Innehållsförteckning för 2025-08-25 från Mercury

South Africa is currently facing a concerning spike in meat prices, primarily attributed to the ongoing outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), according to agricultural associations monitoring the situation closely. The latest report from Statistics South Africa revealed a troubling rise in consumer food price inflation, which reached an 18-month high of 5.5% in July, up from 4.7% in June. Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services, noted that the recent increase in red meat prices has been largely influenced by the FMD outbreak, which has disrupted supply chains and prompted concerns over meat availability. As of July, a total of 270 FMD outbreaks had been reported across five provinces and 249 outbreaks of these remained unresolved while 21 had undergone resolution. “From an industry perspective, the main…

In the 1980s, ANC leaders in Lusaka envisioned a South Africa where economic justice would dismantle apartheid’s structural legacy. The 1985 Kabwe Conference called for radical redistribution to empower the black majority, denied ownership, skills and capital under apartheid. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, introduced in 2003, was meant to fulfil this promise. Yet in 2025, the vision falters. White households still earn five times more than black households, and South Africa’s Gini coefficient stands at 0.63, among the highest in the world. Despite three decades of black-led governance, state institutions such as the Department of Trade,Industry and Competition, the National Empowerment Fund and the BBBEE Commission have failed to shift structural inequality in a meaningful way. Legacy white-owned companies exploit BBBEE’s opaque metrics to achieve Level 1 or 2 status…

The All Share index on the JSE once again recorded a record level high on Friday. The index closed on 102 274 points on Friday. This represents a weekly increase of 774 points, or 0.8%. The index is now up by 2.4% over the last month and 9.3% over the last quarter. Since the beginning of the year All Share index has gained 22.0%. The main reasons are the more positive global sentiment that better trade agreements between the US and most of the developed world countries are envisaged, a possibility that there will be an end of the Russia and Ukraine conflict, a stronger and stable Rand exchange rate, lower oil prices, lower interest rates and the ongoing surges in precious metal prices. The Gold prices had advanced by…

Grindrod’s share price shot up 12.2% on Friday after shareholders cheered a special half-year dividend and news that the group is one of 11 companies that have met the requirements to operate rail services on parts of South Africa’s state-owned railway network. Grindrod on Friday declared a special half-year dividend of 32.2 cents a share for the six months to June 30. This was in addition to the 23 cents a share ordinary interim dividend. The share price closed at R14.63 on Friday. The payout was despite global commodity headwinds, with sluggish prices in iron ore, lithium, graphite, and coal, as well as slightly lower volumes. The confirmation of Grindrod’s third-party status was also received Friday morning from Transnet. “This achievement marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s rail reform…

Gold Fields, the globally diversified gold producer, reported sharply higher profit of $1.03 billion in the six months to June 30, from $389 million at the same time a year before, after an improved operational performance was boosted by the higher gold price. The dividend for the group with nine operating mines in Australia, Chile, Ghana, Peru, Canada and South Africa was more than doubled to 700 SA cents per share from 300 SA cents a year before. Attributable profit came to $1.15 per share compared with $0.43 per share the previous year. Attributable gold produced came to 1 136,000 ounces for the six-month period compared with 918 000 the previous year at the same time. Managed gold produced came to 1 171 000 ounces versus 958 000 ounces. Gold…

zelda.venter@inl.co.za A case before the Eastern Cape High Court, in which it had emerged that an attorney allegedly wrote a judgment on behalf of a magistrate to favour her clients, was described by a judge as “unprecedented in the annals of the judiciary in the country”. This followed an application by the SA Legal Practice Council (LPC), in which it asked the court that the name of attorney Zoleka Ponoane be struck from the roll of legal practitioners due to misconduct. The misconduct complained of occurred in the regional magistrate’s court at Sterkspruit during 2012. Ponoane represented various plaintiffs in an action against the minister of police, based on alleged assaults, unlawful arrests and detentions by the police. The six plaintiffs were all represented by Ponoane as their attorney of…

