Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-23 i Mercury

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed Zimbabwe’s decision to lift its ban on maize and grain imports, describing the move as a major step toward strengthening regional food security and economic cooperation. The decision was gazetted under Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025, effectively reopening one of South Africa’s key regional export markets for both white and yellow maize. “This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Wednesday. “The agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures—while sometimes intended to protect local producers—too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer.” Steenhuisen said the removal of Zimbabwe’s maize import ban was crucial for food security and consumer welfare across the…

Parliament calls for full disclosure on procurement process, suppliers and empowerment Parliament has called for greater scrutiny and transparency over Eskom’s R5.7 billion smart meter rollout, demanding full disclosure on procurement processes, suppliers, and empowerment plans linked to the large-scale project aimed at curbing electricity theft and losses. Eskom executives on Wednesday told lawmakers that the board had approved R5.7 billion for the first year of the rollout, which forms part of a broader plan to install 6.2 million smart meters in South African households by 2027. The initial 600 000 meters are expected to be rolled out by March 2026. Speaking before Parliament’s portfolio committee on electricity and energy on Wednesday, Eskom senior executive Collin Reddy said the rollout forms part of the utility’s digital transformation programme to modernise…

South Africa’s entertainment and media (E&M) industry is entering a period of steady, digitally driven growth, with PwC’s Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2025–2029 projecting that the country will remain the continent’s largest and most mature E&M market. Despite a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% through 2029, the sector’s scale, infrastructure, and technological sophistication continue to set it apart from its African peers. “Africa’s E&M future promises a dynamic convergence of technology, creativity and market growth,” PwC said. “South Africa’s continued investment in connectivity, digital skills and local content will determine how successfully it leads the continent’s media transformation.” The report shows that internet advertising, OTT streaming, and mobile gaming are the country’s fastest-growing segments, reflecting South Africa’s expanding connectivity and the steady adoption of 5G. By…

In the ever-evolving landscape of South Africa's small and mid-sized enterprises (SMMEs), outdated employment contracts are transforming from an overlooked concern to a significant legal risk. With compliance norms shifting dramatically, particularly in the sphere of labour law, SMMEs are finding themselves on precarious legal ground. This predicament was underscored by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)'s 2019 report, which revealed that a staggering 80% of its cases originated from small businesses. Now, with impending changes to labour law coming into effect, the risk is poised to surge further. The new Code of Practice on Dismissal, to be implemented in September 2025, heralds a new era of regulations that will replace previous guidelines. Employment contracts that fail to reflect these changes may be rendered unenforceable. “As of September…

China's total domination of rare earths production could soon be challenged, a leading miner said Wednesday after the United States struck a breakthrough minerals deal with Australia. US President Donald Trump signed a deal this week with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese giving the United States access to Australia's vast reserves of rare earths and critical minerals essential for everything from solar panels to precision missiles. And the head of Australian rare earths miner Arafura Resources said developing projects outside of China could only be a good thing. "China has basically controlled the rare earths market by controlling the price," Arafura boss Darryl Cuzzubbo told AFP. "The problem right now is China is showing that they'll use their 90 percent control of rare earths production as a geopolitical tool." China controls…

Restaurant group Famous Brands says it is beginning to benefit from improving South African economic conditions, including interest rate cuts, easing inflation, and a rise in foot traffic as more employees return to offices — despite ongoing pressure on consumers from high unemployment and rising household debt. Darren Hele, CEO of Famous Brands, said on Wednesday that South African “consumer spending is constrained due to high unemployment, household indebtedness, and elevated inflation” in recent years. Moreover, the online betting and gambling industry was also increasingly competing for a share of consumers’ discretionary spend. Nonetheless, Famous Brands is seeing strong tailwinds that include “easing inflation, interest rate cuts and increased return-to-office traffic” which is “boosting restaurant” activity although basket sizes remain under pressure. This was mainly because of depressed consumers continuing…

THE billions of rand in investment pledges from the private sector will be spread throughout the province to benefit all of KwaZulu-Natal’s residents. This is the promise made by the KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Reverend Musa Zondi, when he spoke to The Mercury on the sidelines of the KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference in Durban yesterday. He stated that they had made changes to the structure of the pledges, allowing investors to invest lower amounts, which will enable them to invest across the province and not only concentrate in big cities. The conference, led by the EDTEA, is expected to attract close to R100 billion in pledges. A gala dinner where the new pledges would be made was expected yesterday evening. This is the second investment…

