Innehållsförteckning för 2024-06-07 från Mercury

ANALYSTS have warned that South Africa is between a rock and a hard place, with future economic progress and stability hinged on the decisions political leaders make before the swearing in of the new government adminis- tration later this month. It’s a process that was rendered strenuous when the ANC failed to win the required 50% majority in the May 29 elections, in a bid to retain its governance mandate. South Africa is holding its breath that the ANC does the right thing by coming up with a governance framework which requires the participation of one or more rival political parties. The fact that the ANC differs ideologically with the parties is making the job and choices all the more difficult, yet it is on the economic, international trade and…

ROGUE independent auditors and auditing firms in South Africa will be facing hefty penalties of up to R25 million, which could put them out of business, if they are found guilty of improper conduct as the National Treasury tightens controls. The Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana yesterday gazetted the latest notice of maximum fines for registered auditors found guilty of improper conduct after the notice of maximum fines previously gazetted in June last year was withdrawn in January. Following a 30-day comment period and having reviewed the written comments received by the Treasury, the Minister determined new maximum fines that may be imposed on registered auditors found guilty of improper conduct: ■ R5m per charge, as the amount envisaged in Section 51(2) of the act, which may be…

WHEN it comes to banks closing bank accounts on the basis of reputational risk, it was up to individual banks to manage their individual risks, the National Treasury says. It said this in response to questions put to it by Business Report (BR) as there has been a public outcry over the lack of standards and measurements applied to the metrics of reputational risk when closing bank accounts. The ordeal of Dr Iqbal Survé, the chairperson of Independent Media and Sekunjalo, highlights the deficiencies in the current system. Despite spending more than R400 million on legal battles to keep Sekunjalo’s accounts open, he argues that reputational risk is often a pretext used by banks to close accounts without substantial evidence of wrongdoing. This experience demonstrates the disproportionate power banks…

THE MINERALS Council warns that escalating electricity tariffs are driving up input costs for South African mining companies as production costs rose by 7.2% in April, with gold, coal and platinum group metals (PGM) experiencing the largest cost increases. South Africa is a major producer of gold, coal and PGM, in addition to manganese and chrome, among other minerals. Andre Lourens, an economist with the Minerals Council, yesterday said the rise in mining costs for SA producers was in line “with an acceleration in the pace of increase for the producer price index. High inflation rates for electricity, water, coke, petroleum, transport and storage significantly pressured mining inputs,” he said. This comes after the National Energy Regulatory of SA (Nersa) approved a 12.74% electricity price increase for direct customers with…

For a long time, South Africans have been using international brands on their skin and hair. That’s because we didn’t have enough local brands catering for most common skin and hair concerns. However, that has changed with many local beauty brands offering products for a wide market. Below are some of our favourites, for all genders. Curl Chemistry by Liesl Smerdon Curl Chemistry is owned by Liesel Smerdon, who launched it in 2016 after struggling to find the right products for her curly hair. “I wanted to create quality hair care products that would be safe for kids to use as well. I have since eliminated ingredients like parabens and sulphate by using natural ingredients.” Smerdon’s first batch of curl-activating creams comprised 120 jars and sold out within a month…

American singer and business mogul Rihanna has expanded her Fenty brand by launching a haircare line. Taking to social media, she announced the release of Fenty Hair, a range of hair products that caters for all, including children. “A new family is moving in! #fentyhair is pullin’ up, and it’s time to finally have the hair experience you’ve been waiting for. “You know how much switching my hair up matters to me. I’ve had almost every texture, colour, and length, from weaves to braids to natural – so I am launching a flexible line of products for not only every hair want, but every single product is designed to strengthen and repair all types of hair, which is what we truly need! “It’s time to play and get stronger by…

KAMERS Makers, South Africa’s premier artisan platform, is set to make its much-anticipated debut in KwaZulu-Natal at the ZA Fest 2024 from June 14 to 17. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both entities and promises an unparalleled experience for attendees seeking the finest, most inventive – and proudly local – artisanal products. “The partnership between KAMERS Makers and ZA Fest stems from a mutual desire to create a unique experience for festival-goers. We’re thrilled to bring our unique blend of discovery, shopping and celebration to this beautiful province – showcasing over 100 of SA’s finest Makers. Everything from fashion to footwear, skincare to ceramics, craft gin to jewellery, accessories, homeware and more. “We’re certain the discerning shoppers of KZN will be blown away by the quality and variety…

