susan White was a member of a provident preservation fund and in January last year, she elected at the age of 62 to withdraw her fund benefit. The fund, however, processed the claim as a withdrawal benefit, which resulted in a massive tax deduction. She explained that the fund provided her with a withdrawal claim form as opposed to a retirement benefit claim form. She accordingly completed the form that had been provided to her and was paid a withdrawal benefit as opposed to a retirement benefit. She argued that…

As crime continues to plague communities across KwaZulu-Natal, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli took a stand at a recent imbizo in KwaMashu, highlighting the achievements of the Inanda community in reducing crime. Ntuli called for a collective effort to tackle the challenges faced by KwaMashu and its residents. The crime-fighting imbizo was held at KwaMashu Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday, where Ntuli reiterated his call for community members, police and crime-fighting organisations to collaborate to eradicate crime. Ntuli was accompanied by eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni, Economic Development and Environmental Affairs MEC Reverend Musa Zondi and police top brass. Before the imbizo, Ntuli visited the KwaMashu Police Station. There, he was briefed on the crime statistics and the prevalent crimes affecting the community within the KwaMashu policing precinct. A comparison was…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has praised his players for holding their nerve after a dubious red card to Lood de Jager left them playing the second half of their match at the Stade de France with 14 men. The Boks did not panic. Instead, they delivered a composed performance to stun the French 32-17 in a statement win that consolidated South Africa’s position at the top of the World Rugby rankings. The Boks had to dig deep and scored three tries in the final 20 minutes to register their biggest victory over the French in Paris since 1997. Captain Siya Kolisi played in his 100th Test, but the red card resulted in him being replaced at halftime in his milestone match. “It was probably close to midnight at home (when…

André Esterhuizen is settling seamlessly into his role as a hybrid weapon in the Springbok setup. The powerful midfielder showcased his versatility in Paris on Saturday evening, crashing over for a well-earned try off a rolling maul and providing his muscle to the defensive wall that shut down any hopes of a French comeback. His work-rate – from popping up in the midfield to lending a hand in the set pieces – proved crucial as the world champions powered to a 32-17 victory at the Stade de France, remaining unbeaten on their five-match November tour. It’s not every day that the Boks substitute Damian de Allende, arguably the world’s top inside centre at the moment. But after a red card to lock Lood de Jager just before halftime, head coach…

The Prudential Authority (PA) on Friday imposed administrative sanctions and fines on Discovery Bank for failing to timeously report some suspicious transactions and for inadequate staff training. The PA supervises and enforces compliance by banks and other financial institutions with the provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FIC Act). “The PA has imposed administrative sanctions on Discovery Bank (DBL) as a result of its non-compliance with certain provisions of the FIC Act, following an inspection conducted on DBL in 2021…” the PA said in a statement on Friday. The administrative sanctions consist of four cautions not to repeat the conduct that led to the non-compliance, and a financial penalty totaling R3 million, of which R1m was conditionally suspended for a period of 36 months from July 9, 2025. These…

The scale of procurement corruption in South Africa is staggering. Whilst we have made progress in rebuilding institutions like the South African Revenue Service and removing ourselves from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, the reality is that corruption in public procurement remains deeply entrenched, sophisticated, and extraordinarily damaging to our economy and society. There is even speculation that Covid exacerbated the problem by exposing weaknesses in the State and emboldening other fraudsters to broaden the looting. We must act because corruption poses an existential threat to our democracy, our development trajectory, and the livelihoods of millions of working-class South Africans, society, businesses and the entire economy who depend on functional public services. Behind every Rand stolen from public procurement is a hospital not working, a school overcrowded, a…

Sephaku Holdings’ construction materials subsidiaries have not yet seen a material uplift in demand for construction materials, but the retail environment for bag sales has improved, said CEO Kenneth Capes on Friday. In the six months to September 30, the group, which counts Sephaku Cement (SepCem) and Métier as its key investments, reported consolidated revenue increasing to R665.1 million from R613.8m, while net profit increased to R36.7m from R32.6m. Headline earnings per share increased by 4.9% to 14.45 cents from 13.78 cents. Commenting on the outlook for the rest of the year, Capes said he expects the operating environment to remain subdued during the second half. Nonetheless, both businesses remain “cautiously optimistic” and are positioned to capitalise on growth as it emerges. “Métier will continue on its expansion strategy, with…

