Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-14 i Mercury

South Africa’s citrus export season has wrapped up on a high note, with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) reporting a 19% year-on-year increase in export volumes handled across the country’s ports. According to TPT on Monday, the Durban Multipurpose Terminal recorded the most impressive growth, moving 131.6% more citrus than in 2024. The Ngqura Container Terminal saw a 35% rise, while both the Cape Town and Durban Container Terminals also posted double-digit increases of 27.4% and 28.8%, respectively. Michelle van Buren Schele, TPT’s general manager for commercial and planning, described the 2025 citrus season as “a remarkable achievement,” and thanked all those that have made this possible. “This year has been a remarkable achievement – and this is attributed to a bumper crop season, much improved terminal operational performance, and strong…

A secondary inward listing will preserve South African investor access and market liquidity CANAL+ Groupe, the global media and entertainment group that has closed the R35 billion acquisition of MultiChoice Group (MCG), plans a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock exchange. The deal that adds MultiChoice's extensive African subscriber base to CANAL+'s portfolio will see it serve more than 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries. It was CANAL+'s biggest acquisition, to date, and follows the global group's listing on the London Stock Exchange in December 2024. In June last year, CANAL+ and MultiChoice set out an offer by CANAL+ to acquire all the issued shares of MCG, not already owned by CANAL+, for R125 per share, payable in cash. "We are pleased with the overwhelming success of the offer.…

Eskom’s return to profitability after eight years offers some welcome positive news for the power utility and the broader economy. I want to congratulate Eskom for its financial results released last month, which showed it made a profit before tax of R23.9 billion. It is the first time the utility has posted a profit in eight years. I was impressed that this was achieved not just from higher tariffs, but from a fundamental and significant improvement in the operations of the state-owned entity. Load shedding was damaging to Eskom for many reasons, but one obvious consequence was that it had less electricity to sell and therefore less revenue it could earn. It also meant that Eskom ran its diesel-based open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) much more, which cost considerably more than…

For years, the focus of Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been on education – a necessary, but unfortunately incomplete, part of the solution. Despite countless training sessions and phishing simulations, the financial consequences of cyber incidents continue to climb. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach for a South African organisation now stands at a staggering R41.1 million. This number confirms a difficult truth: awareness is not the same as resilience. Knowing that fast food is unhealthy does not, on its own, create a healthy lifestyle. Similarly, knowing about cyber threats does not, on its own, protect an organisation’s balance sheet. The conversation in the boardroom must evolve from asking "Are our employees aware?" to "Is our business resilient?". Resilience is not a passive state of knowledge; it…

South Africa’s financial regulator has imposed a R10.6 million fine on Sanlam Collective Investments (SCI) for failing to meet anti-money laundering obligations under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FIC Act), it said on Monday. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) said the sanction follows an inspection in March 2024 which uncovered serious compliance failures, including ineffective implementation of SCI’s risk management and compliance programme (RMCP), inadequate due diligence on clients, and deficiencies in identifying and reporting suspicious transactions. SCI, a unit of financial services giant Sanlam Ltd and a registered manager of collective investment schemes, is classified as an “accountable institution” under the FIC Act, which mandates measures to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The FSCA said while SCI had an RMCP in place, it was not…

In a warm, meaningful exchange yesterday, Dr Leila Fourie, outgoing CEO of the JSE, handed me a copy of Architects of Influence: Women in Business, a fitting token from a leader whose tenure has embodied that very narrative. As she prepares to step down on March 31, 2026, we at Independent Media pause not only to celebrate her many achievements, but to honour the spirit of inclusion and excellence she leaves behind. Since her 2019 appointment, Dr Fourie has guided the JSE through formidable challenges with innovation, strength, and a steadfast belief in inclusive leadership. Under her stewardship, the Exchange has matured into a more resilient, forward-looking institution that uplifts women and minorities in the financial sector. I offered heartfelt congratulations to Dr Fourie, and shared the pride of our…

When it comes to mental health, parents and kids often find themselves at odds over what matters most. But a groundbreaking survey reveals one powerful insight they both agree on: loneliness is the biggest mental health challenge young people face today. The Intergenerational Stressors Study surveyed 1 000 parent and child pairs in the US and found that both groups agree: loneliness is the top emotional issue for young people. This problem is not limited to the US; families around the world are facing the same challenge. Parents and kids may not always agree, but their shared concern about loneliness shows that families, schools, and communities need to help people connect more deeply. Let’s look at how loneliness affects both groups, why it is so common, and what we…

