Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-27 i Mercury

Harmony Gold Mining Company, which has ended its 2025 year to June 30, with R11.1 billion in cash, said Friday it has completed the R18.4bn acquisition of MAC Copper, securing full ownership of the CSA mine and unlocking immediate copper production. MAC Copper owns the high-grade CSA copper mine in New South Wales, Australia. Harmony is South Africa's largest gold producer and its chairman Patrice Motsepe said in the integrated report released Friday, that they expect copper will contribute around 40% of group production by the 2035 financial year, ensuring structural resilience through commodity cycles and aligning Harmony with global decarbonisation trends. The MAC Copper transaction, first announced on May 25, 2025, was implemented Friday via a Jersey law Scheme of Arrangement. Harmony acquired 100% of MAC's securities at $12.25…

The South African Post Office (SAPO) is preparing to announce a strategic investment partner as it moves closer to exiting business rescue — a turnaround now proceeding without the R3.8 billion in funding initially promised by the National Treasury. Briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on Friday, the department’s Director-General Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani confirmed that invitations for potential partners had been published to ensure transparency, even though several investors had already expressed strong interest. "The reason we want to advertise is purely from a transparency perspective. There are so many partners who are absolutely keen to come on board to partner with SAPO. “What we are afraid of, in terms of considering the unsolicited bids, would be if something else is also out there," Jordan-Dyani said. "People have…

If the Minister of Finance, Enoch Gondongwana, decides to propose an increase in the sugar tax in the medium-term budget due to government’s search for additional income sources for the state, the result would be self-defeating. The sugar tax has been shown to destroy jobs, so a hunt for more revenue could well come at the expense of rural livelihoods and reduced state revenue. An increased tax could force many cane growers to go out of business. Godongwana warned in May that the 2026 budget will require “new tax measures, aimed at raising R20 billion”. Increasing the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), introduced in 2018 and sold as a tool to fight obesity, would be a grave mistake. After seven years, there is still no credible, independent evidence that the sugar…

US inflation data is better than expected. Most global financial markets moved sideways and uncertain last week in anticipation of the US inflation rate data that was released on Friday. Expectations were that the annual increase in the US CPI would be 3.1% in September, higher than the 2.9% annual inflation rate increase in August. Analysts and economists anticipate that if the US inflation rate reaches 3.0%, the US Federal Reserve is likely to decrease its Bank rate at its next meeting in November. The US announced on Friday that its annual inflation rate in September has risen by 3.0%, the highest level since January. Energy prices rose 2.8% in the year, the most since May 2024. Annual core inflation slowed to 3% from 3.1%, with markets expecting it to…

4Sight Holdings’ strong performance in the six months to August 31 was led by its Business Environment Cluster, which handles data and AI work, and increased profitability by 264%, reflecting the company’s pivot toward high-value, AI-driven systems and solutions. The JSE-listed technology company’s interim results released Friday showed revenue from operations up by 6.8% to R578.7 million from R542m. Headline earnings per share increased by 30.2% to 6.753 cents from 5.185 cents. Revenue had plateaued in financial 2023, but the company’s earnings per share have continued to climb—suggesting improved cost discipline, margin expansion, and operational leverage. Gross profit increased by 15.3% to R254.1m, and the gross profit margin increased to 43.9% in August 2025 compared to 40.7% in August 2024. The increase is due to the sales mix, whereby professional…

A statement from a collective of prominent Afrikaans-speaking South Africans has rejected a recent move by the US government to prioritise white South Africans for refugee status, labelling the underlying narrative as “dangerous and false”. This group’s condemnation, articulated in an article titled “Not in our Name: Afrikaners Respond to the Misuse of Their Story in US Politics," published on Saturday, has garnered widespread support, including a strong endorsement from the ANC. The controversy stems from a perceived US decision to offer preferential refugee status to white South Africans, a move interpreted by many as an echo of far-right ideologies. However, the signatories, comprising nearly 50 academics, church leaders, and other professionals, have vehemently distanced themselves from this framing, asserting their identity as integral to a diverse and evolving South…

