Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-05-13 i Mercury

JSE-listed Boxer Retail added nearly 3 000 new jobs in the 53 weeks to March 2 after it opened more than 40 new stores and met the financial forecasts it had made to its investors on the JSE months ago. The soft discount retailer added 48 net new stores during the period, bringing its store network across South Africa and Eswatini to 525. The plan is to open another 60 stores—25 superstores and 35 liquor stores—in the new financial year. Additionally, there are plans to expand the distribution centre capacity for the stores, particularly in northern KwaZulu-Natal, CEO Marek Masojada said in an interview with BR. The additional employees brought its full staff complement to close to 32 000 and demonstrated the retailer’s growth, and its efforts to uplift the…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) said on Monday that it was considering various options to bring stability to the embattled State-funded poultry producer, Daybreak Foods. This comes as the PIC is engaged in ongoing talks with the Daybreak board of directors in the aftermath of a split that has seen the board chairperson leave reportedly after securing a R625 000 sitting allowance package. This is as the PIC over the weekend allocated a requested further R74 million to Daybreak, initially earmarked for capital expenditure, in a bid to address the company’s immediate liquidity needs, which includes outstanding salaries for employees for the month of April 2025, feed supplies and specific essential operational expenses. The PIC charged that the board and management of Daybreak Foods remained responsible and accountable for the…

South32, which operates in South Africa, Mozambique and Australia, has picked Anglo American technical and operations director Matt Daley as new CEO with effect from next year when incumbent Graham Kerr steps down. In South Africa, South32 operates the Hillside Aluminium project although in January it temporarily shut down the Wessels manganese mine in the Northern Cape before re-opening it. In March this year, Hillside was the subject of a claim by an Australian company that charged that the South32 subsidiary had improperly used intellectual property related to metal transportation at the South African operation. Daley will initially join South32 as deputy CEO starting February next year before assuming the CEO role later in the year when Kerr steps down. “(Daley) is a highly accomplished executive with extensive operational and…

As Japanese investment in Africa quietly doubles from 520 companies in 2010 to 972 by 2022, profound questions emerge about which African innovations successfully transcend borders and why others, equally promising, remain stubbornly local. The answers point not to technological superiority or funding rounds, but to something far more fundamental. Meet Alesimo Mwanga From private sector to ecosystem builder and researcher, Johannesburg-based Tanzanian-Nigerian Alesimo Mwanga's trajectory through Africa's development landscape reflects a deep commitment to bridging innovation with tangible economic impact. During our deep, in-trench collaboration on ecosystem engagement strategy and execution at 54 Collective, I witnessed firsthand her singular ability to distil complex innovation dynamics into actionable insight and delivery. Fittingly, this column arrives on PAWA Africa's fifth anniversary - a milestone worth celebrating. Those familiar with her previous…

As the winter chill arrives, so too does the annual rise in sniffles, sneezes, and serious illnesses like influenza and respiratory infections. But this year, the flu season arrived earlier than expected, catching many families and workplaces off guard. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the 2025 flu season began in late March, the earliest onset since 2010. If you thought you had more time to prepare, you’re not alone. Data from the NICD’s pneumonia surveillance programme highlights that influenza A(H3N2) is the dominant strain this year, accounting for nearly 70% of laboratory-confirmed cases. This is more than just a statistic; it’s a wake-up call for South Africans to double down on prevention, especially when it comes to one of the simplest, yet most effective, barriers against…

While the lawyers who represented more than 200 claimants in a class action related to the 2017/18 listeriosis outbreak have welcomed the recent commitment made by Tiger Brands to settle claims brought by victims, some victims claim they have been excluded from the settlement offer. Tiger Brands through the company’s lead reinsurer, QBE Insurance Group, presented a conditional settlement offer to the plaintiffs’ legal team with the offer said to apply to certain victims of the deadly 2017/2018 listeriosis outbreak. The settlement specifically caters to victims who were affected by the ST6 strain of Listeria monocytogenes which is the same strain that was ultimately traced back to the Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane. In 2017/2018, South Africa recorded the largest listeriosis outbreak in history, claiming the lives of 218 people…

