Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-14 i Mercury

Nedbank splashes out all-cash deal in acquiring digital payments solutions service Nedbank Group plans to acquire 100% of fintech innovator iKhokha in an all-cash deal of about R1.65 billion, a significant move in Nedbank’s strategy to deepen its support for small and medium-sized enterprises through digital innovation and inclusive financial services. Founded in 2012, iKhokha has become a leading partner to many thousands of South African entrepreneurs, and shares the market with competitors such as Yoco and Capitec Pay. The company, founded by Matt Putman, Ramsay Daly, and Clive Putman, provides card machines, digital payment solutions, and business tools to SMEs, processing north of R20 billion annually in digital payments and other services. “This acquisition is a natural evolution of our existing relationship with iKhokha, and we are incredibly excited…

Professional services firm, EY, has reiterated the warning that the newly imposed 30% levy on South African exports to the United States could cause around 100 000 domestic job losses. South Africa faces a 30% rate, alongside peers like India (25%), Brazil (50%), Taiwan (20%), Switzerland (39%), Canada (35%), Mexico (18%), and Vietnam (22%). The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from 69 countries and effective from early August, will add to existing duties under Section 232 and the Inflation Reduction Act, overriding prior exemptions. According to the US Trade Representative, these measures signal a long-term pivot toward supply chain realignment and domestic reindustrialisation, unlikely to reverse soon. In its South African Macroeconomic Outlook for August released on Wednesday, EY said the agriculture and automotive sectors were expected…

For many entrepreneurs, growth is seen as a clear marker of success. However, for South African SMEs, expanding too quickly or for the wrong reasons can slow momentum and dangerously overstretch resources. Growth shouldn’t be a leap of faith, but rather a strategic move grounded in data, operational readiness, and sound financial planning. Every business owner wants to grow, but not every business is ready. We’ve seen entrepreneurs double their stock, hire additional staff, or open new branches after just a few strong months - only to find themselves overwhelmed. Growth is exciting, but it’s also costly. Without the right foundation in place, it can unravel the very progress you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Merchant Capital works closely with entrepreneurs and SMEs to support sustainable growth and has outlined…

Capitec Bank Holdings’ directors said they expect headline earnings per share (HEPS) to increase between 22% and 27% in the six months to August 31, which represents another strong performance compared with its competitor banks. The bank that pioneered paperless banking in South Africa from 2001 said in a trading statement on Wednesday that HEPS would likely be between 6 764 cents and 7 041 cents per share, compared to the 5 544 cents per share for the comparative six months ended August 31, 2024. The growth in HEPS keeps Capitec among the fastest growing banks in South Africa in terms of earnings. Nedbank, for instance, reported 6% growth in HEPS for its six months to June 30, while Standard Bank reported 4% growth in HEPS in its year to…

A call has been made for the eThekwini Municipality to extend its special debt relief programme as it has given a major boost to Durban's property sector. This is the view of professional bodies, including the Black Lawyers Association and the KwaZulu-Natal Legal Practitioners Association. The organisations have written to Mayor Cyril Xaba, urging the extension of the programme, stating that it has addressed serious challenges that had been stifling the property sector. The Mercury has seen the correspondence from these organisations addressed to Xaba. Their view is shared by ratepayers and opposition parties in the council, who believe the programme has provided much-needed relief for ratepayers. Mayoral spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa confirmed that it had received the correspondence but said it would not be appropriate to discuss the matter through…

The failure to disclose a pending criminal case when asked to do so during a job application can have dire consequences, as an applicant who applied for the position of a court manager discovered. Siphephelo Luthuli applied for two posts in the Eastern Cape as court manager. He was recommended, as he was deemed the best candidate. He stated on his application form that he did not have a criminal record or any pending cases against him. But it was later discovered that there was a pending case relating to alleged driving under the influence of alcohol. The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) then withdrew its recommendation that Luthuli get the job. Luthuli took the matter on review before an arbitrator, who ruled in his favour and found that…

