Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-09 i Mercury

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) on Monday notified consumers about product recalls affecting the Jeep Wrangler vehicles and various Kia models, as informed by the suppliers. Stellantis South Africa has informed the NCC that it is recalling 323 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. According to the supplier, the dust inside the clockspring could compromise airbag circuit(s), causing illumination of the airbag warning light and or a non-deployment of the driver’s airbag during a crash. The impacted Wranglers were sold nationally during 2016 and discontinued in 2018. Kia South Africa has notified the NCC that it is recalling a total of 18 600 vehicles of the following models: Sportage (SL, KM), Sorento (XM), Optima (TF), Cerato (TD), and Soul (AM). These vehicles were sold nationally between the year 2009 and 2015 through…

The Black Business Council (BBC) has urged restraint in public attacks on the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), particularly regarding criticism of its R3.5 trillion in assets under management and concerns over the performance of its unlisted investment portfolio. This comes amid mounting calls from political parties and civil society for increased scrutiny of the PIC’s governance and investment decisions. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is among the loudest voices demanding action. The party has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament to convene urgent public hearings with the PIC Board, its CEO, and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to answer for what it describes as “ongoing governance failures, ethical breaches, and poor investment decisions.” UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has further urged the Auditor-General and the Special Investigating Unit to…

Corruption rarely calls itself by its name. It hides behind language that softens the offence and dulls our outrage. We speak of mismanagement, a saga, a scandal, price fixing, a commission of enquiry or corporate collapse. These words create distance from the truth. On this United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day, we confront a reality that is neither abstract nor distant. It is real. Its impact is felt. Corruption is a deliberate act of harm. It steals from the public, weakens institutions and erodes the trust required for any nation to function. Corruption is an enemy to progress, and nothing good has ever come from it. The drivers of corruption are not mysterious. Opportunity, greed, impunity, weak controls, compromised leadership and environments where accountability becomes negotiable, enabling wrongdoing to flourish. Corruption…

Nampak, the JSE listed packaging group, said attributable profit increased strongly to R1.2 billion in the 12 months to September 30, from R625.6 million the year before, as the group's turnaround gathered momentum. Group revenue of R10.7bn from continuing operations increased by 8%. This resulted in earnings per share of 13 971.8 cents compared to 7 554.0 cents per share in the previous year. Headline earnings per share came to 10 510 cents compared to 3 361.1 cents per share in the prior period. No dividends were declared. The results showed: "Strong earnings growth with significant reduction in net finance costs and net debt, supported by disposal proceeds and improved cash flows," said Glen Fullerton, the chief financial officer, in the group's only presentation. Beverage Nigeria, Inspection & Coding Solutions,…

December doesn’t only bring sun, shisa nyama energy, and overly ambitious camping plans. It brings roadblocks… lots of them. That alone should trigger a collective “know your rights” reminder, like sunscreen but for legal safety. And yet, most of us don’t really know what we’re allowed or not allowed to do when an officer taps on our window. We learned Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in grade 5, but no one taught us the everyday basics, like: Can you film law enforcement? Can you refuse a search? What does “reasonable suspicion” actually mean? South Africans aren’t clueless by choice. Legal experts say there’s a real gap in rights awareness, especially for vulnerable groups. Advocacy organisations run “Know Your Rights” campaigns every year, which tells us education isn’t just nice to have,…

Online marketplace Temu topped Google’s 2025 Year in Search for South Africa. Temu’s affordable pricing has made it a huge hit among South Africans. KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi follows in the number two spot. He was one of the top subjects in South Africa’s 2025 search results. His visibility grew through regular media briefings and increased scrutiny of his work, with searches for him surging in July when he accused senior political leaders and police officials of corruption. The top-trending How to search question was ‘How to vote on Big Brother,’ highlighting South Africans’ intense engagement with a fiercely competitive season that dominated social media and everyday conversation. Big Brother Mzansi fans came out in full force, throwing their support behind their favourite contestants, Sweet Guluva and…

Fear, frustration and desperation gripped ANC staff yesterday as workers picketed outside the party’s 5th National General Council (NGC) in Boksburg, warning that unpaid and chronically delayed salaries may result in a bleak Christmas for their families. Their frustration has now extended to the ANC’s highest office-bearers, with Youth League president Collen Malatji demanding immediate accountability from the Treasurer-General and top leadership. ANC employees, some of whom have gone months without pay, gathered at the gates of the Birchwood Hotel holding placards and chanting for the “right thing”. For many, the crisis has grown deeper than late salaries, it has become a matter of survival. “We’re going to hold everyone accountable,” Malatji said. “Why are the workers of the ANC not being paid? They’ve got families to take care of.…