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Annual Gala Dinner, which is a longstanding event on the city’s business calendar, takes place on October 29 at the PlayGlobe at Suncoast Casino. In a statement, Palesa Phili, CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC, said this year’s event, gathering between 700 and 1000 distinguished guests, has the inspiring theme “REVIVE, REFORM, REINVENT eThekwini”, which aims to reflect the resilience and innovative spirit of Durban's vibrant business community. She said the “ultimate business networking event has been a celebratory tradition since our establishment in 1856”. This year’s theme incorporates the Durban Chamber’s objective, which is geared towards driving a conducive business environment for businesses in eThekwini to grow, thrive and be sustainable. “Collaboration is at the heart of business…

The eThekwini Municipality says its turnaround strategy to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) is beginning to yield positive results. NRW includes water lost through leaks, theft or illegal connections. Providing an update to the Executive Committee (EXCO) yesterday, acting Executive Director for Technical Services Ednick Msweli said outstanding leaks had been reduced from 9 000 in June 2025 to 979 by October 20. Msweli said the latest data presented by the Water Service Directorate highlighted a decrease of 2.9% in NRW for quarter one, from July to September 2025. As a result of the 2.9% decrease when compared to the same period in the previous year, NRW is currently at 52.9% for the current quarter. Msweli explained that the 58% of NRW that the municipality previously reported is based on a…

Having buried the ghosts of Ulster, the Sharks are aiming to finish their United Rugby Championship opening month on a high when they face bottom-placed Scarlets at Kings Park in their last outing before the November Test window. Still searching for a victory after a fruitless start to the new season, the Durban side has decided not to dwell too much on this past weekend’s missed opportunities, but to rectify them on Saturday when the struggling Welsh outfit hit the shores of KwaZulu-Natal. They had a tough week of preparation after the Ulster fallout, and according to Springbok centre André Esterhuizen, they have a couple of things to rectify before the big break. “The key message was to get everyone on the same page so that we can play to…

McLaren have confirmed that they will continue to back both their drivers equally in the 2025 Formula On world drivers’ championship title fight – at least until one of them is mathematically out of contention. Team principal Andrea Stella says this is rooted in fairness, but it may come at the cost of losing crucial points in an increasingly intense championship battle. With just five races and two sprint events remaining, Oscar Piastri currently leads the McLaren charge, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are closing in fast. The Woking-based team are walking a tightrope between sportsmanship and strategic precision, and the next few weekends could determine whether their open-competition policy proves noble or naïve. “We are not going to close the door unless this is closed by mathematics,” Stella…

South Africa’s annual consumer inflation ticked up slightly to 3.4% in September from 3.3% in August, according to Statistics South Africa on Wednesday. The monthly change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.2%, with increases largely driven by higher prices in transport and restaurants and accommodation. While several categories saw faster price growth, inflation eased in food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB), alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and household furnishings and maintenance. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said meat inflation surged to 11.7%, the highest annual rate since January 2018, when it reached 13.4%. "While month-on-month increases for beef products have slowed, prices do remain high. Stewing beef, for example, rose 32.2% year-on-year, but showed no change month-on-month," Kelly said. "Other meat categories are also feeling the…

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, on Wednesday announced the introduction of doorstep passport delivery for South African citizens living abroad — a first in the department’s history. The new service, which forms part of the department’s “Home Affairs @ home” digital transformation vision, will go live globally on 1 November 2025. It allows South Africans overseas to have their passports delivered directly to their homes, eliminating the need to return to embassies or consulates to collect documents. Schreiber unveiled the initiative while addressing the South African community in The Hague, Netherlands, where the Department of Home Affairs also launched a new dedicated service centre that has dramatically reduced passport turnaround times from 18 months to just five weeks. "This bold reform not only promotes inclusivity by resolving long-standing…

At the United Nations, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted that trade is increasingly being used as a geopolitical weapon. That message matters at home: because when trade becomes a tool of pressure, South African workers and exporters feel it first — as shown recently by Taiwan’s brief chip export restrictions. Our best response to this situation is what has always distinguished South African diplomacy: principled non-alignment combined with a practical focus on job creation and preservation. Non-alignment will build economic resilience as engaging with all partners, enables South Africa to preserve access to diverse markets, finance, technology, and skills. This is of utmost importance In a year when tariffs, export controls, and regulatory levers are being deployed with unprecedented speed, hence, trade diversification is not a slogan; it is an economic…