A new council for the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is expected to be appointed in January next year after the consent order was granted in the North Gauteng High Court. The SAVC had taken Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen to court after he had rejected the election of the new council in August and ordered that the election be rerun. Steenhuisen had said at the time that there were serious concerns raised about the election’s transparency and procedural integrity, including inconsistent and conflicting communications to registered veterinary professionals regarding voting deadlines. He also questioned the eligibility of certain candidates and the credibility of the selection panel tasked with overseeing the elections. The matter, brought by SAVC Registrar and CEO Mongezi Menye, was heard last week and thereafter an order was…

Springbok and Bulls loose-forward Cameron Hanekom is edging closer to a return-to-play date and could be part of the Bulls’ next URC match, against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld at the end of November. Hanekom tore a hamstring tendon in the URC semi-final against the Sharks in early June, robbing him of a place in the URC final against Leinster and ruling him out of all Springbok activity for the year. Last year, the unlucky Hanekom suffered a knee injury early in the year and would make his Test debut in the Boks’ last game of 2024, the 45-12 defeat of Wales in Cardiff. He has not played for the Boks since. “The rehab is going well, and I started running a few weeks ago, so the return date is…

Fearless Sunderland are enjoying the best start to a season by a promoted team in more than a decade after Saturday’s shock 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge catapulted them briefly into second spot in the English Premier League. The away win – capped by a stoppage-time strike from substitute Chemsdine Talbi after they had fallen behind to an early Alejandro Garnacho goal for the Blues – has sent shockwaves through the division. It has also made a mockery of pre-season predictions that all three promoted teams would drop straight back down to the Championship, as had been the case in the past two seasons. Fellow promoted side Burnley are in 16th place after their dramatic 3-2 win over bottom club Wolves on Sunday, courtesy of a late winner…

KAIZER Chiefs’ 3-1 defeat of AS Simba here yesterday afternoon would suggest Amakhosi have finally sorted out their scoring woes. Yet, as their fans gleefully celebrated the club’s passage into the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, the sobering fact is that the club remains wasteful in the final third. This match should have been won by more than a handful of goals, and the fact that Chiefs failed to find the opposition net in a second half characterised by a plethora of attacking changes should tell co-coaches Ceric Kaze and Ben Youssef Khalil that much still has to be done. Granted, the progression to the round-robin phase has to be celebrated, and the capacity crowd in this compact Soweto arena duly did so, breaking into song and flag-waving at the…

Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter says delisting is a vote of confidence in SA’s progress South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list after nearly two years of intensive reform is being hailed as a milestone for the country’s financial sector—yet experts warn it marks the beginning, not the end, of deeper structural changes. On Friday, the FATF announced that South Africa was among four African countries who had been delisted from its “grey list” of countries under increased monitoring for deficiencies in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. South Africa was placed on the grey list in February 2023 after the FATF identified 22 shortcomings in the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework. FATF, the global financial crime watchdog, had instructed the country to…

There has been widespread welcome to the announcement by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) that food inflation has declined for the second consecutive month — offering some relief to consumers after months of high prices. According to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), consumer food price inflation slowed to 4.4% in September 2025, down from 5.2% in August. The moderation comes despite headline consumer inflation (CPI) edging slightly higher to 3.4% from 3.3% in the previous month. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said the decline was driven primarily by lower prices for fruit and nuts, vegetables, oils and fats, milk and dairy products. “The price inflation of cereal products also remained fairly moderate, which illustrates the benefits of the ample harvest and the easing of grain…

The furnaces of Newcastle once glowed like a promise, molten rivers of steel feeding a nation’s industrial dreams. Today those mills lie silent, haunted by at least 3 500 direct job losses and almost 100 000 livelihoods indirectly destroyed. In October 2025, the European Commission proposed cutting tariff-free steel import quotas to 18.3 million tonnes and applying 50 % duties on any shipments above that limit, with plans to take effect next year. The move has tightened the vise on South Africa’s already-fragile sector, threatening to halve export volumes and place another R9 billion in trade at risk. In a country where 34 % unemployment gnaws at hope, steel’s collapse is not destiny; it is the result of decades of policy drift and industrial neglect. What we are witnessing is…

