Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-22 i Mercury

South Africans are stretching their finances further to afford cars as vehicle prices continue to rise faster than household incomes, according to a new Absa report presented at the inaugural DealerCon event on Thursday. Henry Botha, executive for strategy and product at Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance, said the vehicle finance market is expanding but affordability has deteriorated sharply. “Applications have increased by 65%, averaging 5% growth per year. Income levels have risen by 35%, and the value of vehicles being financed has grown by 54%. The catch, however, is that affordability has deteriorated,” Botha said. “Ten years ago, the average monthly instalment represented 14.3% of a customer’s income. Today, it’s 16.1%. That’s a significant shift. What does this tell us? It tells us that while demand is growing, consumers…

Despite the lowering of the US Federal bank rate by 0.25% last Wednesday and the sudden decrease in South Africa’s inflation rate in August to 3.3%, from 3.6% in July, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) still decided to keep the repo rate unchanged. The main reasons for the sudden decrease in the August inflation rate were that annual fuel prices decreased by -4.7% and decreased by -0.8% for the month alone. The contribution of the total transport sector to the annual inflation rate also came down by -0.2%. Food prices increased at a lower rate of 5.2% against the annual increase of 7.2% in July. Month on month there was a -01% decrease in food and non-acholic prices and it contributed 0.9% to the total inflation rate of 3.3% against…

Safari Investments (RSA) will pay out a final cash dividend of 40 cents a share for the 12 months to June 30 and is seeking access to further capital so it can shift strategy to also develop retail property. This will bring the total dividend for the year for the REIT whose assets comprise convenience and small regional centres mainly in Gauteng, to 74 cents per share, slightly lower than 78 cents in 2024. The distribution pay-out ratio remains 100%. Safari’s share price surged 4.9% to R7.50 in thin trade on the JSE on Friday, and the price was well up from R5.50 a year before. The company’s market capitalisation at year end had risen to R1.75bn from R1.44bn at the end of the 2024 financial year. “The Safari team…

JSE-listed Balwin Properties has launched the first of several vocational training centres that will be rolled out nationally. It said on Friday that the first training centre at Mooikloof Smart City, east of Pretoria, will train more than 300 candidates annually in bricklaying, tiling, plastering, plumbing, electrical, first aid, firefighting, and working from heights. Steve Brookes, the CEO and founder of Balwin, said, “The construction sector has lost a considerable number of vocational skills in the aftermath of the Pandemic. This initiative is aimed at empowering local communities as much as it’s about deepening skills in the sector, ensuring its long-term sustainability. Ultimately, it will lead to a higher-quality product for our customers, and cost-savings for Balwin by doing it right first time.” Nationally recognised vocational training The Balwin Training…

Trade union Solidariteit (Solidarity) and civil rights organisation AfriForum have sent another delegation to the US in what they labelled as a further attempt to improve South Africa’s fractured diplomatic relations with that country, amid punishing 30% tariffs on local goods. This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa departs for New York for “crucial” trade and investment talks with key players in the US. Solidarity claims that the purpose of its visit, which will see the delegation engage with various US government role players at the federal and state levels in the coming weeks, is to advocate for South Africa, its economy, and its working population. Yesterday, it revealed a proposed trade framework for the two countries. However, given that this visit is not in any way affiliated with or endorsed…

Parliament will decide next month whether to form an ad hoc committee to look into apartheid statues. This comes after the debate that was sponsored by EFF leader Julius Malema in the National Assembly on Friday. Malema’s proposal on the removal of apartheid statues in public places was roundly rejected by many parties that argued that they served as teachable symbols. Speaking during the debate, EFF Chief Whip Nontando Nolutshungu said the unresolved question of colonial memory and its poisonous symbols stood unchallenged. “They are not neutral symbols of history. They are monuments of colonialism and material reminders that although the political regime of apartheid has been formally defeated, the ideological, cultural and economic structures of conquest remain intact,” Nolutshungu said. She also said the statues were celebrated as symbols…

Two years after the SAS MANTHATISI tragedy in Kommetjie, which claimed the lives of three naval officers, the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, unveiled the Submarine Squadron Memorial site at the SAS Submarine Museum and announced that the day of the incident would be given official recognition. Lobese said September 20 would now officially be recognised as Submarine Squadron Day, symbolising a day of remembrance, unity, recognition and courage for past and present submariners. The families of Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, Master Warrant Officer William Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Class 1 Lucas Mojela, who tragically lost their lives during a vertical transfer exercise off Kommetjie in 2023, attended the memorial on Saturday at the naval base. Lobese said: “The memorial plaque I will be unveiling is…