There used to be a common misconception that doing good and doing well were mutually exclusive in business. However, as an impact investor, Business Partners Limited has long embraced the dual mandate of driving financial performance while creating meaningful social impact. Now a report by Deloitte puts that to rest once and for all, proving that companies who are leading with purpose consistently outperform their peers across key financial and operational indicators. Deloitte’s research found that purpose-driven firms achieve what it calls a “purpose premium” – a measurable advantage across six drivers of long-term value: brand and reputation, sales and innovation, capital access, operational efficiency, talent, and risk mitigation. High-purpose brands, for instance, recorded nearly a 20-percentage point premium in annualised shareholder returns compared to those with low purpose scores,…

Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), said on Wednesday that it has acquired a 30% stake in the operational Boston Hydroelectric plant. The plant is a new R390 million development with an operational lifetime of over 40 years by leading independent power producer Serengeti Energy within the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme near Clarens. South Africa’s newest hydroelectric plant was certified for commercial operations by Eskom on Friday and has already started adding renewable energy to the national grid. Estienne de Klerk, SA CEO of Growthpoint Properties, said, “We are incredibly proud of this innovative initiative, made possible by a visionary team, dedicated partners such as Etana Energy, Serengeti Energy, Fuel Switch and many passionate and talented people over a number of years. It not only benefits…

ALLEGED baby snatcher Sameemah Jacobs has asked the court for permission to visit her son in Mitchell’s Plain and to collect her belongings from a residence in the area. She has also made a request to report to the Delft police station in terms of her bail conditions. Jacobs is charged with kidnapping infant Imaad Sharmar from his mother, Imaan Sharmar, at Middestad Mall in Bellville under the pretence that she was a volunteer for an NPO. Jacobs, who appeared in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court this week, told the magistrate that her legal aid lawyer had not given her the opportunity to speak after she raised her hand to request permission to address the court. She said she had made a new affidavit, requesting an amendment to her bail conditions,…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education says revised findings of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) have cleared it with regard to irregular expenditure previously flagged in the 2023/24 audit report. The department said the AGSA found its submissions to be “rational, logical and reasonable” following a review of responses from the department and the opinion of the provincial treasury. It said the revised findings mean that the department has been cleared of irregular expenditure amounting to R2.7 billion. “The revised outcome reflects the Department’s commitment to providing accurate information, strengthening internal controls, and ensuring full compliance with applicable legislation and financial management standards,” the department said. Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka welcomed the decision, noting the role of the AGSA in promoting transparency and accountability. “We value the role of the…

The Durban High Court has halted sentencing proceedings in a fraud case of a sole director of a closed corporation, who was allegedly involved in multi-million fraud committed at the Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban regarding the supply of medical equipment. Oleena Dauchand, the only member of Trestine Trading CC, had asked the court for an interdict to prevent sentencing proceedings from going ahead next month in her matter. Dauchand and the closed corporation entered a plea of guilty in respect of numerous counts of fraud and corruption and were convicted. However the business owner had a change of heart some months later and claimed that she had actually meant to plead not guilty to the charges. She blamed her erstwhile legal team for making her enter a…

Nottingham Forest will be hoping it is third time lucky as new manager Sean Dyche takes over the reins of the two-time European champions for the visit of Porto in the Uefa Europa League tonight. Dyche, already Forest’s third boss of a turbulent season, has arrived at the City Ground to take charge of a side seeking their first win in the competition after garnering just one point from their two previous outings. Appointed on Tuesday to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, who won the Europa League last term with Tottenham but lasted only 40 days at Forest, Dyche will know that only victory will suffice to keep tempestuous owner Evangelos Marinakis happy. For the 54-year-old, his Forest debut marks a personal milestone as it will be his first time…

It’s been a rather eventful 12 months for Springbok loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon – most of it off the field. After making his Bok debut in 2024, Dixon and the Stormers were involved in a bit of a stand-off over his contract towards the end of the previous United Rugby Championship season. The two parties were in disagreement over the interpretation of a release clause in his current deal, which runs until 2027. This was also during the time when Dixon was nursing a wrist injury, which eventually kept him out of the Springboks’ June and July Tests against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia. After that, he also failed to make South Africa’s Rugby Championship squad due to an obvious lack of game time following the injury. Since then, the…

