Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-11-27 i Mercury

Government weighing a national levy on gross gambling revenue from online betting and gambling South Africa is considering one of its most significant gambling policy shifts in decades, with the National Treasury proposing a new national tax on online and interactive gambling amid explosive growth in the digital betting industry and rising concerns about social harm. If adopted, the national tax would mark the most far-reaching reform of South Africa’s gambling tax framework since the mid-1990s. Treasury discussion paper titled "The Case for a National Online Gambling Tax" and released on Tuesday, reveals that government is weighing the introduction of a 20% national levy on gross gambling revenue (GGR) from online betting and any future interactive gambling activities. This would be imposed in addition to existing provincial gambling taxes, potentially…

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen on Wednesday announced a sweeping national plan to vaccinate South Africa’s entire cattle herd against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as the country battles one of its most severe outbreaks in decades. Addressing the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (AFASA) Leadership and Strategic Partnership Conference, Steenhuisen said the government will implement a comprehensive, phased national vaccination strategy, starting with the provinces hardest hit by the disease: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West. “The Department of Agriculture has resolved to implement a comprehensive strategy to vaccinate the entire national herd. This initiative will position us to apply to the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) for recognition of freedom with vaccination status,” he said. “This plan, however, will rely on a consistent, high-quality…

South African households experienced modest financial relief in the first half of 2025, but their overall financial resilience remains under severe strain, according to the latest Altron FinTech Household Resilience Index (AFHRI). The index, released on Wednesday, shows a year-on-year improvement of 2.3% in the second quarter, supported largely by May’s interest rate cut and stabilising employment trends. However, despite this short-term uptick, the long-term picture is far less encouraging. Since the beginning of the South African Reserve Bank’s (Sarb) interest rate hiking cycle in late 2021, household financial resilience has improved by an annual average of just 0.2%, effectively stagnating. The AFHRI report underscores how deeply high borrowing costs have eroded household finances. With population growth averaging 1.4% annually since 2014, the index shows that the real financial position…

In the words of business magnate, Richard Branson, “Success in business is all about making connections”. While this remains inherently true, networking behaviours – like what draws people to in-person events, how they prefer to connect, and which formats foster the strongest engagement – continue to evolve. Today, business owners are networking with purpose – not just for handshakes, but for insights and innovation. This is according to the 2025 trends report by Freeman, a global leader in events, which reveals 61% of respondents network primarily to learn something new, while 58% do so to exchange ideas and 54%, to identify collaboration opportunities. Preparation is your secret weapon Walking into a networking event without preparation is a bit like pitching to an investor without a business plan – you might…

OPEC+ nations gathering this weekend are once again grappling with the thorny question of how much oil they’re physically able to pump. In May, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies launched a new assessment of members’ “maximum sustainable capacity” to help set production quotas in 2027. With output levels for the months ahead already set, delegates say this longer-term review will likely be one area of focus at Sunday’s meeting. The process looks increasingly necessary, as the struggle by some OPEC+ members to increase supplies as much as agreed this year indicates they may be nearing output limits. Clarifying their full capacity would help align quotas more closely with reality - and make any future cutbacks more credible. OPEC’s readiness to make new curbs could be…

THE Standing Committee on Public Account ( Scopa) is looking to lay criminal charges against the former Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo for snubbing a parliamentary inquiry. Scopa resolved yesterday to request the concurrence of National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza for Parliament to lay criminal charges against Letsoalo after he failed to appear at public hearings scheduled by the committee, despite being subpoenaed to attend. The hearings, aimed at investigating allegations of maladministration, financial improprieties, and misuse of public funds at the RAF, were set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi expressed his frustration over Letsoalo's absence, noting that the committee had exhausted all avenues to ensure his attendance, including offering a virtual hearing option. Parliamentary legal advisor Fatima Ebrahim confirmed that they received…

The Springbok team to play Wales on Saturday in Cardiff will be announced by coach Rassie Erasmus today, and it will be a combination patched together from those remaining on tour. This match falls outside the international Test window, with various domestic competitions around the world resuming this weekend and, in the case of Japan League One, kicking off. When the tour began at the start of November, Erasmus said he would have all 33 players available for the five matches, barring a couple based in the English Premiership and in the Irish and Scottish URC teams. However, after the match against Ireland, Erasmus revealed he was down to 25 players. Erasmus has agreed to requests from Japanese clubs to have some of their players back. Originally, the Japanese clubs…

Tijjani Reijnders has insisted there will be no loss of nerve at Manchester City following their surprise defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday night. City manager Pep Guardiola felt confident enough to make 10 changes to his team, only for the side to lose 2-0 at home to the Bundesliga outfit on Tuesday. The defeat ended City’s unbeaten start to the league phase of European club football's elite competition ahead of a tie with Spanish giants Real Madrid, and came just days after their loss to Newcastle in the Premier League last weekend. “Of course it's a bummer (but) we should not lose our confidence because we did great before and we have to get back on that winning streak, and that's by being ready for…