The South African government has dumped employment as a macroeconomic design on the department of labour. This is a serious anomaly that removes an essential component of employment, growth and prices from the main economic actors in macroeconomics, which are namely Treasury, Reserve Bank and trade and industry. To relegate employment to the department of labour is to ignore a yet vexed question of the Phillips curve that addresses the relationship between unemployment and inflation. Whilst questions have been raised around this relationship and Vermeulen in 2017 asked “whether the Phillips Curve is dead?” in a title he penned, the question remains a policy debate in which some central banks including South African Reserve Bank have concluded that perhaps unemployment is not their mandate. As a consequence, and in South…

Procter & Gamble reported better-than-expected sales for its first quarter as consumers brushed off price increases and snapped up its Gillette razors and Secret deodorant. The company also cut its projected impact from tariffs in half. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company reported 2% organic revenue growth for the period - above the average analyst estimate. That measure strips out currency volatility and the impact of acquisitions. Revenue and earnings per share also surpassed expectations. Both volume and sales increased more than expected for the company’s beauty and grooming categories, leading sales growth in the quarter ended September 30. Those divisions offset weaker performance in other areas, such as baby, feminine and family care. “The consumer environment is not great, but stable,” Andre Schulten, P&G’s chief financial officer said on a media…

We may not all be like Onezwa Mbola, the South African home cook who proudly says, “I make meals from items that I have grown, raised, or foraged.” But more of us are certainly inching closer to that philosophy. From homemade juices and sourdough starters to nut butters and plant milks, social media has made wellness and mindful eating both aspirational and accessible. And at the heart of this movement sits one creamy, planet-friendly hero: oat milk. It’s everywhere, from your favourite Cape Town café’s flat white to the grocery shelves in your local grocery store. But what exactly is oat milk, and why has it become the go-to dairy alternative for so many? Let’s dive in. What is oat milk? In simple terms, oat milk is a vegan, dairy-free…

Faced with a collective legal bill of nearly R13 million for one day’s arguments in the Constitutional Court, which was not even brought to the apex court by himself, Nkosana Makate and Vodacom will next month again face each other in the Supreme Court of Appeal over the Please Call Me (PCM) invention. Awaiting justice for more than two decades, Makate’s legal battles continue. While he accepts the verdict of the Constitutional Court issued earlier this year that the matter must return to the SCA, Makate questions why he was slapped with a costs order. “I do not agree with the awarding of costs in favour of Vodacom. During the same Constitutional Court process, I had to defend two Amicus Curiae applications — one from Vodafone and another from Yebo…

A disturbing video showing a Western Cape mother giving her toddler alcohol sparked swift action from local officials and Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSOs), who tracked down the woman in Woodstock after following multiple leads. The footage, received on October 20, was shared among safety stakeholders to help trace the mother and child. By October 24, NSOs were on the ground, scouring known hotspots and nearby areas until they identified and located the woman. The toddler was immediately removed and taken to police’s victim support unit while awaiting the Department of Social Development (DSD). “DSD arrived within 20 minutes and informed us that the mother already has a case of neglect against her,” said Ward 57 councillor Yusuf Mohamed. “Earlier this year she was allegedly intoxicated and dropped her…

Properties have already been reserved for VIP clients in the new R3.5 billion low-density residential development, Beachwood Coastal Estate which was officially launched on Friday. This is according Carol Reynolds, area principal in Durban North for Pam Golding Property group, marketers of the freehold stands and sectional title residences at the estate. The Durban North development will create approximately 1 500 direct jobs during construction and the subsequent estate operations. Civil construction commenced in February this year. In addition, the developers, Beachwood Investments, is investing in upgrades to surrounding infrastructure, including widened roads and upgrading the Durban North potable water reservoir. Public beach access will be retained with new ablution and new public parking facilities. The estate has been conceived as a green, low-impact estate, with over 50% of the…

Francke Horn says the Lions will be looking to build on their growing home form when the United Rugby Championship resumes after the international break, after snapping Ulster’s unbeaten start to the season at Ellis Park at the weekend. The Lions started the season with three losses overseas, but over the last fortnight in Johannesburg have beaten the Scarlets (unimpressively) and Ulster (impressively). The team from Northern Ireland had been unbeaten when they arrived at Ellis Park and led at half-time. Horn praised his teammates for fixing the faults of the first half in the second, and then running away with the game in the closing stages. “I am very pleased,” the captain said. “The guys responded well to every message that came through from the coaching staff. We never…