A pensioner has won a legal battle to hold the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) liable for injuries sustained during a robbery on a Metrorail train en route to Retreat Station. The Western Cape High Court found Prasa liable for the proven or agreed damages suffered by 72-year-old Jacob Barnett, who was struck in the face by a brick during the incident. “I am satisfied that the plaintiff has proven his case and that it was the defendant’s failure to safeguard the plaintiff whilst he was a passenger on the train that ultimately resulted in the injuries he sustained,” the court ruled. “I am unable to find that the plaintiff could have done anything to prevent the attack. He was an innocent passenger.” Barnett is seeking R100 000…

The validity period for driving licences in South Africa is set to increase from five years to eight, in a long-mooted move that has been welcomed by motorists and lobby groups alike. Director-General Mathabatha Mokonyana confirmed this last week while briefing Parliament’s Select Committee on Public Infrastructure. “We have just concluded, although it took a little bit of time, the issue around extending the validity period of the driver’s licence card from five to eight years,” he told the committee. The decision was made following a detailed assessment, which found that South Africans favour a longer validity period. “They don’t want to come back to us every five years. So we definitely will be moving to eight years soon,” he added. While the Department of Transport has confirmed the move,…

David Miller has been an ever-present figure in the Proteas’ white-ball middle-order for the best part of 15 years. Seldom has the southpaw needed to look over his shoulder at any contenders for his place. This is backed up by the fact that he is the most capped Protea in T20Is, and boasts the enviable record as the second highest run-scorer in the shortest format for the national team. Yet, there was a sense of nervousness, not seen since his debut all the way back in 2010, prevalent when Miller addressed the media ahead of the five-match T20I series against India, starting in Cuttack on Tuesday. “It has been forever,” Miller said. “I think my last game was a ICC Champions Trophy earlier in the year, so it's been a…

Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League is down to two points after the Gunners’ 18-match unbeaten run was ended by in-form Aston Villa. Manchester City took advantage as Sunderland were swept aside 3-0 to move back above Villa into second, with the top three separated by just three points. Liverpool’s miserable season plunged to new depths as they twice blew the lead in a 3-3 draw at Leeds, before Mohamed Salah launched an astonishing post-match rant over his treatment by boss Arne Slot. AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend: Salah fuels fire of Liverpool crisis Left on the bench for the full 99 minutes at Elland Road, Salah spoke out to reporters afterwards. The Egyptian claimed he has been made the…

South African football has rarely felt as alive as it did in 2025. After years spent searching for identity, consistency and belief, Bafana Bafana finally rediscovered their pulse — and, in doing so, reignited the pride of a nation. An unbeaten run stretching across the entire calendar year, qualification for both AFCON and the Fifa World Cup, and a surge of promise from the junior national teams signalled a long-awaited revival. For the first time in a generation, South Africa can look ahead with genuine optimism, convinced that its “football nation” spirit has returned. Bafana Bafana Twenty-five games unbeaten — and counting. Bafana Bafana have had a calendar year for ages, so far. They didn’t only create their own fortunes; they also left endearing marks for generations to follow. It…

Capitec Bank Holdings has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Walletdoc Holdings for R400 million, a move to contest the fast crowding SME payments space. Walletdoc Holdings' fully owned subsidiary Walletdoc, established in 2015 by founders Leonard Shenker and Dan Wagner, is a South African fintech company providing scalable, innovative payment gateway solutions for merchants, including online and in-app payments, digital wallets, Instant EFT, payment links, and real-time payouts. Other players in the SME payments space include Yoko and Nedbank. South Africa's biggest bank by customer numbers said Monday in a statement that Walletdoc's culture of innovation, efficiency, and client focus was closely aligned with the bank's core values. Capitec has historically lagged in the business banking space and is working hard to grow into this gap. An…

Assassination of witness sparks renewed concern over ability to safeguard investors’ confidence The assassination of a key witness in the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry has sparked renewed concern over South Africa’s ability to safeguard investors’ confidence, protect whistleblowers and uphold the rule of law. The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations of political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, including alleged infiltration of criminal syndicates into law enforcement, intelligence, prosecution authorities, the judiciary, and correctional services, among others. The murder of Marius van der Merwe, referred to as "Witness D" outside his Brakapan home at the weekend has raised alarms among governance specialists and economists just months after the country exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist. Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) said South Africa’s efforts…