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has taken the fight for recognition and wage disparities at SA Steel Mills (SASM) to the company’s major funder, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), as the two parties reached a deadlock after a Labour Court order that exonerated the labour union. Numsa said it will picket outside the IDC today to demand that the entity re-evaluate the funding it has given to SASM because its management is “dishonest” and “does not respect the law”. “SA Steel Mills has been the beneficiary of funding from the IDC. This funding is raised through tax contributions made by workers, including workers at the company,” said Numsa’s Sedibeng regional secretary, Kabelo Ramokhathali. “It cannot be that workers, whose blood, sweat and tears contributed directly to SA…

Heinrich Klaasen has unquestionably been the most destructive hitter in T20 cricket over the past two years. The flame-haired batter has smashed bowling attacks to all parts consistently through his amazing six-hitting prowess. His ability to clear the boundary with regularity is a major reason why the bookmakers have shortened the odds on the Proteas Men’s team reaching an ICC tournament final for the first time since 1998 at the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean. But after a week spent taking in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple – which included visits to Times Square and the iconic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx – even Klaasen reckons it would take an almighty hit for him to reach the bleachers to score a home run.…

Marcus Stoinis shone with bat and ball as Australia launched their bid for a grand slam of major cricket titles with a 39-run victory over Oman at the T20 World Cup in Barbados on Wednesday night. Stoinis smashed a game-changing 67 not out off just 36 balls to power Australia to 164-5, and then took three wickets for 19 runs as Oman were restricted to 125-9 in reply at Kensington Oval. “It was a nice start,” Player-of-the-Match Stoinis said afterwards. “Maybe a few cobwebs for us, but we’re better for it, and nice that we got the win. “And nice that I got to spend some time in the middle, and have a bit of a bowl.” Stoinis hammered six sixes and two fours during a swashbuckling batting performance that…

NOA GROUP Holdings (NOA) has reached a 497GW/h energy supply agreement with Tronox Holdings, which has titantium dioxide pigment operations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, and which is South Africa’s biggest private wheeling agreement to date. The agreement extends Tronox’s renewable energy penetration to above 70% of its electricity requirements, and it underscores NOA’s model of aggregating power from a fleet of generation facilities across the country, to be supplied to Tronox’s operating sites in South Africa. South Africa’s fast deregulating electricity sector, sped along by load shedding, has seen Eskom develop a model to allow renewable electricity wheeling and which will allow NOA, an integrated energy company, to provide renewable energy from wind and solar facilities nationwide to customers in the commercial and industrial sectors. “This model represents…

IN THE WAKE of South Africa’s recent elections, coalition talks have become the focal point of the political landscape. Among the many pressing issues on the table, the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill stands out as a topic of critical importance. Imagine a South Africa where the wealth of one’s wallet does not dictate the quality of health care they receive – a nation where every citizen is guaranteed not just care, but care that upholds dignity and promotes health. This is the promise of the NHI bill. However, as a medical professional and academic, I see the NHI bill through a pragmatic lens, where good intentions must be met with robust planning and transparent governance. The vision of universal access At its core, the NHI bill aims to provide…

SANLAM says Paul Hanratty has agreed to extend his term serving as chief executive and executive director on the board until December 31, 2027. Hanratty was appoin- ted chief executive on July 1, 2020, and has been a member of the board since 2017. He has been a non-executive director of MTN since 2016 and is the non-executive chairperson of Intelligent Debt Manage- ment, an online search showed. The chief executive succession update announce- ment was made at the same time as the release of the outcome of the insurance and financial services group’s annual shareholder meeting, which was held on Tuesday. At the meeting, all the resolutions proposed were passed by the requisite majority of votes of shareholders in atten- dance or represented by proxy, a state- ment from…

If you are in tune with the health and fitness industry, you will hear the phrase gut health repeated often. Gut health refers to the balance of micro-organisms that live in the digestive tract. There is a delicate balance of essential microbes in the gut, and this balance is critical. Aspects of modern life such as little sleep, eating processed high-sugar foods, and even anxiety can upset your “gut feeling” or, as the experts call it, the gut microbiome. When your gut health is not right, bloating, diarrhoea, stomach pain for no reason, and many other conditions can occur, seemingly out of nowhere. Although the concept of gut healing may sound intimidating, there are simple interventions you can implement to begin your healing journey. Nutrition is the most cost-effective…