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube attributed delays in improving school infrastructure, such as pit latrines in provinces like KwaZulu- Natal and the Eastern Cape, to severe weather, the construction mafia, and underperforming contractors. Gwarube was responding to a parliamentary question from the MK Party’s Pinky Pearlgene Mngadi. Mngadi noted that the department’s 2025 Annual Performance Plan indicates that there are over 13.5 million pupils and nearly 460 000 teachers in the public and independent schools of the Republic, the majority of which suffer from poor infrastructure, including pit latrines, particularly in provinces like KZN and the Eastern Cape. She asked Gwarube how she justifies the continued delays in eradicating the specified unsafe conditions which put the health and safety of learners at daily risk. In her response, Gwarube explained that…

The tug-of-war between the Sharks and the Lions over Junior Springbok heavyweight Batho Hlekani has swung in favour of the Durbanites — for the time being. A press conference with JP Pietersen revealed that Hlekani will be with the Sharks until 31 December, when the burly flanker’s contract with the KwaZulu-Natal union ends. The Lions have apparently signed Hlekani and had hoped to have him on board for the Currie Cup, but the Sharks have dug in their heels. Hlekani, fresh from training with the Springboks, plays his first game of the year for the Sharks, taking over from the injured Tino Mavesere — one of three senior players to suffer injuries last week. The others are lock Corne Rahl and wing Yaw Penxe. The Sharks have had a difficult…

Arriving at Hillary Bowling Club on Saturday, one could not miss the dazzling sight that stretched across both greens – a glorious wave of pink. It wasn’t just the colour that caught the eye; it was the atmosphere. The air buzzed with laughter, chatter and the unmistakable hum of competition. This was Hillary’s annual Women’s Day fundraiser for the PinkDrive campaign, an event that blends sport, spectacle and heartfelt giving. Bowlers battled for their share of R4 650 in prize money for first, second and third places. The effort to embrace the theme was every bit as impressive as the skill on the greens. Pink tutus swished in the breeze, bright pink stockings encased legs of every shape and size and, somewhere in the mix, Pink Panthers made an appearance.…

“AS a group we are so humble to talk up other players that we don’t give credit to our own players.” This was one of Shukri Conrad’s first statements after being appointed Proteas Test coach just over two years ago now. And for those still wondering what Conrad meant, he doubled down with: “It's time we drool over our own players.” Being one of the more savvy coaches going around, who certainly knows how to “play the media game”, Conrad was sending out a dual message. The first was, of course, for the Fourth Estate to begin backing his young team and processes whilst creating local heroes for the South African public to support. Concurrently, Conrad was also speaking to his own players. Filling them with the belief that they…

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes Arthur Sales is a very good player who will be key to the club’s success — but he was quick to dispel any suggestion that the lanky forward is a direct replacement for his Brazilian compatriot Lucas Ribeiro. The Portuguese coach essentially confirmed speculation that Ribeiro will be leaving the club while speaking to the media during the post-match press conference following their 2-0 Betway Premiership victory over AmaZulu on Tuesday night. Ribeiro — the standout performer of last season and winner of both the Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, as well as the Golden Boot for the 2024/25 campaign — is believed to be heading to Qatar. Sales played on the right-hand side, the very position where…

The Competition Tribunal hearing concerning the acquisition of the longstanding South African company Barloworld by Newco has ignited discussions around empowerment for historically disadvantaged persons as well as the company’s impending delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). As the details unfolded on Wednesday, tensions rose over the implications of this significant transaction. Former executives in Barloworld are acquiring Barloworld through Entsha Proprietary Limited while Saudi Zahid Group is the other shareholder in Newco. With Newco intending to bump up its shareholding in the South African company, Barloworld will ultimately be delisted from the JSE. The merging parties through their legal representative told the Competition Tribunal hearing on Wednesday that the delisting of Barloworld was a major condition for the implementation of an Employee Share-Ownership Program (ESOP). After delisting, a…

In the quiet chaos of South Africa’s townships, where digital connectivity holds the promise of economic liberation, an insidious force has taken root, one borrowed from the dusty construction trenches but now entrenched in the corridors of fibre broadband rollouts. Enter the so-called “construction mafia”, a term once synonymous with hijacked building projects, now creeping dangerously into the ICT sector. At first glance, the broadband industry and concrete mixers seem worlds apart. But dig a little deeper, into the pavements where fibre must be trenched, the poles where wireless antennas must rise, and you’ll find eerie parallels. Where there is trenching, there is access to lucrative contracts. And where there is access to capital and opportunity, there is a criminal element lurking with a clipboard and a demand: “Give us…