Enzo Maresca on Tuesday played down comparisons between Estevão and Lionel Messi after Chelsea’s wonderkid scored a spectacular solo Champions League goal in a thumping 3-0 win against Barcelona. The 18-year old Brazilian emphatically won the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal as the London club secured their third victory in five matches in the league phase of the competition. Estevão’s moment of magic came 10 minutes after half-time when he received the ball on the right, beat two defenders and lashed his shot into the roof of Joan Garcia’s net. It was the winger’s 10th goal of the season for club and country, just months into his first campaign at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s other goals came via an own goal from Barcelona defender Jules Koundé and a…

The long-running R60 billion class action bid against South Africa’s major banks reaches a critical procedural stage today as the Gauteng High Court will hear an interlocutory application that could determine how much evidence will ultimately be allowed before the court. This comes as major banks will next year defend themselves in court over claims that they repossessed hundreds, if not thousands, of people’s homes and sold them far below market value, cheating them of the earned interest on those properties over years. The evidentiary battle comes ahead of the main certification hearing scheduled for the last week of February 2026, where the court will decide whether the matter can proceed as a national class action on behalf of affected homeowners, nearly a decade after it was launched in 2017.…

Net salaries remained unchanged in October, according to the PayInc Net Salary Index, which tracks the average nominal net salaries of around 2.1 million South African earners. The index moved sideways during the month but remained higher year-on-year, signalling stronger spending ahead of the year-end shopping period. However, companies continue to face pressure as productivity fails to keep pace, strengthening the case for greater technology adoption. “The PayInc Net Salary Index held steady at R21 414 in October, maintaining a 1.8% year-on-year increase,” said Shergeran Naidoo, the head of Stakeholder Engagements at PayInc. The upward trend in net salaries continued through 2025, with the average nominal net salary rising 4% in the first ten months, compared to 4.6% in the corresponding period in 2024. In real terms, the PayInc Net…

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group’s (PMBEJD) Household Affordability Index for November shows a slight month-on-month decline in food costs, but civil society groups warn that nutritious food remains out of reach for millions of South Africans as the festive season begins. The index, released on Wednesday, shows that the average household food basket cost R5 413.53 in November, down R27.07 (-0.5%) from October. However, the basket is still R52.49 (1.0%) more expensive than it was a year ago. PMBEJD director Mervyn Abrahams said 17 of the 44 tracked foods increased in price during November, while 27 items became cheaper. Using Pietermaritzburg-based transport and electricity costs, PMBEJD estimates that these two necessities consume 60.4% of a worker’s wage (R2 781.85 of R4 606.40). That leaves only R1 824.55 for…

Recent reports of an uptick in business liquidations in South Africa, 145 in October alone, may have understandably set off alarm bells about the health of the country’s small business sector, but while closures have a profound impact on communities and livelihoods, they don’t tell the full story. A sector under pressure, but still standing Beneath the surface, the reality is more nuanced. South Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are showing remarkable resilience, adaptability, and even growth, often fuelled by digital transformation and an entrepreneurial spirit that refuses to be extinguished. Despite the uptick in liquidations, SMEs remain a driving force in South Africa’s economy. According to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci), the country is home to approximately 2.67 million small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs).…

Vukile Property Fund has upgraded its full year guidance and has a strong pipeline of potential new property deals that may see it spend R5 billion of cash over the next six months of its 2026 financial year, CEO Laurence Rapp said Wednesday. The group, which holds 53 assets between South Africa, Portugal and Spain, on Wednesday reported a 9% increase in half-year dividend per share (DPS), while guidance for the 2026 year was now at least 9% growth in dividend per share and funds from operations (FFO). Previously the forecast was for around 6% growth in the two metrics. About two-thirds of Vukile's assets and net property income are generated in two of Europe's major economic drivers, Spain and Portugal, through its 99.6%-held subsidiary, Castellana Properties. The countries are…

Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s testimony took an explosive turn yesterday when he detailed his alleged cash payments of R500 000 to former Minister Bheki Cele. The Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate the allegations made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, had MPs hanging onto his every word when Matlala made several statements which detailed his relationship with Cele. Matlala’s testimony was so captivating that at one point it prompted the Ad Hoc Committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, to critique MPs for getting ahead of the evidence leader, Advocate Norman Arendse SC as he led Matlala through his statement. The moment was preceded by Matlala sharing that Cele told him that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu wants to be president. Cele had allegedly said,…

