Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-04-24 i Mercury

CONSUMERS reliant on credit may have to endure an extended period of restrictive monetary policy before the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) considers cutting interest rates later this year, despite recent data showing inflation has plummeted to its lowest level in nearly five years. Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday showed that inflation surprised on the downside and cooled for the first time in five months on the back of lower fuel and education. Stats SA said the headline consumer price inflation (CPI) fell sharply by 0.5 percentage points to 2.7% in March from 3.2% in February, mainly on account of food and non-alcoholic beverages and fuel prices. This better-than-expected inflation print marked the lowest reading since June 2020, falling below the lower bound of the Sarb’s…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning that over one-third of countries are set to experience an increase in public debt by 2025, compared to the previous year. The concerns arise amidst escalating uncertainties and significant policy shifts that are altering economic and fiscal landscapes globally.. According to the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor report released on Wednesday, these economies collectively represent about 75% of global GDP and included major players— China and the United States—as well as Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The Fiscal Monitor projects global public debt to increase by 2.8 percentage points this year—more than twice the estimate for 2024—pushing debt levels above 95% of world gross domestic product. Vitor Gaspar, IMF director…

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille has said that the 2025 Africa Travel Indaba (ATI) was expected to surpass the figures it drew last year and generate more than R300 million for the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. De Lille on Wednesday announced that more than 1 200 exhibitors were confirmed for this year’s gathering taking place at Durban ICC on 13-15 May – a powerful testament to the vibrancy of the African tourism sector. She explained that this year’s motto transcended mere branding. "It is the essence of this all-important gathering because Africa’s Travel Indaba is not just a trade show. It is a celebration of who we are," De Lille said. "A declaration of what we believe. It is a declaration that we want to think and act without limits.…

A business plan is never set in stone. It should reflect the realities of your operating environment, especially considering how quickly economic conditions seem to be shifting in 2025. While some economists remain optimistic, predicting growth of up to 2.1% this year, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) recently trimmed its 2025 forecast down to 1.7%, citing ongoing supply constraints and weak demand. With the effects of global trade tensions, rising costs and looming tax increases already being felt across the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector, it may be necessary to revisit your business plan. Here are five signs that your plan may no longer be fit for purpose in today’s economic environment: 1. Your revenue assumptions haven’t changed If your plan still assumes consistent or growing customer demand…

High costs could inhibit benefits of high gold prices for South African producers of the precious metal although there is optimism that its auto makers will register growth this year, analysts at Fitch Solutions said on Wednesday, highlighting a mixed outlook for exports this year. South Africa exports automobiles, metals and minerals as well as other manufactured products to markets such as Europe, China and the United States among others. With South Africa falling out with the US, analysts have been weighing up the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Analysts at Fitch Solutions said on Wednesday that the US tariffs on South Africa would affect its agriculture and auto sectors the most. “The country will face an effective tariff rate of 9.5% according to our calculations and this will…

Vedanta Resources, is considering a US public listing for its Zambian unit Konkola Copper Mines as one of its options to try to raise about $1 billion for mine development, three sources familiar with the details, told Reuters. The miner, owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, has hired Barclays and Citigroup to advise on the plans for an initial public offering, said the sources, who declined to be named due to sensitivity around the discussions. Vedanta is considering New York as one of the options to list KCM, as the Zambian unit is known, the sources said. They said the discussions were at an early stage and a timeline had yet to be finalised.A spokesperson for Vedanta Resources declined to comment beyond saying various options were under consideration. "We continue…

Report reveals dire state of KZN police stations THE Portfolio Committee on Police oversight report on police stations in KwaZulu-Natal revealed shocking details of the state of the police stations in the province. The committee inspected several police station facilities including Inanda, Verulam, Durban Central and the Forensic Science Laboratory in Amanzimtoti recently. They also conducted an oversight visit to the Mthatha station in the Eastern Cape. The committee recommended that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) conduct assessments and infrastructure upgrades to these stations urgently. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron said the Mthatha SAPS needed a permanent detective office within the current precinct and there was a lack of appropriate vehicle types for the terrain. “The SAPS should implement a compulsory licensing and driver readiness programme to ensure…

