Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-25 i Mercury

China has signaled its readiness to fast-track zero-tariff access for South African goods, opening the door for more local products to enter its vast consumer market under favorable terms. Speaking at the South Africa–China Trade and Investment Promotion Conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said the initiative forms part of Beijing’s broader commitment to deepen economic cooperation with Africa. “In June this year, President Xi Jinping announced that China is ready to expand zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff lines to all 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China,” Wu said. “More than 30 African countries have already signed the framework agreements. China is prepared to work with South Africa to implement these measures as soon as possible.” The announcement comes as…

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has come under fire from the steel import industry after proposing the use of national security provisions to tighten controls on steel imports. Industry players fear that ITAC’s move to invoke Article 21 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) — traditionally reserved for situations of war or terrorism — could be used as a blanket restriction on imports, even where no genuine security concerns exist. Presenting XA International Trade Advisors’ seventh Import Duty Investigation Report on Tuesday, CEO Donald Mackay warned that “import control is creeping in under the guise of national security,” raising suspicions that government may be attempting to bypass its GATT obligations. “By invoking the national security concern, government is hoping to bypass the obligations…

South Africa’s furniture sector has received a significant boost as leading retailer Coricraft expands local production of upholstered seating at its Epping facility in Cape Town, reducing reliance on imports and supporting more than 500 jobs. Backed by the Localisation Support Fund (LSF), the initiative has shifted tens of millions of rand worth of furniture production into the local economy. Coricraft has already achieved nearly 10% growth in productivity and a 38% improvement in efficiency by adopting lean manufacturing practices, real-time monitoring, and new planning tools that allow it to respond more quickly to market demand. According to Shani Naidoo, group director responsible for Coricraft and The Foschini Group (TFG) Home business, the initiative represents more than just operational improvements. “By producing more locally at Coricraft, we are securing jobs,…

Green hydrogen has numerous applications across multiple industries, from decarbonising steel to fertiliser production, fuelling heavy transport, storing renewable energy for grid stability, and supplying cleaner feedstock to refineries and chemical plants. However, beyond these use cases, it also has the potential to provide a clean energy source to power future technology, with far-reaching implications for both industry and society. Technology driving energy demand Technological innovation is accelerating at a rapid pace, from cloud computing to generative AI, robotic-assisted healthcare and autonomous vehicles. While each breakthrough is a potential revolution, it also comes at an increased cost in terms of electricity consumption. Data centres are multiplying across the world, consuming vast amounts of power to support AI training and applications. Hospitals are adopting robotics, mixed reality neurosurgery, and AI-driven diagnostics,…

African Bank has raised R700 million of 3- and 5-year social bonds enabled by its first Sustainable Finance Framework (SFF) that aims to drive inclusive growth in South Africa through the financing of small to medium enterprises. The bonds were well subscribed, with more than R1 billion in bids received, African Bank said on Monday. The SFF was instrumental in enabling the bank to raise capital through Green, Social, and Sustainability bonds and loans, in support of projects that deliver measurable environmental and social impact. Several other South African institutions have issued these bonds, such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Nedbank, and the City of Cape Town. These bonds typically fund initiatives like affordable housing, education, healthcare, and employment creation. African Bank's SFF outlines eligible criteria for SME…

The uMvoti Municipality in Greytown has embarked on an aggressive revenue collection initiative to ensure that ratepayers pay their debt. The municipality said the campaign, currently in its third week, targets individuals, businesses, and government institutions with outstanding municipal bills. Those who fail to pay will have their electricity disconnected. It said the move is aimed at enhancing the municipality’s financial health and sustainability while preventing service deterioration. The municipality said that in June this year it launched a debt incentive scheme that presented consumers with relief and payment options to avoid the disconnection of services. It said customers received multiple communications through SMS notifications, public and newspaper notices, as well as social media announcements, encouraging them to pay their bills to avoid being disconnected. It said only after these…

uShaka Sea World will gain valuable insights into the oceanic movements of male green sea turtles, thanks to the rescue of two individuals of this species. South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) spokesperson Ann Kunz said that at the weekend, the KZN Stranding Network partners were alerted to a large sea turtle in a cordoned-off section of the uMzimkulu River. During the construction of the uMzimkhulu Bridge, workers unknowingly trapped two mature green sea turtles by adjusting the river mouth to facilitate their work. Kunz said that after continuous monitoring over the weekend, a team was assembled on Monday for a turtle rescue operation. “As one can imagine, attempting to catch large, healthy green turtles in an extensive body of water with minimal visibility was not an easy…