A 43-year-old father accused of firearm negligence in the tragic shooting on a Limpopo farm is set to appear in the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court this week, following the death of a farmworker allegedly caused by his 11-year-old son. It was previously reported that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, when the child reportedly discharged a firearm while attempting to shoot guinea fowl on the farm. The stray bullet struck a worker, who was later pronounced dead. Limpopo police have confirmed that the father was arrested and faces charges related to the negligent handling of a firearm. The boy is also expected to appear in court, though it is not yet clear whether formal charges against him will be filed. Authorities have seized the firearm and a spent cartridge from the…

Dealing with bereavement is a challenging time for all families and life insurance matters can make the situation more difficult; however, complaints can be taken to the Life Insurance Ombud at the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO). The Life Insurance division offers free, independent assistance to beneficiaries who feel an insurer has unfairly declined a life insurance claim. According to a statement from the NFO, the division has, from January 2025 to date, recovered a total of R140.6 million in respect of all life insurance claims, including declined claims that were reversed and compensation awarded for poor service. Denise Gabriels, Lead Ombud of the Life Insurance Division of the NFO, said, “Our mission is to resolve financial services complaints fairly, impartially, and efficiently. We operate independently and without fear or…

The trial of Bafana Mahungela, the 22-year-old student accused of the brutal murder of Sandton teacher Kirsten Kluyts, has been postponed to Wednesday due to the unavailability of the trial judge. The case was expected to begin yesterday at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. However, defence attorney Mothokozi Ngcowane confirmed outside the court that the matter has been postponed to October 15 because the presiding officer assigned to the case was unavailable. “The judge who is presiding over the case is not available today,” Ngcowane told the media. “We were informed that he’s committed to another matter in the Johannesburg High Court. We were ready to proceed, but the matter has been postponed to Wednesday, October 15, for trial.” Mahungela faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder…

The Presidency says the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticises everything President Cyril Ramaphosa does and that it is used to such reactions. This was Ramaphosa’s spokesperson’s response to the DA’s criticism of the president’s choice of panel to nominate the next National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), which the party argues lacks sufficient legal expertise. Speaking at a media briefing at the Union Buildings yesterday, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Presidency had not issued an official response to the DA’s remarks. “We have not responded to the criticism. The DA criticises everything the president does, so we are accustomed to that,” Magwenya said. He added that Ramaphosa had not received any formal correspondence from the DA on the matter. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s been no official correspondence that…

The Rugby Championship-winning Springboks are closing in on their November tour to Europe. With a short United Rugby Championship break, they resume action with a five-match tour. What has Rassie Erasmus learned that he can take into the end-of-year campaign? Sacha FM blares loud and clear In 2023, no rugby player would have imagined that Handré Pollard would, in two years, go from star to third-choice flyhalf behind Sacha Fynn and Manie Libbok. That is the reality. Erasmus’ rotation policy has thrown the flyhalf selection open, with the best man prevailing. This is not to say that Pollard can’t have a “2023” and lead the Boks to World Cup glory in 2027. He will be there – form dips and injuries happen. Attack is cool, but rugby is not…

First Test: Day 2 – Stumps Pakistan: 378 all out (Salman 93, Rizwan 75, Muthusamy 6/117) South Africa: 216/6 (De Zorzi 81*, Rickleton 71, Noman Ali 4/85) South Africa trail by 162 runs Two elements were vital for the Proteas to be in contention in this first Pakistan Test. One of the spin trio selected had to step in and fill the void left by the injured Keshav Maharaj. And the other was the batters needed to find a way to counter Pakistan’s potent spin threat. Towards the end of a second day in Lahore, the foundations were being laid to achieve those objectives with the Proteas moving to 174/2 in response to Pakistan’s 378 all out. The home team had lost their last four wickets for just 26 runs,…

It’s been a long time since Liverpool fans approached a home clash with Manchester United feeling this uneasy, with Arne Slot facing the first real test of his fledgling Anfield reign. Three straight defeats across all competitions have stripped away the early-season optimism from a mammoth spending spree that brought some of the world’s most desirable football talent to the champions. Suddenly, there are cracks all over the show – some of Slot’s own making, it must be said – with some of the stalwarts of last season’s title-winning campaign looking jaded, while one of the new puzzle pieces is still trying hard to prove his worth. There is also a growing recognition of the role that Trent Alexander-Arnold played in Liverpool’s attacking blueprint, with Mo Salah becalmed down the…