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has raised alarm over the potential implications of a sweeping 30% tariff imposed by the United States on South African exports. Sacci on Wednesday said this initiative poses a significant threat not only to the nation's economy but also to the sustainability of long-term business relations between the two countries. Sacci said the backward linkage effects for the South African economy of changing foreign trade relations will be larger than the initial effect on trade export volumes. The type (categories) of exports and the sectors affected will also play a role in how it impacts economic growth and employment in South Africa. This comes as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected South Africa’s real economic growth for 2025 and 2026…

For local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), there is a constant pressure to do more with less, which means finding smart ways to cut costs, save time and boost productivity. In this context, technology is one of the most powerful levers available to business owners. When used effectively, digital tools can automate manual or repetitive tasks, enhance customer service, and free up valuable capacity to focus on growth. Despite this fact, less than 30% of South African SMEs have adopted digital tools. Whether this is due to cost concerns or uncertainty about which solutions will deliver the most impact, the slow uptake could severely undermine local competitiveness in the long run. The good news is that many affordable, practical options are available to help SMEs begin their digital journey. Here…

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa has announced positive developments regarding South Africa's power supply, revealing that the national electricity grid has reached a commendable state of stability in recent weeks. With the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) exceeding 61% over the past fortnight, and unplanned outages significantly reduced to approximately 10 000 megawatts (MW)—down from 13 500 MW during the same period last year—the national utility, Eskom, is generating more electricity than needed. This prominent achievement has led to a substantial decrease in expenditures on diesel, with R5 billion spent on diesel compared to R13.5bn for the same period in 2023. "We are within touching distance of resolving load shedding, I will come back and share with the rest of the country very soon about that," Ramokgopa said on Wednesday.…

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has expressed deep disappointment with the recent US State Department report on human rights in South Africa, calling it “inaccurate and deeply flawed.” The report alleges that South Africa is moving towards land expropriation targeting Afrikaners and is mistreating racial minorities, claims the South African government has strongly rejected. Lamola expressed “profound disappointment” with the report. “We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,” said Chrispin Phiri, DIRCO spokesperson. He added that the report’s reliance on “a-contextual information and discredited accounts” is highly concerning. “It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it…

A brazen overnight theft at the FOMO Fine Art Gallery in Pringle Bay in the Western Cape has resulted in the loss of seven sculptures worth more than R1 million and left an even greater sentimental wound. The stolen works, by celebrated South African artists Anton Smit and Janko de Beer, are not only of significant financial value but also irreplaceable cultural treasures. “The theft took place during the night of Tuesday, August 5, or the early hours of Wednesday, August 6. I was at the gallery until early Tuesday evening and returned at around 09:00 on Wednesday morning, when I immediately noticed that several sculptures were missing and one of our security cameras had been broken,” said de Beer, co-owner of the gallery and a celebrated visual artist and…

Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya’s interim interdict barring former police officer Patricia Morgan-Mashale from publishing defamatory statements on social media, accusing him of corruption, has been overturned. Sibiya turned to the Bloemfontein High Court for a final interdict after he had obtained the interim interdict against her in November last year. Morgan-Mashale defended her actions by stating that her posts regarding Sibiya are the truth, in the public interest, and what she had said about him was, in any event, already public knowledge. The court, in discharging the interim interdict against her, said Sibiya has failed to disprove these defences conclusively. The court said he has an alternative remedy, as he can file a summons against her for damages and then prove defamation. Morgan-Mashale, who describes herself as…

The Springbok Women plan to ride the momentum from their recent top performances into the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which starts next weekend in England. The South Africans will take on Brazil in their opening match on Sunday, August 24, coming off the high of beating a Black Ferns XV in their second match at Athlone Stadium. The Bok Women are currently in camp in Johannesburg before they jet off to the United Kingdom. In Group A, they will also face Italy and France. The Bok Women have had four tough matches – two against second-ranked Canada and two against the Black Ferns XV – over the past month and a half in preparation for the World Cup. The Tests against Canada were rather one-sided but gave the Boks a…

