Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-11-03 i Mercury

South Africa’s ambitious reform drive under Operation Vulindlela gained significant traction in the second quarter of 2025/26, with notable progress in the energy, logistics, and digital transformation sectors, according to the latest progress report released on Friday. The government’s structural reform initiative — jointly coordinated by the Presidency and the National Treasury — aims to remove key obstacles to economic growth by modernising critical sectors such as electricity, transport, water, and local government. Operation Vulindlela Phase II covers 30 structural reforms, spanning energy, logistics, water, local government, spatial integration, visas, and digital transformation. According to the second quarter dashboard, 44% of reforms are on track, while 40% are delayed but progressing. The Presidency said the reform drive “continues to unlock private investment, build state capability, and place South Africa on…

South Africa’s automotive manufacturing industry is facing renewed strain amid stalled wage negotiations between employers and unions, with industry leaders warning that 2025 production levels could fall short of last year’s already subdued output. The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) on Friday said vehicle production is unlikely to meet earlier projections, as the sector battles a downturn in exports and ongoing labour tensions. According to NAACAM, component exports fell by 5% in 2024 compared with 2023, while vehicle assembly volumes missed 2024 targets by 11.5%. The association said the sector’s recovery in 2025 “will struggle to surpass” last year’s performance, given weak demand, domestic bottlenecks, and the risk of industrial action. NAACAM CEO Renai Moothilal said ongoing wage talks between the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Association (AMEO)…

In 2015, the African Union (AU) assigned South Africa the continental mandate to lead the manufacturing of rolling stock for Africa. The decision recognised South Africa’s industrial base, engineering expertise and infrastructure as the continent’s most advanced. It was an opportunity to anchor regional industrialisation, create skilled employment and supply trains, coaches and components to a growing African market. As Professor Pali Lehohla observed, “The 2015 AU Summit granted South Africa rights to rolling stock, but ten years later nothing happened, except that we ripped our rail apart, disgustingly throwing confidence in our ability to supply rolling stock to the continent completely out of the window, along with any hope for steel manufacturing.” Ten years later, that assessment stands uncomfortably close to the truth. South Africa has neither built a…

In the energy sector, we know one truth too well: you cannot industrialise in the dark. For too long, South Africa’s economic aspirations have flickered under the weight of an unstable power system. Factories stall, investors hesitate and young entrepreneurs fight to keep their doors open through blackouts. As the world prepares for COP30, which will take place from 10 – 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, South Africa has a rare opportunity to reset the conversation – to prove that climate responsibility and industrial growth can coexist. That conviction guided my message on behalf of the Black Business Council (BBC) at the National Ministerial Stakeholder Consultation hosted on 20 Octo ber 2025 by Minister Dion George of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Our call…

Impala Platinum Holdings’ share price fell 4.89% on Friday after the mining group reported that 6E production volumes had decreased by 5% through the group’s first quarter to September 30. Group platinum metals production came to 882 000 ounces, with a 5% decline in managed volumes to 693 000 ounces, a 5% decline from joint ventures to 138 000 ounces, and a 3% increase in third-party receipts to 52 000 ounces, the mining group said Friday in a report. The share traded at R186.12 on the JSE in the afternoon, a price that was below the R198.64 that it traded at a year ago. Gross 6E refined and saleable production volumes increased by 3% to 830 000 ounces, and 6E sales volumes were 7% higher at 847 000 ounces. "Implats…

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the city is ready to host the upcoming G20 Summit despite ongoing water challenges in several parts of the metro. The G20 is taking place on November 22 and 23 in Johannesburg. Speaking in Braamfontein on Saturday, where he addressed civil society groups that had submitted a memorandum demanding a more equitable water system, Morero said the city had the capacity to host the international gathering. “We are ready to host the G20. There’s never been an issue that we thought (would make the city) not be able to host. ''We have hosted already eight meetings of the G20 right here in Johannesburg, before the summit. So we do have the necessary capacity,” Morero said. It was previously reported that political parties have argued that…

Parliament has initiated an inquiry aimed at obtaining public submissions on statutory rape of young girls and to review existing legislation with a view to amending the law where necessary. This inquiry is part of a broader effort stemming from a National Assembly resolution passed in July, designed to revive discussions that began in the previous term when the EFF first introduced the motion last year. In public hearings and stakeholder engagements held on Friday and Saturday in Gauteng, representatives from various sectors came together to confront the grim realities faced by young girls coerced into premature adulthood. Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, and Persons With Disabilities, Liezl van der Merwe, expressed urgent concerns as she revealed that many young victims of statutory rape remain unaware that…