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) discounted a convicted rapist’s life sentence to ten years imprisonment for the rape of an eight-year-old girl at a tavern toilet during 2010 or 2011. Charles Phogole, who entered into a plea agreement at trial, was convicted and sentenced by the Regional Court Johannesburg, held in Alexandra (the trial court) during February 2015. The new sentence was antedated to 2015. According to Phogole’s counsel, who appealed against the conviction and sentence, the mother of the minor girl “influenced the complainant to falsely implicate him”. The SCA found sufficient cause to interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial court due to the fact that Phogole had not been informed that the minimum sentence of life imprisonment was applicable prior to entering his guilty plea.…

Two suspects, including a former field ranger, are facing criminal charges after being arrested in the Skukuza section of the Kruger National Park on Sunday for illegal hunting and trespassing. The arrests were made after field rangers patrolling Block 19 in the Skukuza area discovered tracks belonging to four individuals. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said that during the operation, they spotted four men and ordered them to stop. The suspects fled, prompting a chase by the rangers. Two of the four men were eventually apprehended, while the other two escaped. “One of the arrested suspects was identified as a former field ranger who had previously worked in the park. He was dismissed in 2021 for conspiracy to commit a crime,” Ndubane. Ndubane confirmed that the suspects were in…

South African sprint sensation Akani Simbine has set himself up as the early man to beat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year, after powering TeamSA to gold at the Athletics World Relays in Guangzhou, China, in the 4X100m relay at the weekend. The 31-year-old sprinter is enjoying a purple patch at a time when most sprinters are ready to hang up their spikes. The jet-heeled runner has rapidly shed his tag as the ‘nearly man’ of global athletics. In an exclusive interview with Independent media yesterday, Simbine’s coach, Werner Prinsloo, was asked what the sprinter is doing differently this season. “I think it’s a combination of things; an accumulation of things over the past few years. Mentally he is in a good space, he has this…

Love him, or loathe him, Virat Kohli was undeniably one of cricket’s brightest entertainers. Yesterday, the cricketing world celebrated a player who not only excelled at the highest levels but transformed the very fabric of Test cricket, as he announced his retirement from the format. With an impressive tally of 9,230 runs across 123 Tests and a commendable average of 46.85, Kohli ranks amongst India’s cricketing elite, sitting below legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. However, Kohli’s contributions go beyond just numbers. In an era where the faster-paced T20 cricket reigns supreme, threatening to overshadow the traditional format, Kohli emerged as a beacon of hope for Test cricket. He instilled a sense of pride and relevance in the timeless art of batting, ensuring that the next generation…

Golden Arrows will hope to take advantage of Orlando Pirates’ turbulent run and bid farewell to departing coach Jose Riveiro with an upset when the two sides meet in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night. It’s been a rough few weeks for the Buccaneers, who saw their CAF Champions League dream collapse, stumbled in the league title race, and then watched their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs end a decade-long drought with a victory in the Nedbank Cup final. And if that wasn’t enough, Pirates confirmed on Monday that Riveiro, one of their most decorated tacticians in the club’s modern era, will leave earlier than expected. The Spaniard was set to finish the season, but the club granted his request for an early release. Tuesday’s clash at Orlando Stadium set for a…

Has the rise of the false nine made quality strikers a rare commodity in the English Premier League? It could have all been so different for the Gunners this season, had they invested in a world-class striker in the January transfer window, or so the story goes. But Mikel Arteta stuck to his guns, and trusted in the players at his disposal. It is a decision that seems to have backfired in spectacular fashion. Puns aside, Arsenal’s perceived failings in front of goal raise questions about the general striker situation in England. Striking out They are not alone in the search for a target man to finish the plethora of chances the Gunners create, and to potentially take them from also-rans to champions. Even champions Liverpool could do with a…

Farming associations on Monday expressed concern about the impact of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) outbreak on the red meat export industry. This comes as the People’s Republic of China has already suspended imports of cloven hoofed animals and related products following Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. The Department of Agriculture on Saturday confirmed an outbreak of FMD in the province of Mpumalanga and new cases in KwaZulu-Natal. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), on Monday said that the livestock and poultry industries accounted for nearly half of South Africa’s agricultural economy. “Because of this large size, we worry about the sector when these industries encounter challenges. One of the persistent challenges of the South African livestock industry…