Jet fuel shortages and infrastructure constraints at South Africa’s major airports remain one of the most serious risks to the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, a senior executive from Emirates Airlines has warned. Jet fuel constraints have been a long-standing pressure point for airlines operating in South Africa, exacerbated in recent years by refinery closures, logistical disruptions, and insufficient storage and pipeline capacity. Industry players have repeatedly raised concerns that supply interruptions, with some airports dipping to critically low levels, risk damaging South Africa’s competitiveness as an aviation hub. However, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is undertaking an ambitious programme of infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of a new 20-inch jet fuel feeder line, the implementation of Jet Fuel Redundancy Phase 1 and significant refurbishment of fuel receipt meters, hydrants,…

The unspoken word in South Africa is that the South African tech community loves you. Many are filled with pride that someone who once walked the South African streets has managed to shape the global tech environment. Many cannot wait for Tesla cars to appear on the country's streets. Many would welcome your intervention in the country’s innovation ecosystem. These are South Africans who are behind some of the leading fintech, healthtech, transport tech and edtech companies. Some of them are based in Silicon Valley. The love and admiration for you in South Africa goes beyond the technology community, even the government is fond of you. If you are doubtful just check the number of government leaders on X platform in South Africa. No matter what you say (good…

Absa Group’s share price increased 4.2% Monday morning after it reported that its second half performance was in line with their expectations and largely in line with guidance, while impairments would decline. Second half trends were in line with expectations, and with the group’s guidance from August 18, 2025, as well as the outlook for 2026 and the medium-term targets, the bank said in a voluntary update Monday. The share price was up 4.2% to R225.69 on Monday morning on the JSE, an increase that made Absa the biggest mover on the market at the time, and a price that was 13.9% higher than that R198.26 price at the same time last year. For the 2025 financial year, “we expect mid-single digit revenue growth, with stronger growth in non-interest income…

Somewhere between 2010’s razor-thin arches and TikTok’s messy “boy brow”, we started believing our eyebrows were personality traits. One wrong tweeze, a little too much microblading, a poorly planned lamination, suddenly, the things meant to frame our faces started dictating our confidence. And now? The pendulum has swung to restoration culture, a movement where we fix what beauty trends once convinced us to destroy. Think of it as beauty’s apology tour: quiet, medical and deeply personal. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), eyebrow transplants are one of the fastest-growing aesthetic procedures globally. To put this into perspective, the growth rate is reminiscent of the surge in popularity of injectable fillers over the past decade, highlighting its rapid rise and increasing demand. In 2024, 12% of women…

Despite significant policy interventions since the end of apartheid, South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world, with the legacy of racial discrimination continuing to drive extreme disparities in income and wealth. This is according to the latest 2025-27 paper on Racial Inequality and Redistribution in Post-Apartheid South Africa, which shows that while the post-apartheid government has implemented various redistribution policies, these have limited success in narrowing the overall wealth gap and have led to rising inequality within racial groups, particularly among Black South Africans. This study has been published ahead of the international launch of the World Inequality Report 2026, which is expected to be released tomorrow. The study was conducted by researchers Léo Czajka and Amory Gethin. Czajka is a postdoctoral researcher at the…

Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, has outlined the measures being taken to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide during the upcoming festive season. This follows a question from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament Lencel Komane, who asked about the concrete measures the minister has put in place to tackle gender-based violence and femicide during the upcoming end-of-year festivities. In his written parliamentary reply, Cachalia emphasised that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a series of coordinated operations aimed at preventing serious and violent crimes, including GBV and femicide, which tend to surge during the festive period. These operations include the current Operation Safer Festive Season, which falls under the broader National Crime Combating Forum’s initiative, Operation Shanela II. He explained that the operations have a…

The increasing trend of former Model C schools adopting English as an additional medium of instruction should not be seen as a milestone worth celebrating, but rather as a call to refocus on South Africa’s constitutional commitment to multilingualism, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has warned. This comes as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently briefed Parliament’s portfolio committee on education regarding the progress of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) regulations. The update included the readiness of provinces for the 2026 academic year, reforms to Grade R and early learning, and the broader transformation of school language and admissions policies. During the session, Members of Parliament expressed concern over the persistently low number of former Model C schools that have incorporated African languages into their curricula.…

Following the murder of Witness D at the Madlanga Commission, Marius van der Merwe, on Friday, police have confirmed that three people of interest have been identified and one has been brought in for questioning. National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola told the media in Saulsville yesterday that the investigation team is optimistic that a breakthrough in the case will occur soon. Affectionately known as “Vlam”, van der Merwe, was gunned down in a hit in Brakpan in front of family. Three weeks ago, van der Merwe implicated Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in wrongdoing, claiming that Mkhwanazi ordered him to cover up a murder of a suspect at the hands of EMPD and SAPS officers. CCTV footage that has since emerged from the shooting shows van…