Thousands of people, including high profile guests, are expected to descend on the Zulu kingdom next week for the traditional wedding of Amazulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini to Nomzamo Myeni at Kwakhangelamankengane palace. The king married Ntokozo Mayisela in a civil marriage a few years ago but in African tradition, civil marriages are not recognised and Myeni will enjoy the status of being the king’s wife. The king’s wedding ceremony was formally announced at the weekend by his chief lobola negotiator Prince Gibizizwe Zulu from Osuthu residence. Zulu yesterday said preparations for the Saturday wedding are at an advanced stage and thousands of guests, including senior government officials, are expected to attend. “Our hands are full as we speak. We are preparing for a big weekend in the Zulu kingdom…

Hugo Broos is set to put his head on the block later this week, and announce the final 23-member squad that will face Zambia in an international friendly next Saturday. Although there are a couple of new faces in the 43-member preliminary squad, Broos is expected to stick with tried and tested players for the friendly as he begins planning for the AFCON finals in Morocco next month. Not widening the selection pool by choosing mostly familiar players for the clash against Chipolopolo could backfire, especially if his regulars are ruled out of the continental showpiece due to form or injuries in the coming weeks. However, such is the depth of the squad Broos has assembled in the last few months that it would be a rare occurrence for him…

South Africa’s young T20 side learnt some harsh lessons in Lahore on Saturday night as Pakistan completed a 2-1 comeback series win with a four-wicket victory in the decider – exposing the Proteas’ inexperience but also, coach Shukri Conrad believes, helping to paint a clearer picture for next year’s T20 World Cup. A largely experimental South African side had won the series opener in Rawalpindi convincingly before coming undone in back-to-back matches in Lahore on Friday and Saturday night. “It was rather disappointing, especially going 1-0 up and then coming to Lahore and not getting out the blocks,” Conrad admitted during Saturday’s post-match media conference. “We found ourselves in trouble every PowerPlay with the bat, and when you’re posting 110 or 140, you’re not going to win many games. The…

Abdeslam Ouaddou is a fearless players’ coach. As long as a player is good enough to fit into his philosophy and team organisation, he will throw him in the deep end. Ouaddou showed that he has nerves of steel during the 1-1 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership on Saturday afternoon in Tshwane. He started teenager Camren Dansin in midfield – an approach that initially appeared risky, as the youngster struggled against Sundowns’ experienced kingpins, including Bathusi Aubaas and Nuno Santos. Tension reached fever pitch when some Pirates players, particularly Tshepang Moremi, began shouting at the 19-year-old, prompting the Ghost to call for his substitution in only his second start for the club this season. So, when Peter Shalulile gave Sundowns the lead, it seemed that Dansin’s struggles…

Golden Arrows (1) 4 Dion 15’, Cisse 70’, Khumalo 86’ 92’ Marumo Gallants (0) 0 Golden Arrows extended their fine run of form with a commanding 4-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the King Zwelithini Stadium yesterday. Abafana Bes’thende, buoyed by their recent cup success, notched their fifth win in six matches across all competitions, a result that keeps them among the early front-runners in the Betway Premiership. It was a confident and composed performance from Manqoba Mngqithi’s side, who combined pace in attack with defensive stability. The hosts made their intent clear early on and deservedly opened the scoring in the 15th minute through the in-form Sede Dion. The Ivorian striker finished off a trademark Arrows counterattack, arriving at the near post to tuck away Siyanda Ndlovu’s cross –…

The Bank of America (BofA) has flagged a potential credit rating upgrade for South Africa later this month, saying that S&P Global Ratings could lift the country’s sovereign rating to ‘BB’ if the government delivers stronger economic growth and successfully reduces its debt-to-GDP ratio. In its latest note released on Friday, BofA said the upgrade could come after the tabling of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), expected later this month, even as the country continues to face fiscal headwinds and structural constraints. S&P, which downgraded South Africa to sub-investment grade in April 2020 due to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, currently rates the country’s foreign currency debt at ‘BB-’ and local currency debt at ‘BB’, both with a positive outlook. The agency in May said the positive…

The Department of Agriculture has moved to defend itself following concern over the Auditor-General’s report indicating a qualified audit opinion and a surge in fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2024/25 financial year. The latest audit findings covering the 2024/25 financial year ending on 31 March 2025 were tabled by the Auditor-General in Parliament on 7 October, showing that the department received a qualified audit opinion despite spending 94% of its budget while achieving only 83% of its target. The department's spokesperson, Moses Rannditsheni, last week said the audit pertains to a period before the establishment of the new stand-alone department. "The Auditor-General’s findings relate to the former Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) before the institutional split took effect," Rannditsheni said. "Simply extracting data from those…