Calgro M3’s robust development pipeline is helping to address South Africa’s serious housing shortage, but more needs to be done to lower the barriers to entry in the affordable housing sector, said the group CEO Ben Pierre Malherbe. He was interviewed at the release on Monday of the integrated development and memorial park group's annual results for the year to February 28, which showed it had maintained profit margin growth, continued to expand in both business segments, and all in spite of revenue pressures and a decision to temporarily slow production in the first half. The group had 36 000 residential opportunities secured at the end of the financial year, he said. The pipeline includes the newly acquired Bankenveld District City Development near Sandton, which will add in excess of…

Redefine Properties lifted its interim dividend per share 0.7% to 20.42 cents a share in the six months to February 28, even though its core operating segments delivered solid growth. Profitability for the JSE-listed REIT that owns retail, office, industrial, and specialised properties continued to improve across all regions, driven by better occupancy and tight cost management. The net operating profit margin rose to 76.9%, up from 76.5% in the comparable period, with South Africa at 79.1% and the EPP core portfolio in Poland, at 77.2%. EPP core occupancy reached a near-full 99.2%, while local occupancy also improved steadily, signaling resilience in the leasing market, despite rental pressures – particularly in the local office sector. Reflecting on the past five years for the group that owns Centurion Mall, Blue Route…

Last week, the 1 million subscribers for the SABC Plus app was celebrated in Parliament, I could not help but wonder if it was a milestone worth celebrating. There are reasons to celebrate an existence of a streaming platform that allows anyone with a smartphone to view national broadcaster content. There are enough reasons to celebrate a technological leap for a an organisation that has been part of the former technology. I’m not sure however if in a country of 60 million people we should only have one adoption of a technology that should be accessible to many. In the past I’ve suggested that SABC should create a premium version of the platform to generate revenue. If there’s only a million subscribers to a free one can only wonder what…

Parenting is a journey filled with choices, and the decisions we make about how to raise our children can profoundly shape their lives. Over the years, parenting styles have evolved, with terms like “helicopter parenting”, “gentle parenting”, and “authoritarian vs authoritative” becoming household phrases. Recently, a new approach to parenting has captured public interest: lighthouse parenting. Search queries for “What is lighthouse parenting?” have surged, with the term gaining popularity as a middle ground between the extremes of overbearing helicopter parenting and overly permissive hands-off approaches. But what exactly is lighthouse parenting, and why does it resonate with so many parents today? Coined by Dr Kenneth Ginsburg, a paediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, lighthouse parenting is an approach that blends guidance and independence. In his book Raising Kids to Thrive,…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is planning a meeting with United States President Donald Trump regarding the refugee status granted to a group of Afrikaners. The critical meeting comes in the wake of a recent chartered flight that transported 49 Afrikaners to the US, leading to questions about their eligibility for refugee status. President Ramaphosa addressed the issue yesterday at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where he made it clear that the migrants did not conform to the established criteria for individuals deserving of refugee protection. Ramaphosa said he spoke to Trump yesterday afternoon and told him that he had been provided with false information. "I told him I would like to come and meet him so that we can discuss this matter further," said Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa said that…

The National Department of Transport launched the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week campaign at one of Durban’s busiest taxi ranks this Sunday as part of a concerted effort to push road safety. The campaign, themed “Make Walking and Cycling Safe,” aims to illuminate the critical need for awareness regarding the safety of pedestrians and cyclists; it will run from May 12 to 18. Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa delivered a clear message highlighting alarming statistics regarding pedestrian safety. He stated that 44% of those killed during Easter were pedestrians. “This means we still need to engage on a higher level with South Africans on respecting the rules of the road. It’s small issues, but they are important. “Do not cross where it is not allowed. If there are…