It would be a stretch to say the Sharks turned a corner in Toulouse after a distressing season on and off the field, but there may well have been a bottoming out. John Plumtree, in his final outing as head coach, fielded an effective Currie Cup team of youngsters against Antoine Dupont’s superstars, and they gave a plucky account of themselves. The scoreline of 55–19 looks damning, but the contest was closer than it suggests, and the Sharks’ youngsters left the field with their heads held high. The Sharks have a strong emerging leader in lively flank Nick Hatton. He extracted plenty of courage from his teammates and, in some ways, this performance was better than those against Ulster and the Scarlets, when the Sharks were close to full strength.…

Lando Norris’s success with McLaren in ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as world drivers' champion on Sunday ushered in a winter of radical change for Formula One. The 26-year-old Briton’s title win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came in the final race before new cars and technical regulations arrive in 2026 — and signalled an end to a “winning by any means” culture in the sport. Here, we look at three things to watch going into next season. Can Norris stick to doing it his way? Norris said he won the title his way and with a team that respected its own “Papaya Rules” of equality under immense pressure. His triumph prompted a wave of emotion, not only for his victory, but for the way he won and managed…

The Stormers are preparing for a physical showdown with French giants La Rochelle in Gqeberha in the Champions Cup on Saturday. The 2022 champions boast a host of French internationals, spearheaded by France No 8 Gregory Alldritt, and the Stormers know they cannot allow the visitors to dominate in the physical exchanges. The Frenchmen have played the Stormers twice in Cape Town, winning one and losing one during the 2023–2024 season. La Rochelle are targeting the Champions Cup due to a faltering Top 14 campaign — they are in 10th place with five wins and six losses — while the Stormers remain unbeaten. For it to stay that way, Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani and loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu reckon they must impose themselves in the set pieces. “I’ve been…

South Africa’s economy is showing early but meaningful signs of recovery, with improved business confidence, firmer growth prospects, and renewed policy momentum, but government must act swiftly to ensure the gains do not evaporate. This is according to a new Bureau for Economic Research (BER) report released on Monday by Lisette IJssel de Schepper and Claire Bisseker. The report argues that while South Africa’s longstanding structural constraints are well understood and key reforms are already on the table, the country now needs “urgency, leadership and discipline” to convert this positive shift into durable economic progress. After years dominated by public frustration and pessimism, the report says the national mood has noticeably improved. “The country hasn’t solved its problems, but the balance of risks has tilted, and mood is less relentlessly…

South Africa’s building sector ended the year on a stronger footing, with the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index rising eight points to 43 in the fourth quarter of 2025—its joint highest reading in a decade and above the long-term average of 40. The improvement follows a slight dip to 35 in the third quarter. Yet, despite the encouraging jump, the latest index level released on Monday still indicates that more than half of survey respondents remain dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions. Hardware retailers, buoyed by stronger sales, were the biggest drivers of the improvement, with confidence in this segment rising 21 points. FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said the rebound reflects resilient consumer demand supported by lower inflation, interest-rate cuts, and continued withdrawals from the two-pot retirement system. “The jump in…

Signing up for Vitality health insurance in the UK earlier this year taught me something about behaviour change that policymakers elsewhere might find instructive. To earn two months of free medical cover under our joining promotion, my wife Sithabiso and I each needed to accumulate 48 activity points for two consecutive months. The maths is straightforward: walk 7 000 steps and earn 3 points. Hit 10 000 for 5 points. Push to 12 500 for 8. Sixteen days of moderate walking, or six days of serious effort, and a bunch of nifty shopping vouchers unlock alongside the discount. No lectures. No prohibitions. Just a system designed to make healthy choices feel like wins. And you best believe that S’tha and I met the mark and copped those freebies. We've also…

The SPAR Group has generated a much improved second-half trading performance, with tight cost management, robust cash generation and a materially strengthened balance sheet. The grocery retailer and wholesaler to independently-owned stores and to its own stores reset its business in the 52-weeks to September 26, 2024, optimising and simplifying the group structure. "We have taken purposeful steps to reduce debt, simplify the group, improve operational efficiency and restore resilience…The momentum we saw in the second half, combined with improved cash generation and lower leverage, gives us confidence in our ability to restore shareholder returns, while continuing to invest responsibly in the business," said the CEO Angelo Swartz. SPAR's net debt reduced by 40% to R5.4 billion from R9.1bn in 2024. This was mainly due to the strategic disposals of…