Arsenal stretched their Premier League lead to four points as Eberechi Eze's goal beat his former club Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa yesterday. Bournemouth are now the Gunners' closest challengers in second after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0. After Liverpool's latest defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Arsenal enjoyed the perfect weekend as both their title rivals fell further behind, with Mikel Arteta's side going from strength to strength. Eze left the Eagles to join Arsenal in a £60 million (about R1.4 billion) deal in August, and his first Premier League goal proved decisive as the Gunners were again able to lean on their set-piece prowess and solid defence. The England international blasted in a volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice's free-kick six…

The outcome was never in doubt. Mamelodi Sundowns’ passage into the group stage of the CAF Champions League was already confirmed following their 5-1 first-leg victory over Remo Stars in Nigeria last week. Yesterday afternoon, the Brazilians merely ascertained the inevitable with a 2-0 win, taking the tie 7-1 on aggregate. After Orlando Pirates failed to reach the money-spinning round-robin phase of the continent’s premier club competitions, the Betway Premiership champions will carry the South African flag alone. Beaten finalists last year, Sundowns sent a warning to the rest of the continent that they will once again be serious contenders with this comprehensive defeat of the Nigerian champions. They triumphed on Sunday despite coach Miguel Cardoso resting key players, with both goals coming before the break and hinting at another…

South Africa’s fiscal outlook is once again under the spotlight as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) next month on 12 November. The statement is expected to set the tone for the remainder of the fiscal year, providing updates on growth forecasts, inflation expectations and government spending priorities. Frank Blackmore, Lead Economist at KPMG, said the upcoming statement would be a critical moment for assessing whether South Africa’s economic recovery is on track. “The focus will be on revising economic growth and inflation forecasts. The growth was predicted at 1.4% for this year and expected to rise to 1.7% in 2027, but this will likely need to be downgraded,” Blackmore said. According to Blackmore, any downgrade in growth projections will have a…

Transnet has announced a major boost to capacity and efficiency at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 with the introduction of four new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes valued at R967 million. The State-owned logistics group said the new cranes are part of a broader effort to modernise its infrastructure, improve turnaround times, and enhance South Africa’s global trade competitiveness. According to Transnet, the cranes—manufactured by Liebherr Africa—will replace an ageing fleet that has reached the end of its operational life. “Two of the cranes are being commissioned, with endurance testing and operational handover scheduled to start in the last week of October 2025,” Transnet said. “The remaining two cranes are being assembled and are planned to undergo commissioning and operational handover by the end of November 2025.” The new fleet…

South Africa received well deserved good news with the United Nations’ Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s announcement that it has been removed from the international grey list. This is a positive victory for workers, the economy, the state and society. Our grey listing in February 2023 was a painful blow. It was a vote of no confidence in South Africa’s governance, law enforcement and financial systems by the international community. It was a loud deterrent to international investors considering investing in our economy. It was not surprising given our painful decade of state capture and corruption. It took an incredible amount of collective work by various government institutions, Parliament and the banking sector to ensure South Africa’s exit from the grey list. We must commend the…

Quantum Foods Holdings experienced a surge in its share price on Friday, climbing over 13% after a trading statement indicated an expected increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS) of between 58% and 78% for the year ending September 28, 2025. This development indicates a significant recovery and improved operational outcomes. Closing at 800 cents on the JSE, Quantum's share price reflects a 13.64% increase, although it still trails behind the previous year's level of R10.07. The company anticipates HEPS to rise to between 127.4 cents and 143.4 cents, up from 80.4 cents reported for the previous financial year. The forthcoming earnings boost is attributed to markedly enhanced trading conditions when compared to the previous year. This stems from a successful recovery of the company's layer flock, increased feed sales…

The Department of Transport has opened the door to large-scale private sector participation in South Africa’s rail network currently operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), inviting investors to help modernise key infrastructure, introduce smart ticketing systems, and roll out fibre optic connectivity along railway lines. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on Sunday announced that the department had issued a series of Requests for Information (RFIs) aimed at attracting interest in projects that include: n the modernisation of Prasa’s major maintenance depots at Braamfontein and Wolmerton, n the introduction of a smart, account-based ticketing system across trains, buses, and taxis, n the upgrading of train depots to improve service reliability, and n the deployment of thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable to support new digital and signaling systems.…