A stark warning from UNAIDS has illuminated a grave crisis in the global response to HIV, signalling a long-fought battle for public health at risk of unraveling. In its newly released report, Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response, ahead of World AIDS Day 2025, UNAIDS highlights the alarming decline in international funding, with potential repercussions that could resonate through low- and middle-income countries significantly burdened by the epidemic. As the OECD predicts reductions in external health assistance of up to 40% by 2025 compared to 2023 levels, the repercussions are immediate and profound. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, poignantly articulated the human impact of these statistics. “The funding crisis has exposed the fragility of the progress we fought so hard to achieve.” Prevention services, already under siege prior…

As part of the preparation for ANC’s national general council (NGC) next week, KwaZulu-Natal party branches will converge for the provincial general council (PGC) in Durban over the weekend. A short statement issued by the provincial leadership yesterday said the PGC will be held at Coastlands Hotel in Durban. Party spokesperson, Fanle Sibisi, said it was all systems go for the event. “The PGC follows successful regional general councils held throughout the province, where valuable contributions were gathered from different sectors in regions. The PGC will serve as a critical platform for branches and structures to engage with the national general council’s Discussion Documents, refine inputs, and consolidate the unified provincial position ahead of the NGC. Although the party did not give details on the status of the branches, sources…

Grovel. A term that has for long carried negative connotations within cricket due to former England captain Tony Greig’s comments almost 50 years ago ahead of the series against the all-black West Indies team. It was a different world back then. South Africa was still deep in the throes of Apartheid, and Greig, a South African-born white man, made his statements only a few weeks before the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when police opened fire on schoolchildren protesting to be taught in their mother tongue. So, when Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, who was himself denied the opportunity to represent his country due to the colour of his skin, loosely tossed up the grenade on the eve of arguably one of the finest days in the Proteas’ Test history, the Indian media…

Yesterday morning, at precisely 9.05am South African time, the Proteas demolished an empire. An empire that, at its zenith, seemed like it would last forever. Previous generations had endured the hurt and trauma for 25 years, but India’s walls finally came tumbling down in spectacular fashion in Guwahati. The Proteas won the second Test by a mammoth 408 runs and completed a clean sweep of the series 2-0. The Freedom Cup was theirs to display alongside the golden ICC World Test Championship mace. “Coming to India is always a tough prospect,” Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said. “I think what makes it sweeter is the fact that we are winning because we’ve been on the other side of the result from past tours. We know how dark it can be. “So,…

AmaZulu could climb to third in the Betway Premiership standings if they beat Richards Bay in the KZN derby tomorrow evening (7.30pm kick-off). AmaZulu are currently fifth on the log with 22 points, three behind second-placed Orlando Pirates, who are level on 25 points with champions and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. With the third- and fourth-placed teams not competing in domestic football for various reasons, Usuthu have a chance to leapfrog them to third if all goes well against the Natal Rich Boys at Richards Bay Stadium. It should. Usuthu head into the clash as favourites. They’ve been on an impressive run this season, winning six games, drawing three, and losing three. That form shows that coach Arthur Zwane has managed to find the right balance between youngsters and seniors,…

Pepkor, the JSE-listed discount retailer fast expanding into the financial services sector, has received approval from the Prudential Authority to establish a "fully fledged bank" in South Africa over "the next couple years", said the CFO Riaan Hanekom. He said in an online presentation the group had been working on plans to form a bank for about two years, and an important step toward this was the acquisition of Cloudbadger in October 2023, a company that provides modern banking software platforms, and which he said represented a cost effective way for the group to obtain this technology. The move signals further crowding of the traditional banking market - Old Mutual launched its own bank this year, while in the retail space where Pepkor operates, Pick n Pay offers in-store banking…

South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) expects Black Friday spending to exceed R3.3 billion this year, supported by sustained growth in digital payments, rising online shopping activity and steady consumer demand across the retail sector. The bank said early 2025 spending trends show continued uptake of secure digital payment tools, positioning this year’s event for “solid activity” both in-store and online. In 2024, FNB processed more than R5.4bn in transactions on its Speedpoint devices over the Black Friday weekend. E-commerce remained a major tailwind, with online transaction values rising 37% and volumes up 76%. Virtual Card usage climbed 59% year-on-year, contributing over R600 million to Black Friday spend. FNB said it expects similar patterns in 2025, with digital wallets and virtual cards among the fastest-growing payment options, while cash usage…

South Africa has officially done the unthinkable: pulled off the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil, smoothly, stylishly, and with enough gravitas to make global leaders nod thoughtfully while sipping rooibos tea. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” Africa didn’t just host the summit. It owned it. And yes, while Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again relationship with attendance (“I’m coming. I’m not coming. Actually, where is South Africa again?”) gave international journalists enough drama to last the week, the real winners quietly stepped into the spotlight, the African MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). Besides the political ping-pong caused by the US, the summit ended on a high note. The G20 declaration noted that never-ending wars, terrorism threats, and ongoing attacks on civilians are the real enemies of economic growth and…

