Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-29 i Mercury

South Africa’s municipalities continue to grapple with mounting debt and underperformance in revenue collection, according to the latest National Treasury fourth-quarter Local Government Section 71 report for the 2024/25 financial year. The report, released on Friday and covering the period ending 30 June 2025, shows that while municipalities collectively spent R597.2 billion, or 89.8% of their adjusted expenditure budgets, revenue collection fell short. Municipalities billed and generated R617.3bn, equivalent to 93% of their adjusted revenue targets. A major concern flagged by Treasury is the ballooning municipal consumer debt, which climbed to R427.7bn, up from R339.9bn in the same period last year. Households account for 71.9% (R307.5bn) of this debt, while government entities owe R24.7bn, a sharp increase from R18.6bn in 2023/24. “The growing debt burden highlights the liquidity and cash…

Starbucks plans to close stores and eliminate 900 jobs in a $1 billion (about R17.3bn) restructuring effort as the company amps up a turnaround plan under chief executive Brian Niccol. The coffee chain, which had 360 000 global employees last year, said its overall store count in the US and Canada will drop by 1% to 18 300. After that, it plans to grow the number of stores it operates and refurbish another 1 000 restaurants. Following a review of its coffeehouses, the company identified a number of stores where it couldn’t see a path toward profitability and decided to close them. It plans to focus on stores that align with Niccol’s plan to make its restaurants a more inviting place to visit. “Early results from coffeehouse uplifts show customers…

In South Africa, the bitter irony of education is that a certificate often signals neither mastery nor mobility. Each year, thousands of matriculants emerge from underfunded schools with qualifications that cannot secure them work or dignity. The OECD reports that nearly 39% of young South Africans with secondary schooling remain unemployed, a reality that mocks the promise of liberation. Three decades ago, economist Thomas Sowell exposed the deceptions of American education: grade inflation, union dominance and ideological capture that prized access over competence. South Africa today represents an even harsher version of those illusions. Our system, celebrated for mass access, hides a deeper truth: access without outcomes chains the poor more tightly than exclusion. What appears as misfortune is, on closer inspection, a careful orchestration of incentives and neglect. From…

Dr Anne Letsebe is no more. She was laid to rest on Friday. South Africa has lost a seasoned civil servant – one chiselled in the Cabinet Secretariat of President Nelson Mandela and refined under the unified Cabinet Committee system led by Reverend Frank Chikane during President Mbeki’s administration. Dr Letsebe’s professional journey reflected a rare blend of intellect, integrity, and dedication to the public good. She took a deep interest in statistics, and when I became the Statistician-General of South Africa in 2000, I worked closely with her. Our relationship continued into retirement, bound by shared commitments to evidence, governance, and transformation. Now that she belongs to the Ages, she joins another departed colleague, Dr Lulama Makhubela, with whom I worked on the South Africa Women In Dialogue (SAWID)…

THE announcement of Haniff Hoosen as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the eThekwini Municipality has drawn scepticism even from within the party's rank-and-file members. DA members who spoke to The Mercury yesterday raised doubts about his public profile and, by extension, his ability to attract voters. They said Hoosen's announcement as the mayoral candidate for one of the biggest metros in the country was a general indication of the dearth of high-profile leaders in the party within the province. A political analyst also questioned the DA’s competitiveness in the upcoming local government elections in eThekwini. The DA announced on Friday that Hoosen, a seasoned politician, would be the party’s mayoral candidate in eThekwini. However, party members expressed scepticism about Hoosen's ability to woo the electorate into the party. “People…

As the world marked International Safe Abortion Day yesterday, an alarm has been raised over the staggering prevalence of unsafe abortions worldwide, urging decisive action to ensure women and girls have access to safe and legal abortion services. Gynaecologist Dr Koketso Pule, speaking yesterday during an interview on TV news channel Newzroom Afrika, highlighted the critical risks associated with unsafe abortions, stating that globally, approximately 45% of abortions are performed unsafely. She stated that this contributes to an estimated 13% of preventable maternal deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). “Unsafe abortions are a significant public health issue,” Pule explained. “It means that if safe and regulated access to abortion services is available, women’s lives can be saved. The barriers surrounding termination of unwanted pregnancies—whether legal, social, or economic—are…