The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has announced that it will no longer serve as the country’s official Hajj Affairs office, following the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s rollout of the Direct Hajj Model via the Nusuk Hajj platform. The decision, communicated after months of engagement with Saudi authorities and South African stakeholders, marks the end of SAHUC’s long-standing role in accrediting and facilitating Hajj for local pilgrims. From 2026, South Africans will need to register, select and secure their Hajj packages directly through the Nusuk Hajj platform. Under the new model, South Africa’s quota has been reduced to 1 140 pilgrims, compared with the previous 2,500 allocated under SAHUC. The SAHUC further announced that registration for Hajj 1447 is expected to open in late December 2025, during Rajab,…

The Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation is waiting to hear whether the Curries Fountain stadium in Durban will be declared a provincial heritage site. The matter is before the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute, which is the provincial heritage resources authority. The foundation marked Heritage Day yesterday by holding an event that was attended by those who had been involved in sports, particularly football, at the stadium. The foundation’s president, Maya Singh, said they wanted to preserve the stadium. He said he became concerned after seeing a news article about a parking lot being created at Curries Fountain. Singh said that the foundation has already projected the future utility of the Curries Fountain heritage site with the development of a museum and the development of sports, among others, as priorities.…

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was hailed by US teammates as an explosive X-factor, gladiator and showman on Tuesday as controversy erupted around him at the Ryder Cup. It began when the 32-year-old LIV Golf star, whose interview session at Bethpage Black was postponed to today after the opening ceremony was advanced to yesterday, fired the latest verbal salvo in a war of words with Europe star Rory McIlroy. “Just his golfing ability alone is an X-factor for our team, but also, he's a really fiery player,” US captain Keegan Bradley said of DeChambeau. “We have a lot of calm, mellow guys so we need the energy from Bryson and he brings that every day in practice rounds, the team room and hopefully in the tournament.” At the Masters,…

As Formula 1 charges into the final stretch of the 2025 season, McLaren’s dominance since the mid-season break has painted a picture few thought possible at the start of the year. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have led the way, turning the papaya-orange cars into the benchmark for consistency and raw pace. Yet, in the background, the reigning champion Max Verstappen remains an outside contender with a less than one in a thousand chance of beating Piastri on points. After his win at Baki, the question is: could Verstappen really pull off a near impossible comeback and snatch the title from McLaren’s new star, Oscar Piastri? On paper, the task seems insurmountable. Piastri sits on 324 points, Norris on 299, while Verstappen trails in third with 255. That leaves a…

The average cost of a household food basket dropped marginally in September, but civil society groups have warned that South Africans continue to face rising food insecurity and hunger. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group’s (PMBEJD) Household Affordability Index, released on Tuesday, the basket cost fell by just R1.20 (0.0%), from R5 380.62 in August to R5 379.42 in September. On a year-on-year basis, however, the index shows a sharp increase of 2.4% or R123.74, up from R5 255.68 in September 2024. Mervyn Abrahams, director at PMBEJD, said 21 of the 44 tracked food items increased in price last month. Key hikes of 5% or more included chicken gizzards (5%), beef liver (7%), butternut (13%), green peppers (9%), and bananas (8%). Smaller but notable increases were seen…

Mining has done so much to build South Africa’s economy but for too many people living in mining communities, that wealth has not translated into dignity, opportunity, or security. My mother works in mining, and our family has lived in various mining communities over the years, so I know first-hand what it means when decisions taken in boardrooms thousands of kilometres away shape the lives of ordinary people. The timing of Anglo American’s merger with Canada’s Teck Resources tells a damning story that South African leaders appear determined to ignore. Just as CEO Duncan Wanblad’s restructuring promises collapse spectacularly with a $3.8 billion coal sale dead, the Woodsmith polyhalite project delayed until 2027, and losses ballooning to $1.9 billion, suddenly Vancouver beckons as the new headquarters. How convenient. For most…

Ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, countries that are parties to the Paris Agreement will submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2030–2035, as states acknowledge that climate change is a “common concern for humankind” for both present and future generations. When planning and implementing climate action, states must respect, promote, and consider intergenerational equity, which simply means equity means fairness among generations, with an equitable and just distribution of benefits and risks. Drawing from the open and frank arguments in the Commission, Commissioner Louise Naudé aptly reflects, “I don't know whether to wish that my son would have a child, or to hope that he won't. With the critical decade for climate mitigation action flying by and the dishearteningly slow and limited mitigation action underway, it seems any child…