The list of South Africans with centuries in the shortest format of the game recently lengthened with 22-year-old Dewald Brevis being the latest to enter the exclusive club at the Marrara Oval in Darwin earlier this week. Ongama Gcwabe looks at four other players who hit centuries in T20I cricket for South Africa. Dewald Brevis 125 not out Perhaps more than the skill it took for the right-handed batter to bring up the biggest individual score by a South African in T20I cricket, it was the timing of the knock that carried more significance. Brevis reached the milestone under pressure, not only because of the Proteas being 0-1 down in the series at the time, but also because he had an opportunity to cement a place in the T20I side…

PROTEAS Women’s all-rounder, Nadine de Klerk, has described the eight years playing for South Africa as a rollercoaster ride, filled with many lows and highs along the road. De Klerk, 25, made her international debut in 2017, at the tender age of 17, and has mostly been playing international cricket since then. In those eight years, De Klerk has described being dropped from the team as the lowest point in her career. However, having played in two consecutive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finals in the last two years, De Klerk told Independent Media that those two games are the highest highs of her career and that they overshadow all the negatives in her career. “It’s crazy to think that it’s been eight years; it doesn’t even feel that long,…

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Parks Tau, has announced the revival of the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) in a bid to offset the impact of 30% tariffs imposed by the United States on South African imports. The programme seeks to increase local content by 5%, a change that could unlock R30 billion in new procurement for the industry, more than the R4.4bn US export market. Tau was speaking on the opening day of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) 2025 show on Wednesday. “As the cornerstone of our manufacturing economy and contributing 5.2% to GDP and 22.6% of industrial output, this industry faces intersecting challenges that demand urgent collaboration,” Tau said. “Yet within these challenges lie transformative opportunities to redefine and leverage…

South Africa’s renewable energy sector is scaling rapidly. From wheeled solar capacity serving Amazon and Tronox Mineral Sands to battery-packed IPP projects delivering reliable power at peak demand, this transformation is both technical and structural. However, alongside the deployment of solar PV and battery systems, a more deliberate transformation is underway: the advancement of female leaders across the energy value chain. In both public and private companies operating in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) spaces, leadership remains predominantly male with some progress in middle management. There are very few women in senior and executive positions in South Africa. Additionally, while the employment rate for women with tertiary qualifications in STEM fields has increased from 22.2% in 2014, it has only increased by a paltry 7% to 29.6% in…

AI startup Perplexity said it made a formal offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion (R621bn), in anticipation of requirements that may be imposed on the search giant in antitrust proceedings. The unsolicited bid was sent to Alphabet’s Google on Tuesday morning, a Perplexity spokesperson said. It comes not long after rival artificial intelligence startup OpenAI also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, which together with the open-source Chromium software is the main way people access the web on PCs. After a federal judge found last year that Google has an illegal monopoly in internet search, the US government has said it wants Google to sell the Chrome browser and license search data to competitors, among other proposed changes. US District Judge Amit Mehta, who heard the case, is…

South Africa is a nation of hikers, gardeners, farmers, and adventurers who love nothing more than a braai on the veld or a stroll through the fynbos. But lurking in that long grass and on the backs of our beloved pets is a tiny, unassuming arachnid that can pose a significant health threat: the tick. Often dismissed as a minor nuisance, a single tick bite can transmit serious diseases, and with climate change affecting tick populations, it’s more important than ever to understand the risks. Being tick-aware, and knowing the difference between a mild irritation and a potentially life-changing illness. The dangers of a tick bite While we often hear about Lyme disease in the Northern Hemisphere, South Africa has its own prevalent tick-borne illness: African Tick Bite Fever (ATBF),…

Salaries remained the biggest cost driver of the KwaZulu-Natal government’s over-expenditure, particularly in education, where ghost employees are now being filtered out. Francois Rodgers, the KZN Finance MEC, this week briefed Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) on the unaudited 2024/2025 financial year close-out report for provincial government departments. Rodgers said that together with his cabinet counterparts in the relevant departments, he was undertaking a verification process of all employees. Rodgers said a head count is underway to deal with ghost employees. He also highlighted the pressure on the provincial fiscus, which continues to impact frontline departments such as Health, Education, and Social Development. He said that KZN had experienced equitable share budget cuts amounting to more than R64 billion since 2020. He explained that in the 2024/2025 financial year,…