Julius Malema has slammed the United Kingdom's decision to deny him a visa, calling it an “act of cowardice”. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader further accused billionaire business mogul Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump of attempting to criminalise him for his political views. Malema was scheduled to speak at a conference hosted by Cambridge University last week but said he was informed by British authorities, just hours before his flight from OR Tambo International Airport, that his visa had been denied. “I was supposed to get to London to meet with students, as I was invited by Cambridge University, but the white people denied me entry to London, saying they wouldn’t give me a visa,” Malema said at the weekend while addressing supporters in Ward 24 in…

Two eThekwini Municipality employees have been arrested after they were caught stealing diesel meant for municipal operations. The City said the arrests were made last week in eKukhanyeni, near Verulam, after investigators followed up on reports of suspicious activity involving municipal water trucks. The municipality confirmed that one municipal water truck was caught offloading diesel at a private residence, while another was parked next to the gate of the same residence. Both trucks were reportedly carrying water intended for delivery to communities. According to the City, a case of theft was opened at the Inanda Police Station, and the suspects are expected to appear in court. Investigators found 12 containers of diesel, each with a 25-litre capacity, totalling 300 litres of stolen fuel. At a recent Executive Committee (Exco) meeting,…

The urgent need for dialogue and the moral imperative to prevent nuclear conflict Eighty years ago, the world witnessed the devastating conclusion of World War II with the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic age was born in tragedy, etched permanently into the conscience of humanity. Today, we face a chilling reality: for the first time since those horrific events, the threat of nuclear war is no longer theoretical. It is real, it is present, and it is dangerously close. The visuals of mushroom clouds rising over Japanese cities remain one of the most harrowing symbols of human destruction. Those bombs ended a war but launched a new era of fear, a world living under the shadow of annihilation. Yet, here we are again, closer than ever to…

Stormers coach John Dobson seems to have painted himself into an interesting corner because of the form of a Durban prop that is likely to make way for another Durban prop. The Durban dilemma for Dobson is that he has signed Springbok looshead Ntuthuko Mchunu from the Sharks, the Maritzburg College old boy, only to have given a spectacular weekend URC debut to Vernon Matongo, a Durbanite himself Matongo was excellent for the Stormers in their defeat of the Dragons at the weekend. The pizzazz was all about Damian Willemse’s 100th cap, but there were sideshows from openside flank Paul de Villiers Durban schoolboy Matongo. The former Northwood schoolboy forced several scrum penalties to indicate that he is not going to give in to Mchunu when swaps Durban for Cape…

More than 1 000 people fell ill due to the listeriosis outbreak that killed around 200 others Tiger Brands, which is expecting stronger headline earnings per share for half year to March 2025, will make settlement offers to claimants affected by an outbreak of listeriosis that emanated from a subsisdiary of the company in Polokwane between 2017 and 2018. The company has been scrambling for a way to settle the issue. It said on Monday that the settlement offer it was undertaking “is a significant step towards resolution of the listeriosis” class action. It confirmed that attorneys representing the company’s lead reinsurer, QBE Insurance Group, had presented the settlement offer to the claimants’ attorneys as part of a road-map to a possible overall resolution of the listeriosis class action. More…

Balwin Properties, a prominent developer known for its environmentally efficient and affordable apartment estates, has announced a remarkable rebound in property sales during the latter half of its financial year. Following the commencement of a new interest rate cutting cycle, which has seen rates reduced by a total of 75 basis points since September 2024, the company reported substantial improvements in trading conditions. In the six-month period leading up to February 28, the company recognised revenue from the sale of 1 109 apartments, a significant increase of 73% compared to just 640 units sold in the first half. Additionally, pre-sales surged, with 814 apartments being contracted for future financial periods, up from 520 the previous year. Group CEO Steve Brookes attributed this increase to heightened buyer interest driven by the…

US President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has put the global economy into a tailspin but amid the instability and uncertainties, there are windows of opportunity for countries like India and South Africa, especially in the semiconductor, IT, and AI sectors. The trade war is significantly affecting the tech and the semiconductor industry in particular, by disrupting global supply chains and increasing production costs leading to possible shifts in manufacturing hubs. India’s semiconductor industry has been growing rapidly with strong support from the government, and New Delhi has ambitions to compete with countries like Taiwan, China, South Korea, the US, and Japan, the dominant players in the semiconductor space. With a projected 15% CAGR leading to a $108 billion semiconductor industry by 2030, the sector in India is poised…