It’s that time of the year again – final exams for learners and students across the country. With stress levels high, many families and friends prepare exam care packs to encourage and support students through this demanding period. Exam care packs are meant to lift spirits and help with focus and motivation. They often include essentials such as pens, highlighters and sticky notes; energy boosters like snacks and drinks; and small comforts such as tea bags, chocolates or homemade treats. However, one particular care pack has sparked lively debate on social media. Posted by X user @PhathekaPat, the pack included items like iced tea, highlighters, biscuits, chips and crackers. But it was one small item – chamomile tea bags – that caught everyone’s attention. The post was later shared by…

In a blow for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) has lost yet another legal battle in its bid to make South African television more accessible for those with hearing problems. The organisation earlier took the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to have its Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations 2021 reviewed and set aside. When it lost its high court bid, the NCPD turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal, which on Friday also ruled against it. In its legal battle to make television more inclusive for those with hearing problems, the NCPD pointed out that in South Africa, the use of a sign language interpreter has been adopted to…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has raised the alarm over the issue of authorisation for extradition requests arguing that a 2024 judgment on this matter may see dozens of criminal suspects and even convicted persons using the ruling to contest their extraditions. In fact the NPA has said in court papers before the Constitutional Court that several challenges have already been brought by those seeking to use the ruling to set aside their extraditions. In the 2024 case involving Johnathan Schultz, the Supreme Court of Appeal heard a matter where Schultz argued that the NPA does not have authority to request an extradition. The SCA ruled in his favour and ordered that only the Minister of Justice had the power to request extraditions under the Extraditions Act and not the…

Efforts to drive economic growth and investment in KwaZulu-Natal are gaining momentum with the premier Thami Ntuli having established an investment office within the premiers office. The office aimed at strengthening KZN’s investment pipeline and accelerate the implementation of pledged projects across the province. The move had been welcomed by the Economic Development Portfolio Committee. Ntuli spoke of the establishment of the office during the KwaZulu-Natal investment conference held last week. In a statement to The Mercury, Ntuli elaborated on the establishment of this office. “This new division is a recognition that the R100 billion pledges made during the 2025 KZN Investment Conference require more than attraction and validation — they require facilitation and red tape reduction.” The Premier emphasised that the Office of the Premier, as the apex office…

THE 1976 youth were the first generation to take action in openly expressing discontent with the education system imposed on them. The situation was worse then because they were fighting against the white-minority apartheid system machinery that imposed Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. But they never burnt the schools, and believe me, it would have been understood had they done so. That was followed by school boycotts of 1980 and 1984-1985 especially the latter. Still no school was set on fire. However, the youth in today’s context are under democracy, and the environment is far better than the previous eras. The best part is that despite the shortcomings or challenges in this democracy, the youth can express themselves freely without intimidation. Amidst the issues at University of Fort Hare,…

The Proteas Women’s team will resist any temptation to curtail their attacking instincts as they prepare for their all-important ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final against England in Guwahati on Wednesday. Laura Wolvaardt’s side have suffered major two batting collapses, one at the start of the group phase against England, and another against defending champions Australia in Indore last Saturday. But between these matches, they won five games on the bounce with the batters playing a major role in the hot streak, which included the Proteas’ first-ever total in excess of 300 at the World Cup. They are therefore adamant they will adhere to the refreshing attacking policy, despite many suggesting a rethink may be necessary in a semifinal where the stakes are high. “To lose like that, it does…

Jude Bellingham's goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga yesterday. Champions Barcelona had won all four meetings between the teams last season, but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso ended that run. Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front, and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time, which proved decisive. Barcelona playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital. Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games. Alonso’s side demonstrated…

Golden Arrows booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over TS Galaxy at the King Zwelithini Stadium yesterday. Abafana Bes’thende showed character and resilience to overturn an early deficit and end a nine-match winless streak against The Rockets, joining fellow KwaZulu-Natal side Richards Bay in the last four. After a cautious opening in Umlazi, the visitors drew first blood through midfielder Sphesihle Maduna in the 20th minute. The KwaZulu-Natal-born player struck against his home province club, finishing off a flowing move initiated by Puso Dithejane, whose clever footwork opened space before a scrambled clearance fell kindly for Maduna. His deflected effort left goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa rooted as Galaxy grabbed the lead. Arrows gradually grew into the contest and found their…