Westbrooke Renewable Energy Alternatives, an alternative investment strategy managed by Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management said on Monday that it has acquired a portfolio of operational solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system assets located at 91 Shell Downstream South Africa (SDSAs) owned service stations across South Africa. The portfolio was purchased alongside one of Westbrooke Real’s partners, CVE South Africa, an experienced independent power producer. The assets were acquired from Thebe Solar Energy, which exited its position as part of a strategic realignment. The portfolio is fully operational and produces approximately 7.8 GWh of renewable power annually. The acquisition forms part of Westbrooke Real’s strategy to invest in South African behind-the-meter solar projects with experienced operators such as CVE. Westbrooke Real’s partnership with CVE has seen the joint acquisition and…

The JSE share price of ASP Isotopes, an advanced materials company that produces isotopes for various industries, surged by 28% to R210 on Monday after the announcement of a new supply agreement for enriched silicon-28 and a strategic acquisition. In a business update, ASP Isotopes revealed the acquisition of an independent radiopharmacy in Florida, USA, aimed at expanding PET Labs' nuclear medicine business. This move represents PET Labs' first expansion outside South Africa. "This acquisition marks an important first step in the planned expansion of PET Labs beyond South Africa. Over the next several years, we expect to grow PET Labs through both brownfield and greenfield expansions, with the goal of ultimately establishing PET Labs as a global leader in the production of radioisotopes for treating various forms of oncology,"…

Most people in tech start a career as interns and ultimately they become CEOs and if they start a business they also become tech founders. It’s rare for anyone to start as a founder and to later become an intern. This has been the case with Lunga Momoza, which makes him probably one of the most expensive interns in South Africa. When I first met Momoza I was deeply impressed by how he had spotted an opportunity in assisting township traders to stock for goods. His business story partly began in 2019 when Momoza enrolled at Stellenbosch University. Although he did not really know what studies to pursue when he came to the institution, he ended up enrolling for studies in philosophy, politics and economics. Momoza grew up in a…

Calgro M3, the South African integrated housing and memorial parks group traded on the JSE, witnessed a significant 7.7% drop in share price on Monday following the announcement of an 18.4% fall in headline earnings per share for the six months ended August 31. The decline in share price to R5.13 in the morning - it traded at R6.60 a year ago - may be due to raised concerns among investors as the company grapples with substantial capital allocations to ongoing projects. The decline in Calgro M3's revenue and profit for the six months was attributed to its investments in the Bankenveld District City Project, expected to result in some 20 000 additional housing units, where infrastructure installations have just begun. These costs are slated to reach R158 million over…

The Nobel prize in economics was awarded on Monday to American-Israeli Joel Mokyr, France's Philippe Aghion and Canada's Peter Howitt for work on technology's impact on sustained economic growth. Mokyr, 79, won one half of the prize "for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress", the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Aghion, 69, and Howitt, 79, shared the other half "for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction", it added. John Hassler, chair of the prize committee, told reporters their work answered questions about how technological innovation drives growth and how sustained growth can be maintained. Mokyr, who is a professor at Northwestern University in the United States, "used historical sources as one means to uncover the causes of sustained growth becoming the new normal",…

The criticism directed at National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola over his failure to push back against the Minister of Police regarding the disbandment of the political task team has been described as unfair and tantamount to punishing those who try to do right. Political analysts and government experts have stated that the criticism aimed at the commissioner by a member of the Ad Hoc committee could stem from a lack of understanding of how the government works. DA MP Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach questioned the national commissioner on his failure to “tell the minister to go to hell” when Minister Senzo Mchunu issued a letter disbanding the Political Killings Task Team. When asked by The Mercury yesterday about the dynamics that govern the relationship between the commissioner and the minister, she…

A KwaDukuza man has been arrested more than a decade after one of his crimes, as police officers linked multiple rape and robbery cases to him. The provincial police said officers arrested a 36-year-old man linked to nine cases of rape and robbery that took place between 2013 and 2016 in KwaDukuza, Mandeni, and oThongathi. According to the police, the suspect and his accomplice targeted women aged between 15 and 37, threatening them with knives before robbing and raping them. Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said one of the earliest cases dates back to January 28, 2013, when a 21-year-old woman was walking near a bridge in Darnall and was attacked by two men who dragged her into nearby bushes and raped her. Another case was reported on March 14,…