The festive season is here, glittering lights, irresistible spreads, and indulgent nights are calling. But with the joy of celebration often comes the guilt of overindulgence. Sound familiar? The good news is, you can enjoy the festivities guilt-free while keeping your health (and waistline) on track. Renowned nutritionist and lifestyle coach, Angelique Daubermann, better known as “The Lean Girl,” knows this all too well. With her relatable, no-nonsense approach to health, Daubermann has built a thriving community of women who want to lose fat, stay strong, and still enjoy the foods they love. As the founder of Lean Girl Kitchen Coach and the Lean Body Lab, she’s here to share practical tips for navigating the holiday food frenzy. Here are her top strategies to help you indulge responsibly and bounce…

Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso is considering suspending the embattled Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB). The eight-member board was appointed in 2022, however, it has been at loggerheads with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, who is the Trust's sole trustee. The king disbanded the board in December last year, however, the decision was reversed by Nyhontso who argued that he alone had the powers to dissolve the board and not the king. Nyhontso and Misuzulu yesterday appeared to have resolved their disagreement over the board with both delegating Misuzulu’s Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to read out a suspension letter of the board to traditional leaders (amakhosi). The board had asked the amakhosi to attend a three-day conference in Durban. The minister and the king distanced themselves from the conference, saying they…

Five people accused of running a military recruitment programme for Russia have been granted bail. The bail applications were unopposed by the State. The accused, Patricia Mantula, 39, Thulani Mazibuko, 24, Siphamandla Ntuli, 23, Sphamandla Chabalala, 23, and Sfiso Mabena, 21, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the State did not oppose bail for the five accused, as no grounds existed to justify their continued detention. NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the suspects were nabbed following a tip-off from police stationed at the OR Tambo International Airport. The accused were allegedly on their way to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. “They were removed from the boarding…

Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele has urged Fifa to conduct serious introspection as the national team prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without several of their Europe-based players. South Africa will open their campaign against Angola on December 22 as they aim to improve on their third-place finish from the previous edition, where they were eliminated by Nigeria on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals. The national team has now fully shifted their focus to AFCON after learning their World Cup group on Friday. Bafana were drawn in Group A alongside tournament hosts Mexico, South Korea, and one of Denmark, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia or the Czech Republic, who will compete in the Uefa play-offs in March. Reacting to the draw, Mkhalele said he…

Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram insisted yesterday that the Italian side always rise to the occasion in the Champions League as he anticipates a fightback from crisis-hit Liverpool. The English giants are struggling in ninth place in the Premier League with only four wins in their last 15 matches and a crisis sparked by Mohamed Salah's criticism. The Egyptian has scored 48 goals in the Champions League across his career, but has been left out of manager Arne Slot's squad for the match at the San Siro following his public airing of grievances after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds on Saturday. "The truth is that a champion, when doubts arise, wants to show what they're really capable of," Thuram told a pre-match press conference. "Everyone might think this is the…

Orlando Pirates will have one more stop before they conclude what has been a busy year, when they play the Carling Black Label Cup against an All-Star Team on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Following their triumph in the Carling Knockout final against Marumo Gallants (1-0) after extra-time, the Buccaneers have secured their place in the 'Beer Cup' this coming weekend. In his first season with the Buccaneers, Oswin Appollis has played a major role in the team’s success, delivering key performances that have made him an important figure as they continue their push to become the top side in the country. This weekend’s match will give Pirates another opportunity to reinforce their dominance against a team selected by fans through a voting system. While it’s uncertain if he,…

The Lions head to England with a refreshed squad and a clear focus on Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash against the Newcastle Red Bulls (7.30pm kick-off), with assistant coach Barend Pieterse highlighting the opportunities for the team’s youngsters to stake a claim for future URC selection. Heavy rotation was always part of the plan, Pieterse explained, at a media conference just before their departure yesterday; and not a knee-jerk response to the opening-round loss to Benetton this past weekend, or because the team are keeping one eye on 'bigger' fixtures, including a derby against the Stormers, on their return. “We spoke a lot about it and took the decision when we started with our pre-season planning. It was always the idea. It’s a tough trip, and there’s no sense in…

Dream sporting debuts do not come much better than that of Sonwabo Sokoyi, who was a last-minute addition to the Blitzboks squad for the Cape Town Sevens, ending up with a try in the final against Argentina as the South Africans became back-to-back champions. Sokoyi, a product of Grey College, joined the squad when Mfundo Ndhlovu withdrew to take up an offer from a United Rugby Championship team. The 23-year-old scored two tries as a replacement in the match against Great Britain, while his try in the final changed the course of the game. The Blitzboks were struggling at 7-19 early in the second half when Sokoyi got the ball and let his feet do the talking. “We actually spoke about this try just before the final,” Sokoyi told News24.…