If your dog can’t stop chewing at their paws or your cat spends hours grooming the same spot, it might not just be a bad habit – it could be an allergy. And while pollen and fleas often take the blame, what’s in your pet’s food bowl might be the real culprit. Allergies in cats and dogs are becoming increasingly common, and understanding what’s behind the itch is the first step to soothing it. “Allergies in pets are far more common than many people think,” says Dr Guy Fyvie, the Senior Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “They can be caused by food, fleas, or environmental factors like pollen or dust, and they’re one of the leading reasons pet parents visit their vet.” Globally, around one in five dogs…

Zurenah Smit, accused of killing her husband, 62-year-old Stellenbosch farmer Stefan Smit, and her co-accused will have to decide whether to testify in their defence. This comes after the Western Cape High Court dismissed the Section 174 discharge application Zurenah and her co-accused Derek Sait had brought. Zurenah had sought to have the murder charge, along with other charges, dismissed. Sait sought in his application to be discharged in respect of a single count of intimidation listed as count three in the indictment. Smit, who was the owner of Stellenbosch wine farm,Louisenhof, was murdered in June 2019 when armed suspects entered their residence through an unlocked door on a Sunday evening. Some of the charges the two accused face, and if sustained, carry a prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. They…

Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head, advocate Andrea Johnson, recounted chilling details regarding a death threat she received. During her appearance at the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Thursday, Johnson revealed that a message was sent to her phone, telling her to get body bags as she and her team had gone too far. “In my almost 30 years, it was the first time it happened to me directly, and given that we have dealt with contentious and high-profile matters over the years. “This was different and very difficult. The threat still remains, which makes it more difficult,” she said. Johnson expressed that the threat forced her to confront the harsh realities of her work. “The fight against corruption is not for sissies…

While steps are being taken to ensure accountability for the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital scandal, companies are yet to be blacklisted as this can only be done by the National Treasury. Out of 467 individuals and companies recommended for the Restricted Suppliers Register, only one has been listed. This is according to formal parliamentary responses received by ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape from the minister of health on October 10. In the scandal, 207 service providers were accused of embezzling taxpayer funds without consequence. In a written reply, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi outlined steps taken following the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report, including high-level meetings with senior management, the National Health Council (NHC), and CEOs and CFOs of central hospitals to discuss ways to prevent future corruption. A workshop is…

Nottingham Forest breathed new life into their survival bid with a crucial 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Leeds, handing Sean Dyche a first English Premier League win that hauled his side to within one point of safety. Dyche’s side trailed in the 13th minute at the City Ground when Lukas Nmecha’s low drive arrowed into the corner. But Forest equalised just two minutes later through Ibrahim Sangare’s predatory finish from ten yards. Morgan Gibbs-White completed Forest’s fightback as he glanced a header in from Omari Hutchinson’s sixty-eighth-minute cross. Dyche was celebrating again in stoppage time when Elliot Anderson lashed in a penalty after Hutchinson was bundled over by Jack Harrison. It was Forest’s first league victory since beating Brentford on the opening weekend of the season in August. Nuno Espirito…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has called for humility and patience after his side reached the Carling Knockout Cup final with a narrow 1-0 win over Richards Bay at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Moroccan tactician, who has already delivered the MTN8 title this season, is now on the brink of claiming a second domestic trophy – yet he insists it’s far too early for self-reflection. “I think it’s too soon to summarise my time so far at Orlando Pirates, I’ll be judged at the end of the season,” Ouaddou said after the match. “I’m still in the beginning. In the job, you have to be very humble. I think the ambition we have is to deliver in every game a good performance.” That calm and calculated tone…

Argentina overpowered Wales 52-28 in Cardiff Cardiff yesterday as home coach Steve Tandy’s first game in charge of the national side ended in a comprehensive loss. The Pumas, sixth in the world rankings to Wales’ twelfth place, ran in seven tries, all converted by Santiago Carreras, who also landed a penalty for a match haul of 17 points. Four of those tries came in a first half when Argentina led 14-0, were pegged back to 14-14, but turned round in command at 31-14. Victory gave Argentina their highest score and largest winning margin against Wales, who also suffered a tenth successive home defeat. Meanwhile, Scotland face a nervous wait to discover if star player Finn Russell will be fit to face Argentina in Edinburgh next weekend. The influential fly-half needed…