Newzroom Afrika has placed journalist and anchor Aldrin Sampear on a break following his involvement in a road rage incident that has since gone viral on social media. The broadcaster is conducting an internal review of the matter. The incident on Thursday, April 17 on the busy streets of Randburg, Gauteng, was captured by Laricia Augusto, 20. She claimed Sampear was aggressive during an exchange following a minor collision between their vehicles. “He was screaming at me. I tried to defend myself, pointing out that what he did was deliberate road rage. I even told him there was more than enough space for him to have driven safely,” she told The Citizen at the time. In the clip, Sampear asks the woman why she gave him the middle finger. Augusto…

THE GOALLESS stalemate that AmaZulu and Golden Arrows played in January was an anomaly, at least if last season’s results between the two teams are anything to go by. This KwaZulu-Natal derby produced goals aplenty in the previous campaign and there’s every reason to anticipate the same fare when they lock horns this weekend. After all, unlike at the beginning of the year when everything was still up in the air and the direction of the season was not that evident, there is much more to play for on Saturday. Both clubs are in with a chance of making the top eight and they will be eager to secure their place in the season-opening tournament. Good reason therefore to anticipate an encounter that will produce three if not four goals…

The greens of Parkhill Bowling Club were a riot of colour and camaraderie this Easter weekend, as 144 bowlers from across the country gathered for the club’s landmark 100th anniversary Easter Tournament — an event made possible thanks to the continued support of Hollywoodbets and CMH Nissan Ballito. Running from Saturday through Sunday afternoon, the tournament once again confirmed its place as a highlight on the bowls calendar, blending fierce competition with unmatched fun and fellowship. Parkhill BC President Graham Schouten was quick to acknowledge the sponsors’ critical role in the tournament’s ongoing success. “We’re immensely grateful to Hollywoodbets and CMH Nissan Ballito for their unwavering backing,” Schouten said. “This year was especially significant as we celebrated our centenary. Their support helped us deliver a top-class event that reflected…

MOHAU Nkota. Relebohile Mofokeng. These two youngsters have fond memories of their last three visits to north Africa this season. As such when Orlando Pirates navigate their last pathway to the CAF Champions League final all eyes will be on them. Pirates will face Pyramids at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday (8pm) in the semi-final second leg on the back of a stalemate in Orlando a week ago. The Sea Robbers need to win the game or at least play to a scoring draw to sail to the last hurdle - the final of the competition since 2013. But given that they’ll have Nkota and Mofokeng at their disposal that will be a double-dose of boost on top of the fact that Pyramids do not have an away…

South African fund managers are preferring a high gold positioning as the country’s economic growth outlook and confidence in reforms dim, Bank of America (BofA) data showed on Wednesday. Confidence in South Africa’s economic growth prospects has been dimming on the back of disagreements within the government of national unity (GNU). Geopolitical risks were also weighing in as the US and China tariff wars entrench although President Donald Trump this week hinted at a climb-down. BofA’s latest South Africa Fund Manager Survey nonetheless reflected a “high positioning relative to history in gold, banks and bonds. This comes as a “growth and reform hopes dim” with the top risk being “political shifts” to the left. BofA noted “a net 38% see 'reform slowing' (against peak reading of a net 56% September…

There are concerns that MTN Group may have misled its shareholders about the nature of ongoing terrorism litigation in the United States in the recently published Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Annual Financial Statements names five active legal cases related to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against MTN Group in US courts, and its Director's Report declares that each of those cases has “been assessed as remote and therefore no contingent liabilities have been disclosed.” The Annual Financial Statements were authorized by the MTN Board of Directors on 17 March 2025. The Chairman of the MTN Board is Mcebisi Jonas, the newly appointed South African Special Envoy to the United States. Professor Jeffrey Breinholt of George Washington University helps to shed light on why the…