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has disclosed that 57 infrastructure projects experienced delays with total overruns to the tune of R444.7 million over the last three years. Macpherson detailed the breakdown of the overruns, which included R110.8m in 2022/23, R64.3m in 2023/24 and R269.6m in 2024/25. This emerged when he was responding to parliamentary questions asked by EFF MP Sharon Letlape, who asked about the actions the department has taken to hold the contractors and implementing agents accountable, among other things. According to Macpherson, his department has instituted firm measures to hold non-performing contractors accountable. “The defaulting contractors have been terminated or are in the process of being restricted, and legal letters of demand have been issued.” At least six contractors have had their contracts terminated for non-performance.…

“You played no active role in the trafficking and kidnapping of Joshlin Smith,” were the words from Judge Nathan Erasmus as he delivered his much-anticipated judgment on the indemnity of the Section 204 witness Laurentia Lombaard. The judgment was delivered in the Western Cape High Court yesterday. Lombaard was the State’s star witness during the trial. Joshlin was reported missing on February 19, 2024, from Middelpos in Saldanha. The little girl is yet to be found. Lombaard was initially arrested and charged alongside Kelly Smith, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn for the kidnapping of Joshlin. However, months after her arrest, Lombaard opted to become a Section 204 witness for the State, providing key evidence that helped secure the convictions of the trio. Her lawyer, Advocate Eben van…

The resistance flickered through an accrual of small surrenders IT’S DEEPLY unsettling how social media has amplified awareness of gender-based violence in South Africa, becoming a catalyst in GBV cases and carving new pathways for processing these tragedies. Our digital timeline of national trauma unfolds like episodes in a series we never wanted to watch. In 2019, our feeds were filled with images of Uyinene Mrwetyana’s bright smile as we learned of her brutal murder. A year later came headlines about Tshegofatso Pule, eight months pregnant, found in Roodepoort. In 2023, we mourned Namhla Mtwa through painful updates shared across platforms. Now in 2025, our TikTok pages update us on the rape case of the seven-year-old girl from Matatiele, in the Eastern Cape. The digital spaces have become forums of…

Marcus Rashford decried Manchester United's lack of strategy as leaving the English giants in “no man's land” after joining Barcelona on loan. The 27-year-old, who played 426 times for United after coming through the club's academy, left Old Trafford in January for a loan spell at Aston Villa after falling out of favour with new manager Ruben Amorim. United went on to have their worst season since being relegated in 1973/74 as they finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for European competition. Rashford believes the root of United's problems lies in the instability caused by appointing six different managers since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. "We have been way below where we deem United to be but then if you take a step back, which…

It is difficult to picture roly-poly prop Ox Nche scaling mountain peaks but he used a good climbing analogy to describe how the Springboks will go about defending their Rugby Championship title. The Boks have never won back-to-back Championship titles and begin their defence at Ellis Park on Saturday when they entertain the Wallabies in the first of two Tests in South Africa. “We have the mentality of a mountain climber,” Nche said. “You don’t climb a mountain by looking up; you climb it step by step. And if we don’t do well in these two Australia Tests, it is not a good start to the climb. If we do well, it will give us confidence, and the way becomes easier.” Nche, who will win his 42nd cap on Saturday,…

A recent video surfaced on social media showing UFC Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and third-ranked contender Khamzat Chimaev meeting for the first time ahead of their title clash at UFC 319 in Chicago. In the lead-up to fight week, several pundits – and many who have seen both fighters in person – suggested that South African MMA star Du Plessis had a considerable physical advantage over Chimaev. Many believed that, due to his size and strength, Du Plessis is expected to stuff Chimaev’s takedowns and impose his own – attributes the undefeated Chimaev has never encountered in his 14-fight professional career. However, the video of their first meeting quickly became a talking point. In the frame, Chimaev appeared noticeably bigger than Du Plessis – prompting many of Chimaev’s fans…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou now finds himself under serious early-season scrutiny, having suffered defeats in his first two league outings of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign. Following their opening-day 1–0 loss to Sekhukhune United, the Buccaneers suffered another blow with a shocking 2–1 defeat to Marumo Gallants on Tuesday night—widening the cracks in a title-chasing season that's already teetering. It was the Sea Robbers' second consecutive loss to Gallants at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, following the 2-0 loss they suffered late last season. While the league is still in its infancy with plenty of games left, the margin for error is thin at a club of Pirates’ stature—and what was already a hot seat is fast becoming unbearable for the Moroccan coach. Ouaddou was however pleased with his…