FROM 5 000 volunteers at refreshment stations along the 85.91km route at the 97th Comrades Marathon to about 75 doctors at the medical centre, the more than 20 500 runners participating on Sunday will be well taken care of. This year’s Up Run will start at 5.30am at Durban’s City Hall and end 12 hours later at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo yesterday wished all participants a great run on June 9. “We have catered in every possible way to make the 97th Comrades Marathon a memorable and hassle-free experience for our runners,” he said. The CMA said there would be 48 fully stocked refreshment stations along the route, dispensing Thirsti water, Thirsti sports drink, Coke, Asemzansi Amahewu, Bavaria Malt, Salticrax, energy…

A cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery shut down the N2 highway northbound near Queen Nandi Drive for hours yesterday as police cleared the backlogged traffic and secured the scene for ballistics evidence to be collected. This comes after two CIT suspects were killed in a shoot-out with police and a third arrested on the Phoenix Highway, while a security guard was shot during an attempted CIT heist in the Durban CBD on Monday. On Wednesday, the KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) arrested a 39-year-old suspect for possession of explosives believed to be destined for use in CIT robberies in Durban. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a police captain survived a hail of bullets from an unknown number of robbers just before the KwaMashu Highway off-ramp early yesterday morning.…

NO FEAR! That’s the attitude of Tete Morena Dijana as he seeks to enter Comrades Marathon folklore by completing a rare hat-trick of victories in Sunday’s Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Champion in the last two editions, both of which were ran the other way, the Nedbank Running Club star says he has done everything he can to put himself in line for the title. “The confidence is there. So far, so good – there is no fear.” How could he fear, though, when he has established himself as the king of the world-famous ultra race in KwaZulu-Natal, with back-to-back victories so compellingly good he even set a new best time? Well, there will be those who argue that there are many runners with massive Up Run experience, which…

Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a big step towards a third successive French Open title by dismantling teary American third seed Coco Gauff 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final yesterday to match her longest winning streak on clay. Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek also extended her dominance over Gauff by sealing an 11th victory in 12 meetings, and will head into a final showdown tomorrow with 12th seed Jasmine Paolini. “It was intense. In the second set it was tight because we were breaking each other. I was consistent with my tactics and went for it,” Swiatek said. Defeat was a big blow for Gauff, who was beaten by Swiatek in the 2022 final as well as last year’s quarter-finals, but she leaves Paris knowing that she will climb to No…

At the Springboks, you get a thorough reminder that you must be a high-quality player, and Ben-Jason Dixon is taking that on board as he sets his ambitions high for international rugby. The Stormers loose forward had a belter of a season in the No 7 jersey of the Cape side – so much so that he was recently a surprise inclusion in the Boks’ final alignment camp before the squad announcement this weekend ahead of the 2024 Test season. For the 26-year-old, the United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors tomorrow night (8.35pm kick-off, SA time) will be another opportunity to put his best foot forward to keep his name in the Springbok conversation. Although the Bok squad is more or less settled for the coming season, there…

THE RAND SLOWLY gave up some gains and hovered around the R19 mark to the dollar for the better part of the day yesterday as talks over the uncertainty of the next government, which may turn out to be a coalition of some sort, continued behind closed doors. News emerged this week that the ANC could look at a government of national unity, which would see several parties invited to rule alongside it, following its historic loss of parliamentary majority in the general elections last week. At the same time, there was a large amount of buzz as to whether a coalition government will be formed or a government of national unity. The market sentiment turned even more cautious yesterday, following the proposal of a government of national unity, which…

SOUTH Africa’s telecommunications industry continued to lag behind other industries such as banking, insurance and retail, with a negative net sentiment score of -18.8%, according to research. The annual South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index, released yesterday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) South Africa in collaboration with DataEQ, showed the telecommunications industry continues to face significant challenges in consumer sentiment. The index was compiled from social media data and reflects the net sentiment score of local consumers toward their telecommunications service providers. Operational sentiment was said to be negative across the board, signalling an industry-wide issue with crucial business activities such as customer service and network availability. Elmo Hildebrand, PwC Africa tele- communications leader, said while complaints over network quality were often impacted by external factors such as load shedding, a significant share…