A man, who had to have his arm amputated after suffering extensive injuries when he was thrown from a train, will be compensated to the tune of R5.4million by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) for medical expenses and loss of earnings. This comes after the man was attacked on a train on August 26, 2017, at the Koeberg station in Cape Town. His assailants pushed him through the open doors of the train. The foreign national underwent an above-elbow amputation of the left arm and sustained soft tissue injury to the lumbar spine. The man, who holds a matric-equivalent qualification from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was gainfully employed as a Code 14 driver at the time of the incident and has since been unable to work.…

Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Kenny G is set to enchant Durban with a special performance at the Durban ICC on October 1. Presented by BreakOut Events, this Durban concert forms part of Kenny G’s long-awaited return to South Africa—and promises an evening of world-class smooth jazz, unforgettable melodies, and heartfelt musical moments. With a career spanning more than four decades and over 75 million albums sold worldwide, Kenny G is celebrated as one of the most successful instrumental artists of all time. Durban fans can look forward to timeless classics like “Songbird” and “Forever in Love,” alongside stunning live renditions from his latest album. “It’s been way too long since our last visit to South Africa,” said Kenny G. “We had an incredible time performing for such a warm and passionate…

Nine illegal immigrants and several motorists were arrested during a major law enforcement operation in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, over the weekend. KZN MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, said the operation formed part of the province’s ongoing “Zero Tolerance, No Nonsense” campaign aimed at restoring law and order on the roads. “The multi-disciplinary operation led by a female commander involved Road Traffic Inspectorate, South African Police Service, Home Affairs’ Immigration Unit, Road Accident Fund, and Abaqulusi Local Municipality’s Traffic Department,” Duma said. “With increasing road accidents and fatalities on our roads, weeks ago, I mandated our highly efficient and dedicated team from RTI to have no mercy”. According to Duma, over two days, authorities searched 1 536 vehicles, arrested nine illegal immigrants, three motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol, and…

Springbok supporters who were in bed before midnight on Saturday woke up to the surprise news that Argentina had beaten New Zealand 29-23 in Buenos Aires. It was a shock, mostly because the Kiwis had little trouble disposing of the temperamental Pumas 41-24 the week before. The victory marked the first-ever defeat of the All Blacks on Argentine soil and the fourth occasion in five years that the South Americans have prevailed over New Zealand. The teams first played each other in 1985, and the Pumas lost 36 games in a row before breaking their duck in a Covid-era match in Australia. The mighty aura of the All Blacks appears well and truly shattered, and the Argentina win has opened up the Rugby Championship, with all four teams having won…

David Moyes said he was building the foundations of a brighter future for Everton after they beat Brighton 2-0 to begin a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium yesterday. Jack Grealish was the star of the show with two assists on his first start for the Toffees as Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner struck either side of half-time. Jordan Pickford then saved a Danny Welbeck penalty to ensure a crowd of just under 52,000 could celebrate a momentous day for Everton. The club remain a work in progress on the field, with Moyes desperate to make more additions to his squad in the final week of the transfer window. But the green shoots of a brighter future were on show on a day that has been years in the…

Sipho Chaine once again proved he has a safe pair of hands, emerging as one of the heroes in Orlando Pirates’ march to the MTN8 final for the fourth time in a row on Saturday. Pirates beat rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on penalties in the semi-final, after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate over two legs. The second leg was played in Atteridgeville on Saturday, where Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring for Sundowns before Kamogelo Sebelebele found the equaliser. Sebelebele, who also scored in the 1-1 draw in the first leg, bagged his second goal of the tie and claimed the Player of the Match award. Chaine, however, had the final laugh. He saved Sundowns’ first two penalties out of three, while his teammates converted all four of theirs. This…