Prominent Durban business people are taking exception to the characterisation of premier business and tourism destination, Umhlanga, as a "Wild West hell". Businessman Vivian Reddy stated that the characterisation was reckless. He was responding to comments from a councillor and the uMhlanga ratepayers group in an article that appeared in the Sunday Times. Concerns about parts of the area were raised by the local councillor Bradley Singh and the ratepayers group. Reddy said in a statement yesterday that he along with others was deeply concerned by the comments. “This irresponsible conduct undermines the very fabric of Umhlanga’s economy. Tourism, hospitality, and investment are the backbone of this region. By sensationalising isolated incidents for publicity and political point-scoring, these individuals are jeopardising billions of rand of investment, threatening the livelihoods of…

Max Verstappen showed the field yesterday that he and Red Bull remain serious threats to both Formula One championships, producing a commanding lights-to-flag triumph at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Dutchman’s second consecutive win from pole position reaffirmed Red Bull’s competitive edge following the mid-season departure of long-serving team boss Christian Horner and highlighted the effectiveness of new chief Laurent Mekies’ softer, technically focused management approach. The race proved to be a cruel turn of fortune for McLaren. World drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri suffered an early exit on the opening lap after locking up at Turn 6, ending his remarkable run of 34 consecutive points finishes. Teammate Lando Norris managed only seventh, missing a prime opportunity to narrow the gap in the drivers’ championship and secure a second straight…

Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele is tipped to hold off Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and win the men’s Ballon d’Or today, while Aitana Bonmati’s chances of claiming a third straight women’s prize hang in the balance. The cream of world football will gather at the Théâtre du Châtelet in central Paris to discover who will be the latest winners of an award dominated for so long by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Those two won the Ballon d’Or 13 times between them from 2008 to 2023, with last year finally marking the end of an era when the accolade went to Manchester City midfielder Rodri after he captained Spain to Euro 2024 glory. With Rodri not a contender to retain the most prestigious individual prize in football after last season…

Trade Minister Parks Tau meets with US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington South Africa and the United States have agreed on a roadmap to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations, despite ongoing tensions over Washington’s 30% tariff on South African exports. The development comes amid growing concern at home over widespread job cuts across key industries that have been impacted by the US tariffs and the global trade uncertainty. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau met with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington on Friday, following three days of intensive talks between senior officials. The meeting, initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa, was described as cordial and constructive, with both sides committing to fast-track the resolution of priority issues. “I will be briefing President Ramaphosa on the…

High youth unemployment, inadequate retirement savings and a growing elderly population converge in South Africa to create an intergenerational dilemma, threatening both economic stability and social cohesion. Youth unemployment stands at 46.1% for ages 15–34, rising to 62.4% for those aged 15–24, while only 10% of South Africans have adequate retirement savings to maintain pre-retirement living standards. At the same time, 38% of those over 60 live below the poverty line and the population aged 60 and above accounts for 9.2%, projected to reach 15% by 2050. Many older workers remain in the labour market out of necessity, sometimes competing with youth for scarce jobs, while younger generations often support elderly relatives financially. These intergenerational pressures are visible not only in unemployment and poverty statistics but in the daily realities…

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) convened its Central Committee (CC) over the past week. The CC is a policy mid-term review convened by Cosatu to assess work done by the Federation, successes and challenges. It’s a chance for Affiliates to raise key issues facing the working-class and most importantly, what the solutions should be. The CC is a workers’ parliament. A chance for a municipal worker to raise the plight of colleagues who go unpaid for months. It is an opportunity for clothing and motor manufacturing workers to raise the alarm bells about the impact of the 30% tariff duty imposed on South African exports to the United States. Cosatu was founded during the darkest days of apartheid. The Federation’s principles of…

THE phased transfer of administrative and operational functions from the Department of Justice to the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) are some of the steps outlined by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi as part of her plans for an operationally independent judiciary. The minister spoke on Saturday during a Judge’s Matter webinar on judicial independence and reforms to court administration. Speaking about her plans for judicial reform, the minister stressed the principles of the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. She said the Constitution entrenches and guarantees the independence of the judiciary and at the same time mandates all organs of State, through legislative and other measures, to protect courts to ensure their dignity, impartiality, accessibility and effectiveness as per the Constitution. “Constitutional…

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has reiterated the role of trade unions in advocating for workers’ rights and the need for structured processes in handling grievances. This comes after the MK Labour Desk went to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) in Durban last week, demanding answers on a range of issues. Simelane said unions deal with issues and grievances related to labour matters. “The issues of workers and the suffering and unhappiness of workers is governed by South African law, which is the Labour Relations Act, and the Labour Relations Act deals with unions and representatives,” Simelane said. She said those who went to IALCH were from a political party. “Some of them are represented in parliament and represented in the legislature. That’s where they need to raise their…