One of the challenges of being a noisy democracy is that in our hunt for scandals, we often miss important victories, especially those that improve the lives of the working class. The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is one such success. It is being achieved through the relentless efforts of its staff. Their remarkable achievements in rebuilding a government entity that was at the heart of the state capture project, is an affirmation that the state can be fixed and capacitated to fulfill its constitutional and transformational mandate. Sars by its nature must alienate society’s corrupt and criminal elements. This is exactly what occurred during the state capture chapter where it irritated powerful politicians by insisting they pay their taxes. This led to an intervention at Sars, purging…

MTN Nigeria Communications delivered a resounding financial comeback, reporting a robust performance for the nine months to September 30, 2025 - a N750.2 billion taxed profit marked a dramatic turnaround from a N514.9bn loss in the same period last year. This resurgence paved the way for a return to dividend payments, with an interim dividend of N5.00 per share approved by the board. CEO Karl Toriola hailed the results as a “significant milestone,” attributing the turnaround to strategic execution, improved macroeconomic conditions, and prudent financial management. “We are pleased to report that MTN Nigeria has restored its positive retained earnings and shareholders’ equity positions,” he said. MTN Nigeria’s subscriber base surged by 11% to 85.4 million, while active data users climbed 12.8% to 51.1 million. Service revenue soared 57.5% year-on-year…

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli is expected to make his first cabinet reshuffle as part of his party’s concessions to the ANC’s demand to save the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). As part of concessions, Ntuli is said to have agreed to swap Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and Mtomuhle Khawula, the MEC of Sports Arts and Culture. The IFP concession is said to have emanated from its meeting with ANC provincial leadership last week where the ANC demanded the removal of Buthelezi and the reinstatement of Umkhanyakude District Municipality mayor Siphile Mdaka - this will ensure the ANC backs Ntuli who faces a motion of no confidence brought by the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). The IFP and ANC stand-off led to the intervention…

The High Court of Malawi has overturned the extradition of self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri, finding that a magistrate’s decision to hand them over to South Africa was legally unsound, procedurally unfair, and put their lives at risk. In a judgment delivered on October 31, Justice Mzonde Mvula ruled that the extradition process “fell short” of the standards required under Malawi law and that the couple had been denied their constitutional right to be heard. The ruling sets aside the decision of the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe, which in March had ordered the Bushiris’ committal to await surrender to South Africa, where they are wanted on charges of fraud, money laundering, and rape allegations. This comes after the couple fled South Africa in…

Three KwaZulu-Natal municipalities have beaches with full Blue Flag status for the 2025/2026 season, placing them among the country’s top coastal tourism destinations. Beaches in KwaDukuza on the north coast and Ray Nkonyeni and Umdoni on the south coast have Blue Flag beaches. The beaches in KwaDukuza are Blythedale, Willard, Salt Rock Main, and Thompson Bay, along with the Pennington beach in Umdoni and in Ray Nkonyeni the following beaches have Blue Flag status: Hibberdene Beach, Marina Beach, Ramsgate Beach, Southport Beach, Trafalgar Beach, Umzumbe Beach, New St Michaels Beach. The announcement was made on Friday at the WESSA National Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, where the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) recognised 97 sites and operators for excellence in coastal…

EThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba has stated that the city is on track to reduce the massive water losses it experiences each year. Xaba noted that due to interventions made to contain water losses, they have observed a decline in losses compared to the same period last year. The mayor briefed the public yesterday on several developments in the municipality, including decisions taken by the City Council, which held its October meeting last week. The developments have been welcomed by opposition parties within the council. He addressed the issues of water losses and sanitation challenges, stating that significant strides are being made in these areas. “Our latest data indicates a decrease of 2.9 percent of non-revenue water (NRW) for quarter one (July to September) when compared to the same period last…

THERE is a particular theatre to South African political life: we know how to gather, how to convene, how to fill auditoriums when history arrives clothed in urgency. We clap where we should clap. We nod with seriousness. We ask familiar questions with grave voices. And then we go home feeling as though participation is enough. On Sunday, as Francesca Albanese spoke, something in the room felt familiar – a choreography of solidarity, ritualistic and almost liturgical. People repeated what we already know: BDS matters; sanctions work; we must “raise awareness”; what can we do? There is earnestness there, yes, and a beating heart. But there is also a performance economy – an economy of optics that governs public conscience like a currency traded at a premium. South Africans have…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is delighted with his team’s 61-7 defeat of Japan at the weekend, but says the match was always a warm-up for this week’s monumental encounter with France in Paris. The Boks scored eight tries and were awarded a penalty try in shutting out Eddie Jones’ side. While the game had the potential to be tricky, South Africa closed the Japanese down from the first whistle to the last. “We have to give credit to the whole team,” said Erasmus. “Some of the players had not played for us in a while, such as Gerhard (Steenekamp), Franco (Mostert), Johan (Grobbelaar), Andre (Esterhuizen) at No 7, and Zachary (Porthen), who made his debut. “And then if you look at a player like Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) – who scored two…