BankservAfrica's much-anticipated Take-home Pay Index (BTPI) is set to reveal a small dip for March 2025, marking a slight retreat in the wage landscape of South Africa. Nonetheless, analysts at BankservAfrica asserted on Wednesday that the overall trend remained upward, buoyed by improving economic conditions in recent months, challenging the prevailing headwinds of escalating global trade tensions and increasing political uncertainty at home. Earlier this month, BankservAfrica showcased its Economic Transaction Index (BETI), which displays the standardised value of all economic transactions in the South African economy at seasonally adjusted real prices (2005=100). Notably, the BETI indicated a modest recovery in March 2025, with some crucial adjustments accounting for recent fluctuations. Shergeran Naidoo, BankservAfrica’s Head of Stakeholder Engagements, reported that the BETI rose to an index level of 137.1 for…

South African SMEs navigate a complex business landscape, juggling daily operational demands with the urgent need to adopt rapidly evolving digital technologies. Historically, advanced technologies like AI have been largely inaccessible to SMEs, putting them at a distinct disadvantage compared to larger corporations. However, a new wave of innovation, mirrored by developments in the Global North and championed by companies like LeanTechnovations locally, demonstrates how the strategic integration of AI with proven methodologies like Lean can empower SMEs and foster a more equitable competitive environment. In economies across the Global North, we've seen AI transform SME sectors. In Germany, the Industrie 4.0 initiatives have enabled smaller manufacturers to automate production lines, optimise supply chains, and personalise products, previously the domain of large enterprises. In the United States, AI-powered marketing tools…

African Bank has embarked on a new journey that empowers its own permanent workers with the launch of the iKamva Lethu (Our Future) Employee Share Ownership Scheme (ESOS) in 2024. The bank on Wednesday said this was a symbolic move towards realigning its mission of being a bank for the people, by the people, for the betterment of all South Africans. This initiative allocates a significant 10% ownership of African Bank Holdings Limited (ABHL) shares to its permanent employees, fostering a culture of inclusivity and shared responsibility among its workforce. In a bid to ensure equitable access to ownership, the ESOS provides all employees—regardless of race, age, tenure, or seniority—with a stake in the company’s success. This significant decision aims not only to enhance employee retention and commitment but also…

Parenting is often portrayed as a joyful, fulfilling journey and it is. But behind the Instagram-perfect moments, many parents are silently struggling with exhaustion, resentment and a deep sense of overwhelm. This phenomenon, known as parental burnout, is more than just everyday tiredness. It’s a state of chronic physical and emotional depletion that leaves parents feeling disconnected, ineffective and even guilty for wanting a break. What is parental burnout? Parental burnout is a state of extreme exhaustion caused by the relentless demands of caregiving. Unlike ordinary fatigue, it doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep. Instead, it lingers, leaving parents feeling: • Emotionally drained, activities that once brought joy now feel like chores. • Detached from their children, love is still there, but the emotional connection feels strained. •Ineffective…

A RECENT report detailing the state of consumer debt in the eThekwini Municipality has sparked concerns that ratepayers are deeply overstretched and unable to pay their municipal bills – and could fall even further behind with the new tariffs coming into effect in July. The report from the finance committee for this month shows that consumer debt in the city now stands at a staggering R35 billion, with a large portion of this debt being more than 30 days old. It added that the debtors’ book grew significantly by R7.9bn compared to January 2024. Household debt makes up the bulk of the debt at R26bn, contributing to 75% of the total debtors. “This reflects a growing number of households struggling to pay their municipal bills,” said the report. Commercial debt,…

The Western Cape High Court has denied applications brought in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act for the discharge of the accused in the Joshlin Smith matter. The applications were brought by two of the accused after the State closed its case yesterday morning. Earlier, the State called Colonel Riaan Morris from the provincial Commercial Crimes Unit, who played six videos for the court. The videos include Kelly Smith being filmed on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at an open prayer service being held for Joshlin. The other videos also show Kelly having a meeting at the Spur with Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie. A few videos of the meeting with McKenzie are shown. He also provided two links, which led to two videos…

Police arrested 17 605 suspects across the country in just one week, with KwaZulu-Natal emerging as a major hot spot during a series of high-impact operations, including Operation Shanela and blitzes targeting illegal liquor outlets over the Easter weekend. But experts have warned that high arrest figures are not always an indication of success – especially in the absence of strong prosecutions and a functioning justice system. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, 541 illegal shebeens and taverns were shut down during the Easter long weekend, with 270 of those closures taking place in KwaZulu-Natal. Nationally, 757 people were arrested for dealing in illegal liquor, including 270 in KZN, 144 in Mpumalanga, and 142 in Gauteng. Police also arrested 1 166 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol…