The world economy will grow more than previously forecast this year after absorbing the shock of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, but their full impact remains uncertain, the OECD said Tuesday. In June, the Paris-based organisation had cut its forecast from 3.1 percent to 2.9 percent, warning at the time that Trump's tariffs would stifle the world economy. But in an updated outlook on Tuesday, it raised the projection to 3.2 percent, saying the economy "proved more resilient than anticipated" in the first half of 2025. The OECD said "front-loading" - companies rushing to import goods ahead of Trump's tariffs - "was an important source of support". The economy also got a boost from strong AI-related investments in the United States and government spending in China. The updated figure…

Biohacking is no longer just for the ultra-rich or the ultra-scientific. In fact, it’s creeping into mainstream wellness in the simplest ways, sometimes through your favourite celebrities. Take Kristen Bell, for instance. The actress has been quietly biohacking her health in a way that’s both accessible and science-backed. At this year’s Emmys, her co-star Justine Lupe let the secret slip: Bell doesn’t rely on weight loss injections or gruelling workouts. Instead, she uses fibre as a shield to stabilise her blood sugar. Before eating carbs like a bowl of pasta, Bell “plugs up” her system with leafy greens, a spoonful of psyllium husk (Metamucil), or even a shot of apple cider vinegar. The logic is surprisingly simple: by eating fibre first, you slow how quickly your body absorbs glucose, preventing…

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said a draft amendment bill is undergoing consultation with the intention of making the National Register of Sex Offenders (NRSO) accessible to members of the public. Kubayi revealed this when she was responding to parliamentary questions from Build One South Africa MP and deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster. Hlazo-Webster asked whether the department had sought a legal opinion after Kubayi committed to testing the constitutionality of making the National Register for Sex Offenders accessible to the public. The register is currently not open to the public but is available for the public and private sectors to vet whether someone is suitable to work with children and other vulnerable groups. Kubayi previously said they were advocating for amendments to the confidentiality and disclosure clauses of…

Climate change, the debt crisis facing developing countries and the need for global equity were among the issues that President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about when he addressed the General Debate at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. He said South Africa’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) marks the first time that the forum will convene a summit on the African continent — “the cradle of humanity” — with a focus on disaster resilience, debt sustainability for low-income countries, energy-transition financing and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development. He warned that climate change continues to severely impact countries in the Global South. “Although Africa carries the least responsibility for climate change, many countries on the continent experience much…

In a significant breakthrough in the fight against counterfeit goods, the Border Management Authority (BMA) apprehended two Mozambican suspects and seized goods valued at over R2.8 million at the Kosi Bay Port of Entry on Monday. The border post is situated between the Kosi Bay estuary in northern KwaZulu-Natal and the Ponta do Ouro border post in Mozambique. Detailing the events that led to the discovery, BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said the arrests occurred when BMA law enforcement officers inspected a truck entering South Africa. She stated that the driver and his assistant, both Mozambicans, attempted to mislead the officers by claiming that the truck was transporting cooking pots and towels. However, Mogotsi said that upon a thorough inspection, the officers uncovered hidden counterfeit goods. These included 100 boxes of…

A juvenile baboon, spotted in Durban's Umbilo area last weekend, has been caught. According to the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), the young animal was spotted around the Wilson's Wharf area but trackers lost sight of it. It was later reported that the animal had been spotted at a warehouse and the owner managed to lock it inside, with CROW volunteers setting up a baited trap to safely capture it. However, the juvenile baboon managed to escape and teams tracked it across properties, roads and railway lines. CROW said working with the Durban and Coast SPCA and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, attempts to dart the baboon were unsuccessful. “While one of our team members managed to net the baboon, she managed to break out of the net and escape.”…

Give victims a voice because they are often forgotten when it comes to considering parole for offenders. This was the plea of attorney Tania Koen during the National Review summit held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional facility in Pretoria this week, during which the parole system in the country came under scrutiny. The attorney said there is a moral and legal responsibility to ensure victims are aware of their rights and parole boards must respect these rights. Koen is well known for representing the victims in many of the country’s high profile cases, which include June and Barry Steenkamp; Alison Botha, the late Olivia Jasriel who was groomed and raped as a child by world renowned tennis player Bob Hewitt. She is also representing Rob and Sharon Matthews, parents of…