ABSA AND RENAULT South Africa have entered into a strategic alliance that will result in the launch of Renault Financial Services, a pro-duct of the bank aimed at offering finance and other services to Renault customers. Through the alliance, Renault dealers would gain “unprecedented access” to Absa’s solutions for retail and wholesale finance, with the integration also providing a “seamless, efficient experience for dealers and customers alike, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experience”, according to a statement issued yesterday, “By aligning our services with the Renault dealership network, we are not just offering financial solutions, but also creating an ecosystem that supports the automotive industry’s growth and development,” said Charl Potgieter, managing executive for Absa Vehicle Finance. The alliance would also leverage an expanded sales network to accelerate growth…

Leave it to a confectionery in Dubai to come up with a treat that leaves the rest of the world drooling. If you thought Mzansi’s was over “pricey” with food and drinks after Prime Hydration, think again. There’s a new snack obsession in town, Dubai’s FIX Dessert Chocolatier, and it doesn’t come cheap. The chocolatier says the bars sell out fast and you need to be quick to get your order in. They are a luxury chocolate to indulge in and not your average candy bar. Since launching, the bars have captured the internet’s attention, from the “Donut Be Latte Bar” that hides doughnuts inside to the “Can’t Get Khanafed Of It”, a milk chocolate bar filled with a mix of crispy khanafeh, pistachios and a tahini spread. Khanafeh…

E-hailing service Bolt has permanently blocked 6 000 of its registered drivers across South Africa in the past six months in efforts to improve safety. According to the company, the strict measure to suspend the drivers was due to non-compliance and safety-related matters. Bolt acting head of regulatory and policy Africa Weyinmi Aghadiuno said they believed the sanction against drivers would send a clear message to all other drivers using their platform. “It underscores our commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, professionalism and respect, which are crucial for the trust and well- being of our community. We hope this action reinforces the importance of adhering to our guidelines and the serious consequences of failing to do so. “The company will continue to permanently block drivers and riders who have…

COMMUNITY organisations are appealing for more donations of essential items for victims of the storm that wreaked havoc in oThongathi, north of Durban, on Monday. Some of the essential items that are needed are diapers for children and adults, baby food, sanitary pads and toiletries. The KwaZulu-Natal government said yesterday that 12 people had died across the province. A central management centre has been set up in eMagwaveni in oThongathi, where all relief and support efforts are being co-ordinated. Bilal Jeewa, provincial spokesperson of Gift of the Givers, said a team had been on the ground since the storm on Monday. “We have provided mattresses, blankets, bottled water and bulk food to affected people.” In a statement, the KZN government said the storm had affected over 17 000 people. “There…

Good old-fashioned gamesmanship came into play as South Africa’s best-laid plans went awry ahead of tonight’s 2026 Fifa World Cup Group C qualifier in Nigeria (9pm SA kick-off). For once it seemed as if the South African Football Association had done their duty to ease Bafana’s travel arrangements by securing a chartered flight to Nigeria. In the past, long flights to African destinations have often been the downfall of the national team, who were exhausted and hardly fit to play matches after spending 24 hours or more travelling unnecessarily. Bafana flew out of Johannesburg on Wednesday, with super fan “Mama Joy” Chauke in tow. They were meant to touch down in Uyo, Nigeria, later in the evening. However, after a delayed departure from SA, the squad arrived at the Port…

Novak Djokovic confirmed yesterday that he had undergone an operation on his right knee that he injured at the French Open, and that it “went well”, but gave no time-frame for his return. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was forced to withdraw ahead of his Roland Garros quarter-final against Casper Ruud, after a scan revealed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. “In the past day, I had to make some tough decisions after sustaining a meniscus tear during my last match,” he posted on social media. “I’m still processing it all, but I am happy to update you that the surgery went well. I am so appreciative of the team of doctors who have been by my side, as well as the overwhelming support I have received from…

English Premier League clubs have voted in favour of retaining the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season. It was reported that 19 of the 20 top-flight clubs voted to continue using VAR at the Premier League’s annual general meeting in Harrogate yesterday. The BBC said only Wolves – who last month triggered the vote to scrap the much-maligned system – had backed its abolition. In order for VAR to be scrapped, 14 clubs needed to vote in favour of removing it. The Midlands club had accused VAR of “undermining the value of the Premier League brand” after another season of debatable decisions. VAR was introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019/20 season, with the aim of helping referees avoid clear and obvious errors that…