The South African Postbank has yet to re-apply for the full banking licence almost eight years after lodging an application with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Replying to DA MP Tsolofelo Bodlani, Communications and Digital technologies Minister Solly Malatsi confirmed that a banking licence application for the South African Postbank has not been submitted to the SARB. Malatsi said an application was last lodged with the central bank in June 2017. “Due to the lapse of time, most of the information in the application is outdated,” he said. However, Malatsi said the Postbank has started a process to review the application file for the necessary updates to resubmit the banking licence application. President Cyril Ramaphosa had told Parliament earlier this month that the immediate challenge was to strengthen the…

Police in KwaZulu-Natal say they have dismantled a syndicate accused of extorting student residence owners and foreign-owned businesses, arresting three men in separate raids in Durban and Eshowe. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the arrests, which were carried out on Friday by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit alongside Tactical Response Teams from Empangeni and Durban, the Durban Central K9 Unit, the Provincial Criminal Record Centre, and the Extortion Task Team. Police said two security guards were at the Eshowe house when officers arrived. One was allegedly found with a firearm whose serial number had been filed off. “He was duly arrested for being in possession of a prohibited firearm,” Netshiunda said. Inside the residence, police arrested a 42-year-old man suspected of being one of the extortion kingpins. “An…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially open the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), which will bring together Speakers of Parliament and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries to discuss parliamentary responses to global challenges. Kleinmond in the Western Cape will be a hive of activity this week with Parliament hosting the summit from October 1 to 3 at the Arabella Hotel. The landmark event coincides with South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the recent inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20. The summit will provide the country and the African continent with an opportunity to lead discussions that shape global governance and legislative priorities. This year’s Speakers’ Summit will be held under the theme: “Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for the Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”. The…

Moving beyond securitisation to holistic strategies BY THE end of 2024, the world had reached a sobering migration milestone. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 43.7 million people were officially registered as refugees, while 123.2 million were forcibly displaced: equivalent to one in every 67 people on earth. International migration overall climbed to 304 million. Among them were Europeans, Africans, and indeed, many of us who move, live, and work across borders. Migration, after all, is not an anomaly but part of human nature. Yet, migration often turns tragic. On October 3, 2013, the world watched in horror as at least 365 migrants drowned off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, after their overcrowded boat caught fire. The African Union (AU) declared November 3 a day of mourning, and former…

The drama at Kings Park was unrelenting as the Springboks fluctuated between the sublime and the ridiculous in thrashing Argentina 67-30. Here are five takeaways from a memorable Rugby Championship match. Sizzling Sacha A hat-trick of tries and 10 successful shots at goal saw the flyhalf amass a record-breaking 37 points. He beat 13 defenders while accumulating 134 metres from his 14 carries, fashioning three clean breaks in the process. That total of 13 defenders beaten is all the more impressive when you consider that the next best Springboks in this department – Jasper Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit – beat five defenders each. Boks score own goals During the week, attack coach Tony Brown spoke about the Boks’ inability to put together an 80-minute performance this season. Against the…

An emotional Marc Marquez said he was “at peace” with himself after winning his first MotoGP world title since 2019 yesterday, capping a remarkable comeback from an injury nightmare. The Spaniard finished second at the Japan grand prix behind fellow Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia to clinch his seventh world title with five events to spare. It marked a triumphant return from a gruelling struggle with injuries since breaking his right arm in 2020 that almost forced him to hang up his helmet. The 32-year-old said his title was “written in the stars” but admitted he had doubts he would return to the top. Marc Marquez Secures Seventh World Championship Title in Japan “Of course I feel happy but the first feeling is that I feel at peace with myself,”…