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has identified co-hosts India and Sri Lanka, as well as defending champions Australia, as formidable opponents to face off against in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, starting next Tuesday. New Zealand, who won the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, are aiming to win the 50-over silverware after emerging victorious in the 2000 edition of the competition. Sophie had earlier announced that she would step away from the format after the end of the upcoming World Cup. “Every team will possess a different challenge, but we know the defending champions Australia are going to be pretty tough to beat. Playing them first up will be a great start to the tournament. India at home are also a huge threat, in terms of the support that…

Wilco Louw has a reputation as the Springbok with the fiercest handshake. Rumour has it people would rather greet him with a kiss on the lips than risk having their hands crushed. Being on the receiving end of a Louw handshake is probably what opposition loosehead props feel when they pack down against the big tighthead in a scrum while he wears the green and gold. Louw has been a destructive force when coming off the bench for the Boks in the Rugby Championship this season. In both Tests against the All Blacks, he had their pack on skates. Nicknamed “The Fridge” when he first came through the ranks at the Stormers, the powerfully built Louw has relished his cameos off the bench as part of the Boks’ famous “bomb…

For four of Port Natal Bowl’s brightest young bowlers, the BSA Under-35 National Tournament, from September 20-23, was never going to be a walk in the park. When Troy Garland, brothers Jarred and Keegan Bauristhene (all of Westville BC) and Siya Mkhize (Parkhill BC) packed their bags for Kimberley, they knew they were stepping into one of the toughest challenges of their bowling careers. This year’s championship looked very different from the previous editions. Bowls South Africa recently scrapped the Under-30 tournament and created a higher-level Under-35 event. The result? A fiercely competitive playing field where up-and-coming bowlers suddenly found themselves pitted against seasoned campaigners who had already proved themselves at district, provincial and national level. Take the host district, Northern Cape. Their line-up included the stalwart Charles Peter…

Transnet reassures investors of commitment to R127bn capital expenditure plan over five years Transnet has reassured investors of its commitment to an ambitious R127 billion capital expenditure plan over the next five years as it works to modernise South Africa’s rail and port network, tackle theft and vandalism, and open the system to private operators. This comes as the State-owned freight and logistics operator continues to ramp up volumes after moving nearly 160 million tons of freight in the year ended 31 March 2025 compared to 151 million tons the previous year. Freight volumes had been in steep decline since Transnet’s peak year in 2017/18, when it moved well over 200 million tons. Speaking in a wide-ranging discussion on the company’s turnaround efforts at the 5th SA SOC Investment Summit…

South Africa’s agricultural exports to the United States surged by 26% in the second quarter of 2025, reaching $161 million (R2.7 billion), despite ongoing concerns over potential tariff hikes and market access. Data from the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) on Tuesday showed that the increase was driven largely by citrus, wine, fruit juices, and nuts—products that traditionally dominate South Africa’s shipments to the US. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz chief economist, said the surge may reflect exporters taking advantage of the 90-day pause on higher tariffs. “It appears that some exporters may have taken advantage of the 90-day pause on the higher tariffs and exported more volume than usual during that period,” he said. “The fact that South Africa generally has a large fruit harvest also contributed to this…

Energy poverty in South Africa remains acute. Research from the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) shows that more than half of households live below the upper-bound poverty line, with a significant share on the food poverty line. This is the context in which affordability and food-versus-energy choices are made at kitchen tables every day. Free Basic Electricity (FBE) was designed to ease this burden, but delivery is uneven across municipalities and coverage limited. Stats SA’s 2023 General Household Survey found that only about 14% of municipal electricity consumer units received FBE. This shortfall undermines access to affordable electricity at levels sufficient to drive socio-economic development and improve food security. Meanwhile, municipal finances are under severe strain, with arrears to Eskom approaching R100 billion. In response, National Treasury has launched a…

Remgro, the JSE-listed investment group with well-known South African businessman Johann Rupert as its major controlling shareholder, has declared a 200 cents a share special dividend, bringing its total payout to shareholders to about R3.09 billion for the year. The special dividend for the year to June 30 followed the disposal of the interest in British American Tobacco and strong performances from nearly all Remgro's investee companies. The special dividend is in addition to the total dividend for the year, which increased by 30.3% to 344 cents a share compared with the previous year. Remgro's intrinsic net asset value per share increased by 16.5% to R292.34 at June 30, from R251.01 at June 30 a year before. The closing share price at June 30, 2025, was R158.20 (2024: R136.09), representing…