Defending a world championship title belt is often harder than having earned it. This is something the Proteas were acutely aware of when they saw their World Test Championship schedule for the next two years with three tours to the subcontinent included, starting with this on-going series in Pakistan. There were going to be moments where their skill and character would be put to the ultimate test, and how they stood up from the canvas would be a defining factor. It would require their most senior players to lead the way when the furnace heated up. Enter Kagiso Rabada. But not with the ball as is customary, but rather through his flaying willow which helped the Proteas turn this second Test on its head with the visitors now holding the…

The Integrated Energy Resource Plan 2025 which envisages some R2.2 trillion of new investment into the energy sector, will see wind power increase from 8% of installed generation capacity to 24%, or 34 000MW by 2039, while coal will remain the chief source of power at 27% of South Africa's capacity. This indication that the government wishes for substantially higher investment in the wind energy sector in the next few years was contained in the address by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who spoke at the opening of the Windaba conference in Cape Town on Wednesday. Currently, 58% of South Africa's installed capacity is generated by coal, and coal accounts for 93% of electricity production. Solar makes up 10% of current installed capacity. Ramokgopa said it was a…

KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a vibrant and economically significant festive season, with eThekwini Municipality expecting more than 1.3 million visitors to flock to Durban over the summer holidays. Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of the City’s economic development and planning committee, this week said the city’s “Summer Season” campaign invites the world to experience Durban’s unique mix of culture, beaches, and hospitality. “We are expecting about 1.3 million visitors to the City this festive season, a powerful boost for the local economy. Their spending is projected to inject over R341 million in direct impact and a total of R845m to the City’s GDP," Ntuli said. "This influx will help create more than 15 000 jobs and generate over R630m in taxes, clear proof of how tourism drives growth and opportunity for residents.”…

South African agriculture stands at a crossroads. The recently concluded Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) once again illuminated a painful truth: the agricultural sector remains deeply divided, still shaped by the enduring legacy of colonial and apartheid structures. At the heart of the debate was the uncomfortable but unavoidable issue of duality — the coexistence of two agricultures operating side by side but worlds apart. On one side lies a sophisticated, export-oriented, capital-intensive commercial agriculture that rivals the best in the world. On the other side, a vast and fragmented smallholder and subsistence sector, where millions of black farmers continue to face structural barriers to land, finance, markets, and technology. During his keynote address, Mooketsa Ramasodi, the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Land…

The stories of startups in Silicon Valley often start in garages with founders backed by easy access to capital and forgiving safety nets. In Africa, the reality is very different. Entrepreneurs on the continent aren’t innovating from the top of Maslow’s hierarchy, but at the base, solving urgent, everyday challenges where failure can mean families go hungry. That makes African founders some of the most resilient in the world, but the capital environment rarely matches their ingenuity. Over the past year, African startups have maintained growth and adaptability despite a global downturn in venture capital and economic challenges. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), African tech startups are still growing and adapting even with a 52% drop in capital between 2022 and 2024. Importantly, there were only 22…

Altron HealthTech on Wednesday announced the pilot launch of South Africa's first oncology companion app, ThriveLink, a boon for the advancement of useable, personalised, consumer-oriented health-tech on the African continent. ThriveLink is South Africa's first platform to connect patients, doctors, caregivers, and medical schemes in one integrated digital space. The oncology companion app is designed to help cancer patients flourish during a trying time by providing seamless care coordination, access to key information and educational content and removal of administrative obstacles. Altron HealthTech said the development team was inspired to create ThriveLink after frontline agents logged an alarming increase in cancer diagnoses. Cancer cases in South Africa are projected to nearly double from 62 000 in 2019 to 121 000 nationally by 2030 based on data compiled by…

The national head of the SAPS Organised Crime unit, Major General Richard Shibiri, had direct communication with attempted-murder accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, and money was paid for information on how to counter certain police investigations. This was the testimony presented to the Madlanga Commission by Witness B, a detective with the Gauteng Organised Crime unit. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations, made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary. Witness B is investigating the murder of Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer, who was gunned down in April 2024, in a case of mistaken identity. The hitmen allegedly mistook Swart for a colleague who had exposed corruption in a tender…