The Sharks’ American boss, Marco Masotti, has come out in support of beleaguered coach John Plumtree and says help is on the way as the team negotiates a difficult start to the United Rugby Championship. The Durban team has won just one of their opening five games and, last week, Masotti announced that Plumtree will step down as head coach at the end of the 2025-26 season. An interim technical consultant is to come in to assist. “The idea is to bring in an experienced person to help and offer fresh ideas and experience,” Masotti said. “John Plumtree fully supports this initiative and will have a say in the appointment and how that person is used.” The Sharks are understood to be talking to Brendan Venter, a wily advisor who…

South Africa’s three representatives in the CAF Interclub Competitions will discover their group-stage opponents today afternoon when the draw for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup takes place at the SuperSport studios. There is the potential of Mamelodi Sundowns coming up against their former coach Rulani Mokwena, while Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs could be drawn into the same Confederation Cup group. With Orlando Pirates eliminated in the preliminary round by St Elois Lupopo, Mamelodi Sundowns are left to carry the South African flag in the Champions League alone. The 2016 champions will be looking to go one better than last season, when they were beaten finalists. Intriguingly, Sundowns could find themselves in the same group as their conquerors and current title holders, Pyramids FC of Egypt. Miguel Cardoso…

Parliament confirms probe into threat to R3.5 trillion in public servants’ pensions portfolio Parliament has confirmed that it is following up on allegations of financial mismanagement and governance failures at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) that could threaten the stability of the R3.5 trillion public servants’ pension portfolio. The move follows explosive claims by United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa, who wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) alleging “continued looting, mismanagement, and administrative bungling from top to bottom” at the PIC and its Isibaya Fund. In his letter dated 29 October 2025, Holomisa warned that the alleged irregularities represented “a situation of enormous proportions that rivals the State Capture scandal itself,” arguing that decisive, immediate intervention — not another commission of inquiry…

South Africa’s road infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and vital for the safety and mobility of our people. Yet there’s a persistent gap between the engineering expertise we have and the reality of managing and developing our roads effectively. To build safer, more reliable transport systems, we must leverage engineering knowledge, enforce adherence to proper standards and boost institutional capacity across the public sector and change the narrow view that road infrastructure is just what you see in front of you when you drive. Fundamentally, road safety depends on the quality of the roads themselves, but in the broader picture it should be viewed as a system that includes all the aspects of the infrastructure – fence to fence. Structural integrity, surface strength, proper geometric design, vegetation, signage,…

The US Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has cut interest rates for the second time this year. The FOMC officials agreed to another 25 basis points (0.25%) cut, that lowers its benchmark lending rate to a range between 3.75% and 4%. This is the lowest Bank rate in three years. This cut brings more uncertainty to markets as was expected with the US dollar appreciation against most other currencies and precious metals like gold and platinum lost steam. Adding to the rate move, the FOMC announced that it would be ending the reduction of its asset purchases – a process known as quantitative tightening - on December 1, 2025. The statement revealed some serious concerns about the US economy over the short run. The first one is…

MC Mining’s share price shot up over 15% on Friday afternoon after it reported that the development of its Makhado Project is progressing strongly, with coal plant commissioning activities expected to start in December 2025. The company stated in its first quarter activities report for the period ending September 30 that project expenditure remains within budgeted estimates, despite delays encountered due to inclement weather, sourcing suitable construction materials, and obtaining clearances to construct a 14km long power transmission line. The share price of the coal mining and mine development company was trading 15.79% higher at R2.20 on the JSE on Friday afternoon, a price also well up from R1.65 a year ago. The colliery will be South Africa's largest hard coking coal (HCC) producer, designed to produce 800 000 tons…

When I left the Eastern Cape for Cape Town all those years ago, I thought I was just coming here to study. I didn’t know I was also walking straight into the arms of a woman who would one day become my daughter’s chosen family, her “Aunty Zim", among many more aunts. Back then, I was shy (still am), standing in a queue full of students, trying my best to blend into the background. But she turned around, looked me dead in the eye, and said, “You’re going to be my friend.” Almost a decade later, here we are, two women navigating city life, raising a child between us, and proving that family isn’t always defined by blood. Now, when I watch my daughter share her firsts with my sister…