Transnet has announced the formation of a leasing company to facilitate the refurbishment of its rolling stock, welcoming the entrance of 11 new private sector operators onto its rail network. This comes after Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on Friday announced that she has approved the selection of new train operating companies, a major milestone in South Africa’s rail reform programme. Michelle Phillips, CEO of Transnet, confirmed these developments over the weekend, illustrating a determined response to alleviate a significant shortfall of 90 million tons in freight capacity expected by the latter half of next year. The new train operating companies (TOCs) are poised for operation within a timeframe that varies from the second half of 2026 to as late as 2028, reflecting a broader ambition to ramp up freight rail…

As part of the global logistics and business community, I see every day how decisions made by G20 economies influence opportunity across sectors. These choices shape whether people, especially women can access credit, find decent work, and rely on social safety nets during challenges times. With South Africa chairing the G20 for the first time, we have an opportunity to turn aspirations around gender equality and inclusive growth into a sustained action. That said, the global picture shows how much work remains. Only 17% of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are currently on track to be achieved by 2030, and over a third show little or no progress. Goal 5, focused on gender equality, continues to face significant barriers. As economic pressures mount and governments navigate rising debt and…

The need for the national convention and a national dialogue is substantively a Socrates dilemma of democracy visiting South Africa. In this context the merchant politicians trade in the illiterate plebiscite as both currency and merchandise. This is a feature where people have been stripped of culture and geography and remain with economy that is represented by substantively consumptive rather than productive power. An economy is not one when it is stripped of culture and geography. This is the reality of the Black and Coloured people in South Africa, and there is little wonder that there is no economy of which they can talk. Their language is not an economic asset in public discourse and in advertising through the media. The invisibility of this substantial majority accounting for 90% of…

Adcock Ingram Holdings, which will be delisted following global group NATCO Pharma's acquisition of a 36.7% shareholding, rebounded strongly in the second half of its year to June 30, with headline earnings per share (HEPS) up by 36% compared with the first half. The South African pharmaceutical group’s revenue was up 1% to R9.76bn. Gross profit increased by 3% to R3.22bn. Operating profit was up 1% to R1.77bn. Full-year HEPS increased by 1% to 625.6 cents. A final dividend of 165 cents per share was declared, bringing the total up by 2% to 280 cents per share. “The group delivered an outstanding operational and financial improvement in the second half, underpinned by strong demand for its over-the-counter (OTC) and consumer healthcare products, supported by management's focus on customer service, brand…

When you hear the word “stroke”, you probably picture it as something that only happens to grandparents or the elderly. But here’s the truth: a stroke doesn’t discriminate by age. Increasingly, younger adults, sometimes even those in their 20s and 30s, are falling victim to this life-altering condition. It’s time to challenge the misconception that stroke is solely an “old person’s disease” and explore why it’s becoming a growing concern for younger generations. What is a stroke? “A stroke is essentially a brain attack,” explains Dr Hofmeyr Viljoen, a neuroradiologist at SCP Radiology. “It happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or severely reduced. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells start dying within minutes.” Strokes come in two main forms: 1. Ischemic stroke: The…

The late Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s family has hailed the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s decision to declare his grave as a provincial heritage site. In partnership with the Buthelezi family, the provincial government will officially launch Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s Place of Rest as a provincial heritage site on Wednesday. The event will take place at the home of Buthelezi at the KwaPhindangene Royal Residence, Mahlabathini, outside Ulundi in the north of the province. Speaking on behalf of the family, Buthelezi’s son, Inkosi Zuzifa Buthelezi, said the family was happy for such recognition by the provincial government. He said the move shows his father’s dedication to serving the public and having spent a little time with his family was not in vain. Zuzifa Buthelezi said there were times when the family was aggrieved…

zelda.venter@inl.co.za The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) will have to update and maintain the backlog list of cancer patients awaiting radiation oncology services in Gauteng and take all necessary steps to provide treatment to those patients, whether at public or private facilities. This is in spite of the GDoH turning to the Supreme Court of Appeal to appeal a judgment issued earlier, in terms of which it was ordered to come to the aid of these patients. While the pending appeal would ordinarily suspend the order, the Cancer Alliance, supported by Section27, turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to ask that the order remain in force pending the outcome of the appeal. Judge Fiona Dippenaar, in ruling in favour of the Cancer Alliance, stressed that the backlog meant that…