THE proposed construction of a new airport on the south of Durban has been described as a vital move that could trigger economic growth and create more jobs for the city. Tourism bodies and opposition parties in the council have welcomed the proposal, adding that the city should invest in essential infrastructure. The tourism industry said it had suffered immensely after the old airport in the south of the city was closed. City manager Musa Mbhele revealed the proposal during the mayoral tourism trade stakeholder engagement held in Durban recently. The City is exploring plans for a second airport on the South Coast to improve regional accessibility and boost tourism. The Mercury reached out to the municipality to get more details on the proposed project, but the City had not…

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the ANC in the province have welcomed the life sentence handed down to a hitman who murdered a Richmond municipal manager in 2017. Convicted hitman Sabelo Phewa, who was found guilty of the brutal murders of Richmond municipal manager Sibusiso Sithole and of Amos Ngcobo, was sentenced in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday. The court handed down life sentences to Phewa for the 2017 killings, along with additional sentences for attempted murder of police officers, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The KZN Cogta department said in a statement that Sithole was gunned down outside the Richmond licensing office on March 3, 2017, moments before he was due to attend a council meeting. Ngcobo…

Patriotic Alliance (PA) has welcomed an independent investigation that cleared Kenny Kunene of any wrongdoing related to his controversial visit to the Sandton residence of controversial businessman Katiso Molefe in July. The high-profile probe, led by leading law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), found “no evidence or witness testimony that refutes the version” given by Kunene, who had maintained that his presence at the residence was solely for journalistic purposes. According to the CDH report, Kunene had facilitated an exclusive interview between journalist Jabulani Binase and Molefe for Africa News Global (ANG). The investigation included interviews with all key parties—Kunene, Binase, a facilitator referred to as “Jabu,” and ANG Editor-in-Chief Steve Motale—and examined media content, documents, and public records. The visit, which attracted widespread media attention, took a dramatic turn…

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has named a 45-man preliminary squad for the final two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month, with Zimbabwe and Rwanda the opponents. South Africa will first take on Zimbabwe at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on October 10 before hosting Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on October 14. While the extended list offers Broos plenty of depth, several notable names have once again been overlooked despite good form and proven pedigree. Independent Media takes a closer look at five players who missed the cut: Thembinkosi Lorch The 32-year-old winger has rediscovered his spark since moving to Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic. Lorch recently stood out on the global stage at the FIFA Club World Cup and has carried that momentum into the new season. Just last…

When Kwagga Smith was at school, he once wrote his real name, Albertus, on a test paper. His teacher, confused, asked the class: “Who is the new kid in the class?” This should come as no great surprise, because “Albertus” was already known to the world as Kwagga, even before he was born. Kwagga – widely regarded as arguably the best impact player in world rugby – explained how he got his name at a Springbok press conference yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Durban. “My brother actually gave me the nickname the night I was born,” the 32-year-old said. “It was on the farm in Mpumalanga, and he was with my grandparents. These American hunters were asking them to ask my boet what his brother’s…

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal's bid to end their trophy drought will not be ruined by his tactics after claims the Gunners boss is guilty of being too cautious. Former England stars Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher accused Arsenal of playing with the handbrake on following Arteta's controversial team selection for Sunday's 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Arsenal winger Eberechi Eze dropped to the bench, despite Martin Odegaard's absence, with Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino forming the midfield trio again after they flopped in a 1-0 defeat at Premier League champions Liverpool in August. Arteta's tactics were in danger of backfiring after Erling Haaland gave City an early lead at the Emirates Stadium. It was only when Arteta sent on Eze and Bukayo Saka at half-time that Arsenal finally…

WHEN Cricket South Africa announced the return of wicket-keeper/batter Quinton de Kock to the international white ball space on Monday, the whole country was sent into a frenzy, as fans were engulfed by the excitement of watching the left-hander in the green and gold once again. De Kock had announced that he would retire from One-Day cricket following the conclusion of the 2023 ICC Men’s World Cup, and went on to score four centuries in that tournament. With the 2027 ICC Men’s World Cup less than two years away, the 32-year-old’s availability has certainly strengthened South Africa’s chances of achieving something special, winning the elusive trophy for the first time, on home soil. De Kock will step straight into international cricket when the Proteas play Namibia in the T20I match…