The commercial property market in South Africa is witnessing a significant resurgence, as demand now surpasses supply across industrial, office, and retail sectors. According to the FNB Commercial Property Finance’s latest Q3 2025 Property Broker Survey, this was so for the first time since the survey began in 2019. Demand outstrips supply According to the National Market Balance Survey, brokers report: n Industrial property remains the strongest segment, showing the most acute undersupply. n Office property shows a positive demand-supply balance for the first time, supported by repurposing activity, improving affordability, and lower vacancies in key metros. n Retail property also reflects a modest undersupply, indicating steady improvement in the sector. Decrease in average time on market Average time on the market has decreased across all property classes, giving further…

Tiger Brands' share price leapt 7.95% on Wednesday after it announced it plans to pay out a special dividend of 2 710 cents per share, or R4 billion, for the year ended September 30 off the back of strong financial performance. The South Africa packaged food company said the special final dividend, together with the interim special dividend of 1 216 cents per share declared in May, brought the total special dividend for the year to 3 926 cents per share or R5.8bn. This was on top of a final ordinary dividend of 1 229 cents per share, which was 79% higher than last year's as a result of a decision to reduce dividend cover, which with the interim dividend of 415 cents per share, brought the total ordinary dividend…

THE issue of DNA testing came under the juristic spotlight in the Limpopo High Court, with a former couple embroiled in legal proceedings regarding maintenance for a young child. The husband denies being the father of the girl, arguing that it is impossible, as he had a vasectomy years ago. He turned to court in a bid to force the mother to present the child for DNA testing before the maintenance dispute proceeded. The judge, in ruling in favour of the husband, commented that it is the constitutional and statutory right to identity and parental care. Another court earlier ordered the mother to submit the child to DNA testing, but the mother never did this. In this recent application, forcing the mother once again to do so, the judge said…

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has obtained a gagging order against controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Judge Jacobus Strydom ruled that Mogotsi's public utterances regarding Mbalula, which include linking him to the death of billionaire businessman Wandile Bozwana, are defamatory and harmful to his reputation. The judge found that the allegations made about Mbalula in various television and social media posts are false and defamatory. He declared these statements regarding Mbalula to be unlawful and ordered Mogotsi to retract the statements within 48 hours from all media platforms. Mogotsi, who did not attempt to defend the statements, is further interdicted and restrained from doing any interview that says or implies that Mbalula is involved in the murder of Bozwana and that he is the beneficiary of…

The Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick is seeing a significant surge in international tourists as the heritage destination undergoes major infrastructure upgrades, including a new access road, improved parking, a gatehouse, and stormwater systems. Operations Manager Thuli Mtolo said this week that the site in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands now receives an average of 112 to 250 visitors a day, most of them from outside South Africa. She explained that this shift is the result of a deliberate effort to improve international marketing. “We brought in a marketing team to help us reach more international tourists. Previously, the site was mostly supported by domestic visitors,” she said. “International tourists used to hear about us through word of mouth, but it didn’t translate into big numbers.” Mtolo noted that dedicated marketing…

GAUTENG High Court Judge Portia Dipuo Phahlane, who has been accused of accepting a bribe of millions of rand in connection with a long-running church leadership dispute, was released on R50 000 bail yesterday. Phahlane and three others, one of them being her son, were arrested on Tuesday night by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). The arrests form part of a major corruption and money-laundering investigation linked to the succession dispute within the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC). The group appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday. The suspects are aged between 32 and 64. They face charges including corruption and money laundering. Phahlane, was appointed as a judge in 2021. Her arrest relates to allegations that she received payment in exchange for favourable rulings…

After the Sharks’ unfortunate start to the United Rugby Championship and the resulting turbulence off the field, the November break from the competition is the best thing that could have happened to them. The Durbanites languish in 13th place with one win from five matches, and a play pause has meant they can take a deep breath and press the restart button ahead of their two-match tour to Connacht and Toulouse. Captain Vincent Tshituka agrees that the break they have had while the Springboks have been touring has been a blessing. “It’s been really good to have a bit of time off and actually prepare properly for this challenge against Connacht,” he explained. “The guys have put in a lot of hard work to fix the errors from the beginning…

For 24-year-old Keegan Bauristhene, the dream he has carried since the first day he picked up a bowl is finally becoming reality. As he prepares to represent South Africa in Ireland in the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championship from December 1, he speaks with a mixture of pride, determination and youthful excitement that bodes well for the international stage awaiting him. “It is an absolute dream and honour for me to represent South Africa,” he says. “I have always dreamt of playing at the highest level and the time has now come.” Although Bauristhene is known as an outdoor bowler, he has embraced the challenge of competing on synthetic indoor greens – surfaces that are significantly faster and demand a different tactical mindset. Earlier this year he travelled to Midstream…