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have confirmed that its long-standing commercial partner, Momentum, will conclude its sponsorship of the Proteas Women’s team at the end of April. This partnership, which has flourished over the past 13 years, has played a pivotal role in the revitalisation and professionalisation of women's cricket in South Africa. Throughout the duration of their collaboration, Momentum has been instrumental in nurturing young talent and fostering growth within the women’s game, aligning closely with CSA’s values of access and inclusion. This commitment is evident through their support across various programme pipelines, ranging from boys’ schools to community cricket initiatives, and notably sponsorships of the South Africa U19 women's team, which has paved the way for the emergence of the Proteas Women. CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki expressed…

After a slow start to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Aiden Markram has been piling on the runs for Lucknow Super Giants. After making scores of 15, 1, and 28 in his first three games, Markram has since scored 53, 47, 58, 6, 66, and 52. The 30-year-old’s tally of 323 runs over his nine innings has seen him rise to seventh on the run-scoring charts. His average of 36 has also come at a strike-rate of 150 while he’s notched up four fifties. Markram’s exploits are some way the best by a Proteas batter, with Heinrich Klaasen the next best SA player way down in 24th on the run-scoring charts. Klaasen’s highest score of 37 has come at an average of 35 and a strike-rate of 159. Aiden…

The Stormers never won a single Super Rugby title. Not even Bobby Skinstad’s legendary “Men in Black” team of 1999. In fact, they did not even get past the semifinals. The best result the Stormers achieved was runners-up in the historic 2010 Soweto showpiece. For many years my steadfast belief was the Stormers simply never had a flyhalf that could act as the puppet master. Someone who could pull the strings like he was in charge of the show. It certainly created heated debate in the office with our former sports editor Ian Smit championing Peter Grant’s capabilities against my assertions. And this from a man that held Michael du Plessis in reverence. I always pointed to the Crusaders’ championship winning teams who boasted Andrew Mehrtens and the great “DC”…

Governance issues remain as PIC sets conditions for public interest to be addressed The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has accepted Saudi Arabia-based Zahid Group’s $1.3 billion (R23bn) bid for Barloworld Group, but has set conditions to address its public interest concerns around the deal. The Zahid Group has proposed a R120 per share offer, which was a 30% premium on the share price at the time of the offer, but shareholders initially voted against the bid amid claims of governance irregularity, due to the participation of its CEO Dominic Sewela as part of the takeover consortium and claims of lack of transparency in the transaction, and despite the group’s assertion that there were now governance breaches. However, in terms of the standby offer made in February, engagements took place between…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Wednesday said the 2025 Budget process has instilled important lessons, relating to improving transparency in decision-making processes and that the current budgetary process is not transparent and inclusive enough. The 2025 Budget has brought into sharp focus the government's revenue-raising and expenditure measures after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed a controversial 0.5 percentage point increase in the value-added tax. Speaking at the 2025 Budget Roundtable discussion, Mashatile said a transparent process was one that allowed for public participation, scrutiny, and informed decision-making, ultimately leading to better resource allocation and improved service delivery to the citizenry. "In fact, the foremost lesson we have learned is that we need to return to the concept of the people's budget, this was advocated by Ben Turok, and Joanamarrie…

I recently found myself in a local salon, getting my daughter and niece ready for the upcoming school term. It was supposed to be a routine visit; just a little back-to-school grooming, but as I settled into the comfortable chair and watched the buzz of women working around me, something far more meaningful unfolded. The salon owner, Sibongile, moved confidently between her clients, her voice calm, her hands assured. As someone who works with entrepreneurs, I’m always alert to stories that don't make headlines but quietly shape our communities. Sibongile’s story, as she shared it while gently parting my niece’s hair, struck me deeply. She began her business in 2015 with two chairs, one mirror, and a dream. The garage where she started has since transformed into a vibrant hair…