Despite all the advances that society has made towards gender equality, the facts show that women in South Africa are still significantly “less equal” than men. According to a recent report compiled by Discovery Corporate, women earn 24% less than men on average, and this gap widens as females get older, likely as a result of fewer promotion opportunities. While it is somewhat encouraging that the pay gap is as low as 10% among those women under the age of 35, it widens to 20% in the 35-44 age group and 30% among those aged 45-64, after which it deteriorates to 39% among those aged 65 and over. This pay disparity has significant implications that also extend beyond the working years, as the same report also showed that women, on…

In a significant move to support flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal, the national and provincial Department of Human Settlements handed over housing units to families who lost their homes during the devastating floods of 2022. Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane was accompanied by MEC Siboniso Duma and local government leaders. Simelane urged subsidised government house beneficiaries to value and safeguard their properties for future generations. During her visit last week, nearly 100 permanent houses were handed over to individuals who lost their homes during the 2022 flood disasters in eThekwini and the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. “You could see the tears of joy, but also tears of pain. These challenged us to speed up the delivery of houses to those in desperate need,” Simelane said. Simelane acknowledged delays in settling other disaster…

The Proteas may have left Australia with their fifth straight ODI series triumph over their arch-rivals, but the road ahead to the 2027 World Cup remains a long one. The record-breaking 276-run defeat in the final match of the tour in Mackay yesterday illustrated just how vulnerable the side remains. While it hardly diminished the excellence of their earlier play, which yielded comprehensive wins in the first two matches, the weaknesses in particular the seam bowling depth cannot be disguised. The Proteas were without Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger - both rested after their exertions on the first two-matches - and the injured Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. But so were Australia devoid of their first-choice World Cup-winning pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Captain…

World No 1 Jannik Sinner begins the defence of his US Open crown on Monday as the Italian looks to extend his remarkable dominance on hardcourt Grand Slams. The 24-year-old opens against unseeded Czech Vit Kopriva, aiming to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2008 to successfully defend the title in New York. Federer’s victory 17-years ago capped a run of five straight championships, the last time a man managed to retain the crown at Flushing Meadows. Sinner, who has already added back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2024 and 2025 to his collection, has not lost a Grand Slam match on hard courts since being beaten by Alexander Zverev in the fourth round of the US Open two years ago. The Italian’s bid for successive titles, however, is…

Finance Minister says MTBPS will be tabled on November 12, to set expenditure framework Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that the rising levels of unemployment and muted economic growth in South Africa were posing challenges to the fiscus ahead of November's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). This comes as the official unemployment rate in South Africa rose to its highest in one year from 32.9% in the first quarter to 33.2% in the second quarter as the jobless population surged by 140 000 in the three months to June, resulting in a total of 8.4 million individuals seeking work. Godongwana on Friday announced that the MTBPS will be tabled on 12 November, setting the agenda for the three-year medium-term expenditure framework after protracted efforts to table the National Budget…

Unathi Kamlana, Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has called for a renewed commitment to market integrity as South Africa grapples with significant economic challenges. Speaking at the opening of the South African Institute of Financial Markets Summit on Friday, Kamlana said that market integrity was crucial during the challenging global economic times that South Africa is facing. Kamlana underscored that the current global economic climate remains fraught with uncertainty, capturing the complex interplay of trade relations and geopolitical tensions. “The IMF’s latest economic outlook report, published in July, describes a world where growth is still positive, but uneven and subject to significant downside risks. Geopolitical tensions are elevated, and trade frictions are beginning to reshape the way economies relate to each other.” While new United States tariffs…