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has made it clear that his ambitions for the Durban club go far beyond mid-table respectability, insisting he is building a team capable of challenging for trophies. The KwaZulu-Natal side climbed into the top eight of the Betway Premiership for the first time this season after a statement week that included a famous win over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns and a 3-0 triumph against Orbit College at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday. “I said it at the start that I’m building a team to compete for every trophy and not a team that makes the top eight or fights relegation. We are on the right track, but we mustn’t get carried away,” Mngqithi said. “Everyone looks at the teams that are built with budgets…

The latest World Economic Forum (WEF) chief economists’ outlook for September paints a stark picture of a global economy grappling with persistent disruptions and mounting uncertainty. This analysis, corroborated by South African economists, emerges from a comprehensive survey involving chief economists from various sectors, including Old Mutual Group’s chief economists, Johann Els. In a revealing appraisal, the report highlights a resilience amidst turbulence, yet underscores that growth prospects remain subdued, with significant risks skewed to the downside. Notably, 72% of chief economists surveyed anticipate a deterioration in global economic conditions over the next year – a sentiment echoed across numerous economies facing prolonged instability. The WEF report underscores the impact of recent tariffs imposed by the US on a multitude of countries, initiating a recalibration of global supply chains and…

South Africa’s Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) surged to a record 81.0 points in the third quarter of 2025, up from 75.9 in the previous quarter, according to the North West University (NWU) Business School. The baseline of the index is 50, with higher levels reflecting greater policy uncertainty. NWU Business School economist Professor Raymond Parsons said the rise in uncertainty was driven by a mix of global and domestic headwinds. “A combination of negative global and internal factors outweighed the positive ones in the PUI over this period,” he said. Parsons added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will soon update its overall economic forecasts for its annual meeting in October. On the global front, the IMF is set to update its economic outlook at its October annual meetings. Its…

In 2015, when South Africa agreed to American demands to remove anti-dumping restrictions on United States chicken imports, the decision was sold as a narrow concession to secure broader benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). What followed was not a sterile trade technicality but a real economic trade-off: access for US chicken became, for many in the poultry sector, shorthand for jobs lost, transformation delayed, and export ambitions blunted. Agoa was a strategic instrument for South Africa, the poultry concession allowed it to preserve duty-free access to the US for priority exports, from vehicles to citrus. The 2015 Agoa extension expires at the end of this month, and may not be renewed. What will survive, however, is a huge annual quota of US chicken that will come…

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) released its latest report on employers defaulting on pension fund contributions to their employees. It raises deeply alarming matters that cannot be left as yet another burden of life for workers to suffer through. Pension funds are workers’ hard earned deferred wages. When employers, public or private, claim to be making them fail to do so, that is fraud and must be treated as the criminal offence it is. Worse is when employers deduct the employees’ contribution and then pocket the money. It is extremely worrying that the number of delinquent employers has seemingly doubled from just under 8 000 in the last FSCA report to over 15 500 in its most recent. This may be due partly to improved reporting since the advent…

The Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng, the Western Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal are facing a shortage of court interpreters. This was revealed by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who stated that the department has noted an increased demand for interpreters. This has resulted in some courts not meeting the standard of one interpreter in each court. In KZN, there is a need for IsiXhosa and Mandarin interpreters, with Siswati and Portuguese interpreters needed in courts near the Swaziland and Mozambique borders. Kubayi, in a parliamentary response to questions from DA MP Damien Klopper, said the increased demand has placed pressure on the existing interpreter pool, particularly in rural and multilingual areas. “The requirement for interpreters to be accredited through the South African Language Practitioners’ Council, in line with…