Khloé Kardashian recently appeared on the On Purpose podcast, hosted by Jay Shetty, and opened up about an important conversation around comparison, jealousy, and the emotional patterns that begin forming in childhood. While many may associate these struggles with adulthood, Kardashian shared that her seven-year-old daughter, True, has already started comparing herself to her cousins, a moment that made her pause and reflect on how early these behaviours take root. The reality TV personality admitted that comparison is something she had to confront in her own life. Speaking to Shetty, she said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, explaining how it strips away satisfaction from one’s achievements when constantly measuring them against others. “And you can be inspired by others or motivated by others,” she said. “But the jealousy or…

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber has announced that, for the first time in South Africa’s history, naturalised citizens and lawful permanent residents will be able to apply for Smart ID cards. The applications can be made in person and through the eHomeAffairs online platform. The Home Affairs department said the change is a result of months of information technology reforms and is expected to benefit over 1.4 million people. Naturalised citizens are individuals who were not born in South Africa but have legally acquired citizenship after meeting residency and other legal requirements. They are distinct from citizens by birth, and until now, they faced administrative barriers that limited their access to certain official services, including the ability to apply for a Smart ID. “For years, these South Africans…

Soshanguve township residents were left frustrated after taps ran dry over the weekend, with no clear timeline for when water will be restored. The City of Tshwane has attributed the ongoing water outage to planned maintenance at the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir, which started on May 9 and is expected to last until May 23, 2025. Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said: “The areas you are enquiring about are on the list of reservoirs that are likely to experience low to no water pressure. This alert was also posted on our social media platforms.” According to the alert, the City received notice from Rand Water about planned maintenance at the reservoir. Mashigo said: “During the 14-day period, the water utility will be intensively cleaning and maintaining the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir.” The Hartebeesthoek Reservoir, according…

A study by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has painted a grim picture, revealing that more than half of South African employees are struggling with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and burnout due to work stress and insecurity. Based on responses from over 960 participants, the survey found that six in ten workers wished they could afford to quit their jobs, and nearly half reported feeling unhappy at the start of the workweek. “Work emerged as a consistent stressor for many survey respondents, regardless of their employment sector, which included education, health, NPOs, finance, government, retail and media", the study noted. The survey also found that 52% of respondents have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, with 32% experiencing depression, 25% clinical stress, 18% anxiety…

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have raised concerns about job losses amidst a decline in the country’s manufacturing sector. This was after Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released data showing that manufacturing production decreased by 0.8% in March compared to the same period last year. This marked the fifth consecutive month of decline in industrial activity. The largest negative contributors were petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products and electrical machinery. On a quarterly basis, production fell by 2.3% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. It also decreased by 2.2% on a monthly basis — March 2025 compared to February 2025. Saftu attributed the decline to neoliberal policies, insufficient investment and an…

An “embarrassed” Rúben Amorim raised doubts about his Manchester United future after another poor performance from his team in a 2-0 home loss to West Ham on Sunday. Three days after United reached the Uefa Europa League final, they were brought back down to earth by another lowly side in the Hammers, with the London club recording their first top-flight win at Old Trafford since 2007. Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen scored the visitors’ goals as United, once the undisputed kings of English football, suffered a 17th defeat in 36 league games this season to sit 16th. This latest lacklustre display angered Amorim, who has already delivered several public dressing-downs to his team since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag as United manager in November. “For me, the biggest concern…

Buffalo City Stadium in East London is set to come alive this Wednesday as the venue gears up to host Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership match against the local side, Chippa United. Stadium officials have created a buzz around the event, with posters amplifying the excitement through the slogan: ‘The sky is the limit – don’t miss this one.’ On Sunday, Sundowns effectively placed one hand on the prestigious Betway Premiership trophy following a resounding 3-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. This commanding win has brought the defending champions within a point of securing their eighth consecutive Premier Soccer League (PSL) title. Barring a monumental upset, Sundowns need only a win or draw against Chippa to secure the championship. However, the anticipated celebrations will…