The eThekwini Municipality has moved to dispel concerns about the progress of the work to repair and renovate Durban’s Kings Park Swimming Pool, stating that the work is set to resume in December this year. The municipality clarified that the work has not been halted but new procurement processes are underway to finalise the project. Community members had expressed worry about the project’s status, fearing that work in the area had stopped. The pool is undergoing significant upgrades and repairs. eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, stated that Phase 1 is complete, while documentation for Phase 2 is being finalised through architectural panels. “The construction work will commence on 1 December 2025. Administrative and procurement work is currently underway,” she added. “The project has not been halted. The Municipality had to…

Suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu says he has no links to any drug cartels in the country or elsewhere. He was being cross-examined yesterday by MPs in the Ad Hoc Committee that is investigating the allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi regarding political interference in the work of the police and infiltration by criminal elements. Responding to questions, Mchunu said he did not know why Mkhwanazi and national police commissioner Fannie Masemola had testified about his links to drug cartels, saying that the allegations had left him baffled. Mchunu has come under intense scrutiny after his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). “Now, I am saying there is no drug cartel that I am linked to. There is none, and I never acted…

More disturbing footage of alleged bullying at Milnerton High School in Cape Town has surfaced on social media, intensifying the already widespread outrage following a viral video that depicted severe aggression among a group of boys. According to The Mercury's sister newspaper Weekend Argus the new clips show one boy striking another learner, while another video allegedly captures a boy hitting a girl across the face, fuelling concerns about the unchecked bullying culture within the school environment. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed these videos were brought to their attention and have been forwarded to the school for investigation. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond stated, “They have confirmed receipt and it will be included in their ongoing investigation.” This follows the initial viral video, which emerged on Tuesday, showing a…

Paris Saint-Germain scored seven and both Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven hit six in big victories while Arsenal crushed Atletico Madrid 4-0 on a prolific night of Champions League action on Tuesday. Erling Haaland was among the scorers in Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Villarreal as a total of 43 goals rained down across nine games. However, it was champions PSG who stole the show with their 7-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Desire Doue scored twice in between goals by Willian Pacho and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for PSG in a first half which saw Alejandro Grimaldo miss a penalty and Aleix Garcia net from the spot for Leverkusen. Both sides had a man sent off in the opening period, with Robert Andrich seeing red for Leverkusen and Illia Zabarnyi walking…

Proteas Women’s all-rounder Marizanne Kapp insists South Africa need to continue improving their basics ahead of their final round-robin fixture against Australia in Indore on Saturday. Following South Africa’s 150-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo on Tuesday, the Proteas women registered their fifth consecutive win in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – a feat the team has achieved for the first time in World Cups. Kapp delivered a stellar all-round performance against Pakistan, scoring an unbeaten 68 and taking three wickets, earning the Player of the Match award. In previous games, various players have stepped up for the team, helping South Africa book a semi-final spot with two matches to spare. Despite what looks like a flawless round-robin campaign for the Proteas women thus far, Kapp believes the…

Westville Bowling Club’s annual Spring Classic once again proved why sponsored tournaments are such a magnet for top-class competition. Beyond the lure of the R89 000 prize pot, the event’s appeal lay in its open team format – where friends and standout players from across multiple clubs could combine forces. Over the two-day, five-game pre-drawn tournament, the lead shifted almost every round as some of the district’s sharpest bowlers battled through sunshine and showers. By Sunday afternoon, only two teams remained in contention for the R40 000 first prize – the all Aero Kayser Baird team (Troy Garland, Shaun Harper, Jeffrey Scrooby and Craig Harper) and the 4x4 Truckers (Lindsay North, Dylan Matthews, Dave Wood and Chad Wilson). The final was a gripping two-skin, fourteen-end showdown that tested every nerve.…

One plus one makes 11. The proverb, of course, refers to when two individuals or entities work together, they create something greater than the sum of their parts. It further suggests that two people together are more powerful than when they are apart. Unfortunately for Liverpool Football Club, this cannot be more true with their No 11 Mohamed Salah struggling without his other one, Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ran out his contract before leaving for Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer. Salah has endured a quiet start to the 2025/26 season with just two goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances. It's his lowest attacking metrics since joining the club in 2017. Crucially, the swagger and confidence that has made the Egyptian king into a cult hero at…