The court gave a divorcing woman, who is married to her husband out of community of property, the green light to claim her share of her husband’s estate, which she said she had helped build over the years through emotional support, raising the children and helping run the family lodge, without ever being paid. The woman turned to the Mpumalanga High Court, sitting in Mbombela, in a bid to amend her claim during the divorce proceedings to include a redistribution order. The couple are, however, are married out of community of property, excluding the accrual system, in terms of an antenuptial contract. The woman said she has contributed for nearly two decades to her husband’s estate, without even being formally recognised. As her marriage contract excludes accrual, she is not…

A 35-year-old nanny is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today after she was arrested in Empangeni for allegedly stealing a 9-month-old baby from his mother’s home in Durban. According to the police, the incident took place on Saturday afternoon. The mother returned home to find both her son and the nanny missing. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the arrest. He said the mother contacted the nanny to ask about her whereabouts, as she had not given permission for the child to be taken anywhere. “The nanny informed the mother of the child that she was somewhere at Empangeni but could not provide a reasonable explanation why she had left and taken the child with her. Further communication between the mother and the nanny suggested that…

In a bid to save the financially struggling KwaZulu-Natal Education department, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube in consultation with provincial Finance MEC Francois Rodgers, is expected to outline a financial turnaround plan. The minister has convened an urgent meeting with Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, Finance MEC and other role players in the provincial government in Durban today. The provincial education department in a statement issued at the weekend, said the minister has undertaken an urgent visit to the province to attend to the financial difficulties facing the education department. “The meeting will discuss the serious financial challenges besetting the province and propose a financial recovery plan for the provincial Department of Education to ensure stability and continuity in the delivery of education services in the province,” read…

LAST year for Heritage Month, I wrote an opinion article titled “Your untold story can contribute to broadening our heritage narrative” in which I made an argument towards inclusivity, to flip the inherited heritage side of the coin that will have the courage to disrupt homogeneity and advance heterogeneity in pursuit of establishing the alternative memory where two sides of the heritage narrative coin intersect, influence each other, and hybridise, in pursuit of dialogic engagements and transformative output. Here follows some brief reflection on the article… Putting our conversation about the diverse facets of our heritage – both its uplifting moments and its painful truths – on hold for just one day a year will not address the deeper issues we face. In 2024, I invited everyone to join me…

The Springboks were all smiles on Saturday night after they put 67 sparkling points past Argentina in Durban, but Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus said the champagne is on ice until they complete the Rugby Championship job in London this week. The Boks are tantalisingly close to making history by defending their Rugby Championship title, something they have never achieved since the tournament’s inception in 1996. With one round remaining, they top the log with 15 points, followed by New Zealand (14), Australia (11) and Argentina (9). “We’re flying tomorrow (Sunday) and we’re playing at Twickenham next week, and we have to win that game or it’s just another missed Rugby Championship,” Erasmus said after Saturday night’s astonishing display at Kings Park. The Boks scored nine tries, and their handsome…

Kaizer Chiefs’ co-interim coach Cedric Kaze cut an animated figure during the team’s progression into the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary qualifiers on Saturday afternoon. Goldy Lilepo scored the only goal of the match against Kabuscorp in the second leg of the first-round qualifiers as Chiefs levelled the tie before winning 5-4 on penalties at FNB Stadium. The goal and the club’s progression meant a lot to the team, as they went into the game low on confidence following a loss to Sekhukhune and a draw with Kabuscorp away. Kaze celebrated in delight. Chiefs needed a lot of celebration amid the difficult period following the departure of coach Nasreddine Nabi. The Tunisia-born coach is reportedly on his way out, having recently been suspended due to issues of…

Durban City climbed to third on the Betway Premiership log after a hard-fought comeback win over Magesi at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday night. KwaZulu-Natal side turned a halftime deficit into victory thanks to second-half strikes from Samkelo Maseko, Saziso Magawana, and Letsie Koapeng. The win was another statement of intent from Gavin Hunt’s side, who continue to combine resilience with attacking flair. Despite falling behind in the first half, Durban City regrouped at the break and imposed themselves on the game in the second period, controlling possession and creating multiple chances. “I thought we played with good energy, attitude as well as tenacity and speed, but we went a goal down and that gave them a boost,” Hunt said. “But when we scored the equaliser, the game really opened up…