The month of August has recorded a 30.2% year-on-year increase in South Africa’s international tourist arrivals, reaching 935 738 visitors. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille welcomed the continued upward trend in South Africa’s international tourist arrivals. Cumulatively, 6.79 million tourists visited the country between January and August this year, a 15.8% rise compared to the same period last year. Regional highlights include the following: From Europe arrivals grew by 20.8%, led by the UK with +28.9% and Germany with +33.6%, Central and South America surged by 63.6%, with Brazil at +77.2% and Argentina at +85.5%, showing exceptional performance. This was followed by Australasia, which rose by 38.0%, while Asia grew by 21.1%, driven by Indonesia with +100.7% and Malaysia at +67.8%, despite softer numbers from China and India. The Middle…

The inquest into the deaths of the Cradock Four resumed in the Gqeberha High Court yesterday, almost four decades after the killings that became one of apartheid’s darkest chapters. The four men -Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto - were Eastern Cape activists who fought against apartheid rule. They were abducted, assaulted, and murdered by members of the apartheid security police outside Gqeberha in June 1985. Their burnt bodies were later discovered. The case became widely known as the “Cradock Four” murders because all four men were active in the small town of Cradock, where they organised civic structures and school boycotts under the banner of the United Democratic Front. Cradock is now known as Nxuba. Their work made them targets of the security branch, which viewed…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep condolences to the nations of Zimbabwe and Malawi after a horrific bus crash near Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt), Limpopo, claimed 42 lives. The passengers, mostly Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals, were travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to their home countries when the bus veered off a mountainous section of the N1 and plunged down an embankment. Dozens more were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. President Ramaphosa said the tragedy was compounded by the fact that it occurred during Transport Month, a time when South Africa highlights the importance of road safety. “This incident is a tragedy for South Africa and our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi alike. Our roads are economic networks that bring the people of our…

Titans spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa is wary of a confident Lions side ahead of the Four-Day Series clash at SuperSport Park starting today, but he also backs the hosts to make the most of home advantage and get over the line this week. The first Jukskei derby of the season is finally upon us, and the Titans are looking to redeem what has been a tough opening two rounds away from home for the Centurion-based unit. The Titans will be looking to the in-form Ndwandwa to help them secure their first victory of the season. The slow left-arm orthodox has been in fine form with the ball, having earned 7/206 and 2/52 on debut during the South Africa ‘A’ Four-Day fixture against New Zealand ‘A’. The 30-year-old went on to take…

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen was left ruing missed opportunities after his side’s United Rugby Championship loss to Benetton in Treviso, saying the result did not reflect the team’s effort or physical dominance. The South Africans were competitive for large periods of the match but were punished for costly handling mistakes and botched lineouts close to the try line, allowing the Italian outfit to claim a 41-15 win on home soil. “I think it was a game of huge missed opportunities from our side,” Van Rooyen said after the match. “A lot of the phases in the game we felt we were dominant – physically dominant – but we just couldn’t convert it all.” Van Rooyen pointed to two tries that came directly from Lions errors, turning promising attacking positions…

South Africa’s women’s hockey team began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a commanding 10-0 victory over hosts Egypt in Ismailia, while the men finally got their campaign under way with a 3-1 win over Kenya. The South African women wasted no time asserting their authority, leading 5-0 at half-time after taking the lead inside the opening three minutes through the first of veteran Thati Zulu’s goals – an emphatic reverse strike. The hosts dug deep to resist the South African pressure in the third quarter, but the floodgates reopened in the final phase. There were braces for Taheera Augousti and Kayla de Waal, while Ntsopa Mokoena, Hannah Pearce, Ongeziwe Mali and Tegan Fourie also got on the scoresheet. The experienced South African side boasts nine members of…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank's semi-annual gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors gets underway in Washington on Monday, against the backdrop of new trade threats from the world's two largest economies. Last week, China unveiled new export restrictions on critical minerals, prompting a fierce response from US President Donald Trump, who said he would impose new 100 percent tariffs on Beijing in response. The news, delivered just after US stock markets closed on Friday, sent shares plunging after hours, as investors digested the prospect of a reinvigorated trade war. Last week, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva told an event in Washington that the world economy is doing "better than feared, but worse than we need." She added that the Fund now expects global growth to…

Governance is often spoken of in technical terms. Policies, processes and compliance frameworks dominate the conversation, leaving little space for reflection on the quiet dignity that once defined good leadership. Somewhere along the way, governance became procedural rather than personal, more about ticking boxes than inspiring trust. Yet, governance was never meant to be a system of control. It was meant to be a practice of conduct. When did governance lose its grace? Perhaps it was when rules began to replace relationships, or when compliance became an end in itself rather than a means to ethical stewardship. In the pursuit of accountability, we may have forgotten that governance is not only about what an organisation does, but how it chooses to do it. True governance is not a rulebook. It…