The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria has ruled that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) approval for the implementation of municipal electricity tariff hikes, without the use of proper cost studies and public participation processes, is unconstitutional. The ruling was made by Judge Etienne Labuschagne at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria on Friday. The judge also slammed Nersa on its argument that customers do not have the right to know what it costs municipalities to supply them with electricity. He remarked that “how the regulator could unilaterally declare a cost of supply study as confidential is beyond concerning”. The judgment followed an urgent application by AfriForum in which it disputed the process Nersa followed to determine all municipal tariffs for this financial year, ending June next year. Judge Labuschagne…

President Cyril Ramaphosa, held a secretive two-day retreat at the Cradle of Humankind, where he urged leaders of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to collaborate in order to rescue the country's struggling municipalities. The gathering, which concluded on Saturday, was convened amidst speculation about the GNU's future and about Ramaphosa's own leadership, with several ANC insiders expressing a growing lack of confidence in his ability to steer the nation. Sources close to the discussions from within government, the ANC and opposition parties, revealed that a significant portion of the closed-door discussions revolved around the critical state of local governance and next year's elections. While no official agenda was shared, and leaders were ordered to maintain secrecy, the urgency of municipal collapse appears to have dominated much of the conversation.…

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has raised concern over KwaZulu-Natal’s slow progress in vetting teachers against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO), warning that the province’s financial and logistical constraints threaten efforts to ensure the safety of learners. Department spokesperson Lukhanyo Mvanqa said in a recent interview on radio station, SAFM, that Minister Siviwe Gwarube has prioritised school safety and child protection in schools as among her top five focus areas. “The Minister’s top five priorities, one of those is school safety, to ensure that children exist in schools that are safe and conducive for learning,” he said. “That starts with ensuring that the people that we allow into our premises are properly vetted, so that we can ensure that children remain safe.” The department has embarked on…

The Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak is severely impacting farmers’ livelihoods, with many expected to go out of business by year-end due to significant financial losses. Stakeholders revealed this during the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial FMD Indaba held by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Durban this week. African Farmers Association of South Africa (Afasa) KZN chairperson Mbongeni Sikhakhane said: “We are in crisis in KZN due to this FMD outbreak. Farmers are struggling now, especially those in deep rural areas (controlled by) amakhosi.” “Due to the disease, farmers are not allowed to sell,” Sikhakhane said. “Now these farmers have to face the situation where they have to buy more feed to feed these animals, but where can they get money to buy feed, because they are not…

ICC World Cup Final India: 298/7 Shafali Varma 87, Deepti Sharma 58, Ayabonga Khaka 3/58 South Africa: 246 all out Wolvaardt 101, Dercksen 35, Deepti Sharma 5/39 Indian won by 52 runs Laura Wolvaardt carried her team on her shoulders, dragged them to the finish line, but ultimately could not single-handedly lead the Proteas Women to the promised land of a first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title in Navi Mumbai on Sunday evening. Instead, that honour belongs to India, who on their third attempt after previous disappointments in 2005 and 2017, fulfilled the dreams and desires of a nation when captain Harmanpreet Kaur claimed the catch that clinched their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup trophy. It was a final the competition deserved, with the DY Patil Stadium decked in blue…

New Zealand overcame a 10-point deficit to secure a hard-fought 26-13 victory over 14-man Ireland at Soldier Field on Saturday, opening their bid for an Autumn Nations Series Grand Slam. Head coach Scott Robertson praised his team’s resilience after a disrupted and stop-start game. “It’s special – we fought our way back into it,” said Robertson. “It was a bit like an NFL game; there were so many stoppages and we just couldn’t get any flow. “But the young guys came on and just kept playing, and playing fearlessly. It was great to see us execute.” The match was marked early by controversy when Ireland lock Tadgh Beirne was shown a yellow card for an upright challenge on All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett. The decision was later upgraded to a…

Nuno Espirito Santo celebrated his first win as West Ham manager yesterday as his spirited team battled from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1 at the London Stadium. The Hammers remain in the relegation zone after just their second Premier League win of the season but are now just three points behind 17th-placed Burnley, whom they play next week. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle took the lead courtesy of a fine early strike from Jacob Murphy, but Lucas Paquetá levelled and an own goal from the unfortunate Sven Botman gave the home team the advantage at half-time. The visitors made wholesale changes in the second half but were blunt in attack, and Tomas Soucek made sure of all three points for West Ham in the closing moments. Nuno was appointed West Ham boss…