A Chrissiesmeer farm owner is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in the neck during a violent attack on his property. Police in Mpumalanga confirmed that a 46-year-old Malawian national has been arrested in connection with the incident and is facing charges of attempted murder, stock theft and contravention of the Immigration Act. Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Thulisile Magagula said officers responded swiftly after receiving information about the attack, which took place on Friday. “On arrival, police and emergency services found the farm owner suffering from a stab wound to the neck, while one suspect had sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh. Both were transported to the hospital for medical treatment,” she said. Magagula added that the victim had gone to investigate after noticing that his farm’s perimeter fence…

Veteran Willie le Roux will be part of the Springboks’ preparations for the crucial Test against Argentina in Durban until Wednesday. After initially being dropped from the 33-player squad ahead of the final two matches of the Rugby Championship, Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus has decided to call on Le Roux’s experience to help prepare the players for Saturday’s clash at Kings Park (kick-off 5.10pm). The Boks face Los Pumas in the coastal city before heading to London for the final Test at Twickenham next Saturday – a match that could likely decide the Rugby Championship title. Le Roux linked up with the world champions yesterday after being released by the Bulls. He will return to the Pretoria side following the conclusion of the Boks’ training block on Wednesday and…

The four South African franchises will kick off their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaigns this weekend in what promises to be another compelling edition of the international club tournament. Since joining the European competition, a South African side has reached the final every season – and expectations remain high for that streak to continue. The Stormers claimed the title in the inaugural year, while they and the Bulls have since fallen short in finals, with the Pretoria side suffering the agony of three runner-up finishes. Leinster, who defeated the Bulls in Ireland earlier this year to secure the title, will begin their defence with squads across the competition looking stronger than ever. For the South African franchises, the mission is clear: reclaim dominance and re-establish their foothold in Europe. A…

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze believes sharper finishing in the final third will be the key to overturning their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round tie against Angolan outfit Kabuscorp. Amakhosi slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Saturday night, conceding to second-half substitute Julio despite dominating large parts of the game. It was Chiefs’ second defeat of the week and a performance that once again underlined their struggles in front of goal. Speaking afterwards, Kaze insisted that the tie remains alive and will be settled in Johannesburg next weekend when the two sides meet again at FNB Stadium. “We were expecting a lot of long balls and aerial duels, but we know we can still hurt them in the…

The outgoing chairperson of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), David Nicholls, has backed Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s decision to dissolve the entity’s troubled board and appoint a new one, following a string of resignations and disputes over executive pay. Appearing before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy on Friday, Ramokgopa confirmed plans to appoint a new board within three weeks. Ramokgopa remarked that recent events within Necsa indicated a concerning trend where board members prioritised salary discussions over critical strategic issues that affect the mandate of the organisation. The board had disintegrated because of controversy surrounding the increase in CEO Loyiso Tyabashe's salary. Some board members had raised questions about the way salary increases had been implemented by Tybashe, resulting in an internal audit being…

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has welcomed the easing of food inflation as South Africa's consumer price index for food has declined to 5.2% in August 2025 from 5.5% the previous month, according to recent data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said the easing marks the first slowdown after six consecutive months of rising food prices. He noted that cereals, fruit, nuts, and vegetables were the main drivers of the moderation, supported by South Africa’s abundant harvests. However, Sihlobo said a key product that many are watching is meat, which has remained elevated, although slaughtering has resumed in major feedlots across the country. “Initially, panic buying, not necessarily a shortage of product, was the main driver of meat prices.…

On the 19th of September I was one of the panellists who participated at the launch of Geospatial Information Management Strategy led by the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). This was held at Diep in die Berg in Pretoria. Human activity manifests itself in space and yet the ability to capture this central and prime mover that defines and explains the trajectory of human interaction with their environment has not been at the center of interpretation of development. Efforts over time have been partial and at times half hearted. Countries that advanced on this front were in Latin America and notably Brazil. Its Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), established in 1936, was a key institution in the genesis of geographical data collection and analysis. This…

Mustek raised its dividend a massive 83.3% to 13.75 cents in the year to June 30, but the payout is still below historical trends. The ICT distributor and technology solution provider, which only declares a final dividend after evaluating its funding requirements and opportunities to repurchase shares, paid out 7.7 cents a share in the 2024 financial year, and the dividend payout ratio was maintained. But in 2023, the dividend was 77 cents a share, it was 76 cents in 2022, while the 90 cents in 2021 was the group’s biggest dividend over 10 years. In terms of the annual results released Friday, the much higher dividend followed a sharp increase in the total income for the year, to R42.31 million from R21.85m the previous year. The group is currently…