Industry players have welcomed the KwaZulu-Natal High Court’s decision to dismiss APM Terminals’ application to overturn the selection of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) as Transnet’s private equity partner for the upgrade of Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 — a project seen as critical to restoring efficiency at South Africa’s busiest port. ICTSI was appointed as the preferred bidder in July 2023 for a 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to modernise and expand the facility. Pier 2 is the largest single container terminal at Transnet and handles 72% of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46% of South Africa’s container volumes, making it a critical gateway of trade. The State-owned logistics company said the ruling validated its procurement process, which it maintained was “rigorous and…

In December 2016, I sat down with Chad Larson, M-KOPA co-founder and CFO at the time, for an African Tech Roundup podcast conversation about their solar home systems business. The ground: What was promised With the precision you'd expect from a former Bain consultant and Bank of America investment banker, he explained that M-KOPA's grant funding (from Shell Foundation, Gates Foundation and others) didn't subsidise customers. It funded capacity building, the tech platform, upskilling the team. The customer proposition, he insisted, stood entirely on its own commercial merit. He was technically accurate. That farmer in Kenya's Central Highlands paying for her solar panel wasn't getting a discount courtesy of philanthropic capital. Fast forward to October 2025. Stephen Deng, co-founder and general partner (GP) at venture capital (VC) firm DFS Lab,…

Leading grocery discounter Boxer Retail comfortably met its IPO forecasts, increasing headline earnings a share by 5.3% in the 26 weeks ending August 31 after trading firmed in the second quarter. Net cash surged to R1.1 billion, up from R180 million at the last year-end. The strong trading momentum, solid operational execution, and progress on strategy resulted in an inaugural post-IPO dividend of 45.30 cents per share, representing a 40% payout ratio. “Boxer accelerated turnover growth, maintained a consistent trading profit margin, and absorbed additional JSE listing-related costs while delivering headline earnings growth and strengthening its balance sheet. In terms of the bottom line, we were probably at the higher end of our guidance,” said CEO Marek Masojada in an interview on Monday. Turnover increased by 13.9% to R22.5bn, with…

THE Mpac committee of the Msunduzi municipality is demanding answers from the municipality regarding the financial crisis faced by the council, including a serious cash crunch. The municipal public accounts committee (Mpac) has requested that the municipality’s administrative team provide a detailed report on its plan to address the cash crunch that has left the city with just one month of cash coverage. Additionally, the committee has demanded an explanation of the financial challenges that have led to delays in the municipality receiving debt relief from its Eskom debt. The committee expects to receive this report by the end of November. A recent Mpac report detailed the challenges faced by the municipality, highlighting several issues that are jeopardising its financial stability, including excessive spending on overtime. The report found that…

Members of Parliament, who are part of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, have raised concerns about the connection between suspended deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, and alleged criminals. The MPs shared their thoughts on the testimony by Sibiya, where he admitted that he had spoken with alleged murder mastermind and tender kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and controversial North West businessman Oupa Brown Mogotsi. Matlala, believed to be connected to fraudulent transactions in the Tembisa Hospital R2 billion ‘looting’, was arrested in April, this year on unrelated charges. He was arrested for allegedly orchestrating the 2023 attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane and is currently in custody after being denied bail. Mogotsi has been implicated in the alleged unlawful…

Former President Thabo Mbeki says it hurts him when he sees Operation Dudula blaming foreign nationals for South Africa’s problems, adding that the nation’s challenges cannot be blamed on migrants. “When I see things like Operation Dudula, it hurts. We can’t position ourselves as though we’re enemies of other Africans,” he said. Mbeki was speaking in Johannesburg on Saturday at a Thanksgiving event marking the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s 15th anniversary. “It’s not right. There are problems — problems we have got to solve in this country — and we can’t say those problems are caused by people who have migrated to South Africa. We have caused problems … But I’m saying that’s where we come from,” he said. His remarks follow growing concerns over Operation Dudula’s actions. The group is…