Online marketplace OLX will enter the Western European auto market with the acquisition of leading French motors classified platform La Centrale for €1.1 billion (about R22.38 billion), its owner, the JSE and Amsterdam-listed Prosus said on Friday. Prosus, a subsidiary of Naspers, is focused on food and lifestyle e-commerce and in August reported a 54% jump in its e-commerce adjusted core earnings. On Friday it said that buying La Centrale would help it enter the European autos market and strengthen its e-commerce presence in the continent, complementing the recently announced planned acquisition by Prosus of meal delivery company Just Eat Takeaway. “I expect to invest more in AI technology in France,” Prosus CEO Fabricio Bloisi said in a statement. Prosus expects the deal to close by year-end. OLX CEO Christian…

Gemfields Group said on Friday its free cash flow before working capital movements fell to a negative $22.1 million (about R382m) for the six months to June 30 due to lower auction revenue and capital expenditure at Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) in Mozambique. The JSE-listed miner and marketer of coloured stones said in its interim financial results that total revenue came to $64.2m, well down from R121.41m a year before. The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation loss came to $4.9m. The net loss came to $24.58m, compared with the $13.67m profit at the same time a year before. "This has been a challenging first half marked by gemstone production difficulties at both mines. MRM experienced lower premium ruby output while Kagem Mining suspended mining altogether at the end…

The dichotomy between US unemployment and inflation, baptised as a process of stagflation, continues to shift investments to gold, platinum and other haven assets. Together with this sentiment of further rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, the decision by the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee not to lower the repo rate the previous week, pushed real rates between the US and South Africa to unique highs. This causes portfolio capital inflow and the rand/dollar exchange rate to trade at its strongest level since September 26, 2024. The currency last Tuesday in intra-day trade reached $17.22 against the dollar. Although the rand ended Friday sideways at R17.34/$, the same level as the previous week, it is still 150 cents stronger than at the beginning of the year (R18/84/$). Against the…

Heriot REIT, the AltX-listed diversified South African property company, saw a landmark year after it increased distributable earnings by 26.1%, its most ever, to R389.21 million for the year to June 30. The distribution per share (DPS) increased by 14.3% to 121.91 cents in the year to June 30. The growth in DPS was not directly aligned with distributable earnings, as the Thibault REIT acquisition initially led to an about 4% dilution in DPS, but delivered a 7% increase in net asset value per share. A final dividend of 65.07 cents a share, on a 100% payout ratio, was declared for the six months to June 30, a 14.5% increase compared to the final dividend for the same period in 2024. The company’s management said on Friday that the results…

THE project of renewal within the ANC is moving slowly, although non-genuine members are already weaning themselves off the party. That is the view shared by some ANC members in the Midlands, who have observed business people, who previously secured tenders through party connections, abandoning the ANC, along with former leaders joining opposition parties. They spoke after former President Thabo Mbeki made a call for the party to take the renewal programme seriously and remove those who seek to use the party for self-enrichment. Mbeki made these remarks while attending a political education school in Durban at the weekend. “Be honest about the state of the organisation. As a movement and an organisation, we recognise there is a crisis. You can't drop from where we were to this 17% and…

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has officially initiated a comprehensive market inquiry into the fixed and capacity charges levied by electricity distributors, including Eskom and various municipalities. This move aims to address growing concerns about the rising electricity costs and the structure of tariff increases, which many consumers and stakeholders have found contentious. In a statement released at the weekend, Charles Hlebela, NERSA’s Head of Communications, said the inquiry was due to the concerns raised by customers. “This market-wide inquiry responds to widespread concerns from customers and stakeholders about the impact of these charges, as well as the level of increase imposed, and the structure and justification of these charges,” he said. NERSA stated that the inquiry will scrutinise the genesis and implementation of fixed charges, generation…