EMBATTLED police minister Senzo Mchunu has received strong backing from the Amakhosi of the Mchunu clan, who have stated that there is no wrongdoing that has surfaced to implicate the minister. They mentioned that even during their engagement with him, they found nothing in his account of events that suggested he did anything untoward. Mchunu met with the Amakhosi of the Mchunu clan a few days ago to explain himself. He is currently on special leave following allegations by the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of political interference in the work of the police. The allegations led to President Cyril Ramaphosa establishing a commission of inquiry into the state of policing in the country; it commenced last week. Mkhwanazi testified for three days last week, and other top police…

The Mtunzini High Court has handed a double life sentence to a man who raped and murdered his cousin in August 2021 in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Mduduzi Msezane, 41, was found guilty and sentenced for the rape and murder of his cousin, 24-year-old Nomvula Mbatha, whose half-naked body was discovered in a field in Nongoma. Mbatha had spent the day with friends on August 29, and as she was leaving for home she encountered Msezane. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), he raped her and strangled her to death. The next morning, August 30, a passer-by found her body in the Ezimpakaneni area, which falls under the Nongoma policing precinct. Police were alerted, and a case of rape and murder was opened at KwaNongoma Police Station. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant…

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) decision to field Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections, accusing her of wanting to “bring back apartheid.” Mashaba said Zille, the former Cape Town mayor and current DA federal council chair, stood no chance of winning in South Africa’s economic hub. Zille, 74, accepted her nomination on Saturday during an event in Soweto, where DA leader John Steenhuisen introduced her as “a daughter of the city.” Reacting to Zille's candidacy, Mashaba — who previously served as Johannesburg mayor under the DA — told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the city could not be led by someone he described as “racist.” “All peace-loving South Africans can understand that we cannot have such racists like…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has caused a stir, especially within his party, the African National Congress (ANC), by candidly admitting that the best run municipalities would most likely be led by the Democratic Alliance (DA). The stir is partly over a sense of embarrassment that this widely held view that the ANC is not running municipalities well, or that it is actually running them down, is now being echoed by the party president. The brouhaha is partly over worries that this public admission gives an unsolicited endorsement to the DA and a boost to their local government campaign to the detriment of the ANC. The ANC has been battling a huge challenge of loss of votes in the last few elections, the most significant of which was in 2024 when it…

The Proteas Women have been provided with a stark reminder of the challenge they face at the upcoming ICC World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Mandla Mashimbyi’s team may have already clinched the ongoing series against Pakistan 2-0 ahead of tomorrow’s final ODI, and his team’s top-order batters, particularly Tazmin Brits with successive centuries, are in fine form, but there is still plenty of work to do if they are to go head-to-head with the heavyweights of the women’s game. Hosts India and Australia have laid down an emphatic statement during their thrilling ODI series, which culminated in a record-breaking decider in Delhi on Saturday. Defending world champions Australia ultimately triumphed by 43 runs after equalling their highest-ever ODI score of 412 – which they famously made back at…

Gabriel Martinelli rescued Arsenal as the Brazilian’s last-gasp equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw against Manchester City yesterday when Pep Guardiola’s defensive tactics backfired at the Emirates Stadium. With City clinging to the lead given to them by Erling Haaland early in the first half, Guardiola made a series of unusually cautious substitutions that left his side without a recognised striker on the pitch in the closing stages. It was the kind of rearguard action rarely associated with the attack-minded Guardiola, but his willingness to sacrifice purist principles for a more pragmatic approach came back to haunt him. A change made by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta proved decisive, as Martinelli came off the bench to spare his team from a second defeat to a title rival after their loss at champions…

Orlando Pirates delivered a statement victory against Lioli FC, but coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is seeking improvement ahead of the CAF Champions League second leg next Saturday. After a goalless first half at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, Pirates ran out 3-0 winners over Lesotho’s Lioli in the first preliminary round, first-leg clash. While the scoreline suggests a decisive result, Ouaddou viewed it as a missed opportunity for a bigger margin of victory. “I do not believe that Pirates are one step into the second preliminary round, because we have not finished the second leg,” Ouaddou insisted. emphasising his focus not only on winning but also on improving performance quality as Pirates prepare for the return leg at Orlando Stadium. Ouaddou highlighted a lack of clinical finishing that hampered the side in…