A MOTHER described how happy she was to see her then 8-year-old son coming out of theatre after his long-awaited operation on his deformed knee — only to then discover that the doctors had operated on the wrong knee. The mother, who is not identified to protect her minor son, told the High Court in Polokwane that she cried tears of joy when he came out of surgery. This was before she had realised that the doctors had operated on the right knee instead of the left knee. She subsequently instituted a damages claim against the Limpopo MEC for Health as she argued that the doctor who performed the wrong operation on her son at the Lebowakgomo Hospital was negligent. The boy, only identified as O, underwent a surgical…

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) finds itself at the centre of a storm after its audit opinion regressed from an unqualified audit with findings to a qualified audit with findings for the 2024/25 financial year. This decline, following three consecutive years of unqualified audits, has ignited a debate within the parliamentary Portfolio Committee, with opposition parties and even members of the Government of National Unity expressing shock and demanding accountability. The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) announced the department's financial regression during a briefing to Parliament last week. While the AGSA had reported an improvement in Dirco's audit outcomes in the 2021/22 financial year, moving from financially qualified to unqualified with findings, the latest report paints a grim picture. The DA claimed that the department’s…

The Supreme Court of Appeal in a recent judgment once again recognised cohabiting relationships, where couples are not married, and noted that the partnership does not need to be formal, such as in the case of marriage, before one partner can share in the joint estate accumulated during their cohabitation. The high court earlier found that there was a universal partnership between the man, only identified as P, and his partner S, and that as S contributed over the duration of them living together towards a joint estate, she was entitled to her fair share. Unhappy with this finding, P turned to the SCA as he contested the fact that there was a universal partnership. The couple lived together for 16 years before things went sour. A universal partnership refers…

The Sharks have not had the best start to the URC season, but the good news is that Springbok prop Thomas du Toit will be parking “The Tank” in his old space at Kings Park next year. The Sharks have won a bidding war with Du Toit’s current English club, Bath, and French club Bordeaux, with the 30-year-old choosing to return to the green grass of home in 2026 to see out his career. French giants Bordeaux offered big money for the 29-cap Springbok, who was a starter in most of the Springboks’ recent Rugby Championship matches, but he has preferred to return to the KZN east coast. Du Toit is hot property after Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus often used him to soften up the opposition front row before Wilco…

Proteas all-rounder Nadine de Klerk drove South Africa to a three-wicket victory in yet another close run chase, this time against Bangladesh Women in Visakhapatnam in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. There seems to be something about Visakhapatnam that gets De Klerk into her element. The right-handed batter rescued South Africa against India at the same venue last week and produced a similar performance to secure a three-wicket win over Bangladesh yesterday. The 25-year-old finished unbeaten on 37 off 29 deliveries, showing nerves of steel in the final over when South Africa needed eight more runs to win, hitting a four and a six to take the Proteas home. With the victory, South Africa sit safe inside the qualification zone with six points from four matches. However, there…

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo is a doubt for the upcoming La Liga Clasico against Real Madrid after being diagnosed with a calf injury yesterday. “Olmo has a muscle injury in his left calf, without connective tissue involvement,” Barcelona said, in a statement, without specifying a recovery timeframe. Spanish media report that Olmo could miss around a fortnight, putting his participation at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26 in doubt. He was sent home from the Spanish national team camp last week due to the injury. Barca forward Ferran Torres also left the Spain camp yesterday with muscular discomfort. Spain confirmed Torres was “diagnosed with muscle overload without any structural injury” and will miss their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria today. In Italy, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer will undergo surgery…

No country has ever won the World Cup with a foreign-born coach, but Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday that there is “always a first time” as he eyes glory with Brazil. The Italian became Brazil’s first overseas coach in six decades when he took over in May and helped the five-time champions secure their place at next summer’s World Cup. Brazil face Japan in a friendly in Tokyo today, fresh from a 5-0 hammering of South Korea in Seoul last week. Ancelotti said he is aiming to make history for himself and his team at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “My goal is to give my best for the Brazil national team, to try to get them to perform at their best and to win the…

The Sharks host Ulster on Saturday in their first home game of the United Rugby Championship, and the return of Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams will be a welcome boost. The Sharks struggled with game management on their recent tour, losing two and drawing one. While the forwards performed well in the set pieces, the breakdowns afterwards exposed issues in attack. Supporters have been frustrated by the time it takes Jaden Hendrikse to distribute the ball to the backs, with praise going to substitute scrumhalf Ross Braude during the 31-5 loss to Leinster. Braude, a Bloemfontein product of Grey College and a Canadian international after playing with the Toronto Arrows, impressed with his slick cameo in Dublin. With Williams expected to start at Kings Park on Saturday, his quick distribution will…