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has issued a stark warning about the rapidly growing problem of employers defaulting on pension fund contributions, a breach that threatens the financial security of nearly 600 000 workers across key sectors. In a statement released yesteray, COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela revealed that the number of employers failing to pay workers’ deducted pension contributions has more than doubled since last year. According to the latest Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) report, 15 521 employers are now in default—up from 7 700 in 2024 and dramatically higher than the initial 4 000 reported in 2023. “This disturbing trend places the livelihoods and futures of hundreds of thousands of South African workers at risk,” Sabela said. “When pension contributions are withheld or remain in…

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for South African sports and education institutions to sever ties with Israel and for coal exports to the Middle Eastern country to be banned. These were among the resolutions adopted by the church. The church representatives from South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and St Helena, held the annual meeting of the church’s Standing Committee on Friday. The church said that they “cannot remain neutral in the face of such profound human suffering.” “We reaffirm our call for: an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, accountability for violations of international law, the release of all hostages and political prisoners, and renewed commitment to peace-building rooted in justice, dignity and truth.” In a statement…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has downplayed his team’s dominant performance in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round, which concluded with a masterclass 7-0 aggregate triumph over Lesotho’s Lioli FC on Saturday. Following their 4-0 win in the second leg at Orlando Stadium, Ouaddou reminded fans and players that such victories should be expected rather than celebrated as extraordinary achievements. He noted that a victory like this was anticipated from a team of the Pirates' calibre. Impressive braces from forwards Tshepang Moremi and Yanela Mbuthuma bolstered Pirates. While the scoreline reflected a dominant performance, Ouaddou emphasised the necessity of treating every opponent with respect, regardless of their stature in African football. “To be honest, we were never worried about that game,” Ouaddou reflected in his post-match press conference. “I…

Arsenal produced a dramatic late fightback to win 2-1 at Newcastle last night to lay down an early marker in the Premier League title race. The Gunners were heading for a fourth consecutive defeat at St. James' Park after falling behind to Nick Woltemade's first-half header. However, Mikel Merino headed in the equaliser before Gabriel Magalhaes powered in from a 96th-minute corner to lift Arsenal into second and within two points of leaders Liverpool. Liverpool's first defeat of the season at Crystal Palace on Saturday had handed Arsenal the chance to close in at the top of the table. For a long time it looked like Mikel Arteta's men would let that opportunity slip by in a bad-tempered encounter on Tyneside. But the manner of victory will give the Gunners…

The Proteas Women put the finishing touches to their World Cup preparations with a four-wicket win over Pakistan in yesterday’s ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, a victory built on strong all-round performances by the South Africans. Pakistan managed to score 229/9 off 46 overs after choosing to bat first. South Africa replied with 233/6 in the 41st over, surviving an early batting wobble as skipper Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, and Marizanne Kapp all fell cheaply. Pakistan were 87/2 after 20 overs in their innings. Medium-pace spearhead Ayabonga Khaka claimed the first wicket, that of opener Muneeba Ali. Fellow seamer Nadine de Klerk then dismissed Omaima Sohail, before Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz steadied the ship for Pakistan. The Proteas struck two quick blows, with Annerie Dercksen removing…

Teen swimming sensation Jessica Thompson made the biggest splash at the SA Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg, which ended yesterday, grabbing a whopping five gold medals in the first three days of competition. Thompson also obliterating the longstanding national 50m backstroke record and equalled the African mark held by Zimbabwe legend Kirsty Coventry. Thompson, the 18-year-old from Johannesburg, was disappointed to miss out on the SA record in taking gold in the 50m butterfly on Thursday night at the event. She also cruised to gold in the 100m freestyle. Thompson’s “disappointment”would not last long, as she set a new mark in the 50m backstroke of 26.85 seconds, breaking the record Chanelle van Wyk had set 16 years ago. With three gold medals already in the bag, Thompson added two…