Capitec, the digital bank with more than half of South Africa as clients, increased headline earnings 30% to R13.7 billion as its diversification initiatives over recent years started to unlock value for its clients and the bank. The share price surged 7.1% to R3 350.77 on the JSE Wednesday afternoon after the release of the results for the year to February 28, while the JSE All Share Index was only up by 0.28%, which indicated that investors were also optimistic about the bank’s prospects. Over the past five years, the bank's journey has included the introduction of business banking, value-added services (VAS), Capitec Connect, and insurance under its own insurance licence. This diversification leveraged the group’s active client base, which now exceeds 24 million, with 13 million of the clients…

Shares in South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare dropped more than 30% on Wednesday, a day after the company issued a profit warning over what it called a “material contractual dispute”. Aspen alerted shareholders to the dispute after the close of the local stock market on Tuesday. It said it related to a manufacturing and technology agreement with a contract manufacturing customer for mRNA products, saying details were subject to contractual confidentiality. Normalised earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from its manufacturing business could be R2 billion lower than last guided in its full-year results, it added. By 14h10 on Wednesday its shares were down about 32%. On a Wednesday call, Aspen said the dispute had come “from left field” and management was not aware of it at the time of…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced that it has appointed a Senior Counsel to evaluate and advise on the possibility of appealing the Timothy Omotoso judgment. Nigerian televangelist Omotso, 66, and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani, 41, and Zikiswa Sitho, 33, were found not guilty of 32 counts of charges which included racketeering, trafficking in persons, rape and sexual assault. NPA national spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said the decision to consider appealing the Omotoso case was based on the gravity and complexity of the case, as well as the fact that the State could only appeal an acquittal under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Omotoso was acquitted, alongside his co-accused, after spending eight years in jail while his trial commenced. Mhaga went on to say that the recent…

The country’s security cluster has beefed up President Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy president Paul Mashatile's security detail. National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that following an alleged shooting of Mashatile’s convoy in Boksburg last month, a high-level investigation into the matter has been instituted with a ballistic report already concluded. On Tuesday, on the sidelines of the Mofolo 4 commemorative event at Mofolo Arts Centre, Mashatile indicated that he had left the issue of beefing up his security detail to the office of the security cluster. This comes after the deputy president on the weekend claimed that his official state vehicle was shot at several times while he was being driven from a recent ANC NEC meeting in the east of Johannesburg. However, the EFF said it found it…

Teachers affiliated to the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) took to the street yesterday, demanding the scrapping of government-imposed austerity measures, which they claim are crippling the education sector and driving teachers to resign due to excessive workloads. Union members marched to the Department of Basic Education and National Treasury, delivering their memorandum of demands amid a strong police presence. Sadtu’s general secretary, Dr Mugwena Maluleke, said that austerity measures had severely harmed the education system, driving teachers out. “We have seen excessive workloads which is killer number one for our teachers. They are resigning. They are leaving the profession because of workload and classes that are overcrowded every day because the department does not have the money due to the austerity measures by the Treasury,” he said. He…

Briton Jack Draper has given his backing to world number one Jannik Sinner over the doping controversy which saw the Italian accept a three-month ban and said he does not deserve any of the hate he gets. Sinner accepted the ban in February following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged a tribunal's decision to clear him after two positive tests. The 23-year-old three-times Grand Slam champion has not played since winning the Australian Open in January. "When people ask about him, or anyone, I'll tell the truth. I think Jannik is a really, really genuine, nice person," Draper told the Guardian and BBC in a joint interview published on Tuesday. "In this situation I'm sure that he would have absolutely zero idea of anything. That's just…

Watching him charge into the opposition, you would think that there’s little that scares Marcell Coetzee. But a bout of concussion that took him longer to recover from than usual this year has given the Bulls loose forward a fresh perspective on his career. He turns 34 in early May, but the way he has been playing since returning to the pitch makes him appear 10 years younger. The Springbok talk won’t go away either, although Coetzee earned the last of his 31 Test caps in 2022 already. His outstanding form, perhaps the best of his career, certainly warrants another look from Bok boss Rassie Erasmus – especially following Deon Fourie’s season-ending broken leg sustained last weekend. Coetzee set a new Bulls URC record 31 tackles in the tense 16-13…