The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) recently held a conference with its sister union from the United States, the Screen Actors’ Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the National Union of Metal Workers to chart a path to ensure that South African actors and performers, like all other workers, can enjoy the full protection of our labour laws. SAGA has been relentless in championing the rights of these vulnerable workers and shining an important spotlight on a sector whose dark side all too often goes unreported. The film industry is a major source of domestic and international investment, something our economy struggling with 1% annual growth for the past decade plus desperately needs. It’s a chance to…

Bitcoin, once the unruly child of finance, is showing signs of maturity as its wild swings fade, forcing speculative traders to hunt for a new playground. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency is behaving more like a blue-chip stock as Wall Street’s buy-and-hold investors plunge in. Annualized volatility has dropped to a once-unthinkable 38% from close to 200% more than a decade ago. It is now comparable to the likes of Starbucks Corp. or Goldman Sachs Group Inc., according to Bytetree Asset Management. Investors chasing price swings are instead turning to rival Ethereum, the second-largest virtual currency. On several trading days this month, Ether exchange-traded fund volumes have matched or surpassed their Bitcoin counterparts on the heels of a corporate-buying frenzy. BlackRock’s Ether ETF launched only in April, already accounts for $5.5…

TikTok has a way of making health scares go viral overnight. Recently, one video claiming that “the pill is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, like tobacco and alcohol” has racked up millions of views and sparked panic among women worldwide. Some are even considering ditching their contraceptives altogether. But what’s fact, and what’s fearmongering? Let’s unpack what scientists and doctors actually know about birth control, cancer risk, and your health. What the WHO says The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the combined contraceptive pill (oestrogen + progestogen) as “carcinogenic to humans” since 2005. This does not mean the pill is as dangerous as tobacco or asbestos. It means there is strong evidence that it can increase cancer risk in some situations.…

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has signed new regulations to manage offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations in efforts to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, and secure the survival of the endangered African Penguin. The regulations will see STS operations banned in marine protected areas, aquaculture zones, and within three nautical miles of the shore. The minister signed the Regulations for the Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfer, published under the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008). “These regulations, which will come into force once published in the Government Gazette, provide South Africa with a clear and enforceable environmental framework to manage offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations, including bunkering. “They are designed to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, minimise and…

A 14-year-old Verulam pupil will appear in court today in connection with the stabbing of a 17-year-old pupil, who was left with a knife embedded in his neck after the attack. The victim, a pupil at Trenance Park Secondary School, Verulam, was on his way to his home in Amaoti when the attack allegedly happened. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that Verulam police arrested the pupil in connection with the attempted murder incident on Friday. “The suspect is expected to appear in court,” Netshiunda said. A friend of the family said the victim’s mother, who did not want to be named, was struggling to come to terms with the attack on her son. “She’s (doing) better now, but a mom is never okay while her child is in…

As Durban braces for the rainy season, eThekwini Municipality says “hot spot areas have been identified for higher level maintenance to the stormwater systems”, while engineers warn that abuse of drainage infrastructure is worsening the risk of flooding across South Africa. The Institute for Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) cautioned that while climate change and ageing infrastructure are often blamed, illegal dumping into stormwater drains and the removal of manhole covers are becoming a serious threat. “When these foreign objects block the pipes, rainwater has nowhere to go. As a result of this abuse, streets can turn into rivers. Homes get flooded. Infrastructure collapses. And the damage can cost billions to repair,” IMESA said. Recent floods in the Western Cape highlighted the damage that heavy storms can inflict on…

The Springboks won’t forget their mishap at Ellis Park any time soon, but Saturday’s victory in the second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town will serve as a massive panacea for that wound as they shift focus to New Zealand. Another positive for the Boks was Argentina’s gritty win over the All Blacks, which has blown the tournament wide open, with all four Southern Hemisphere teams now sitting on one win and one loss. The world champions, however, will head into their double Tests against the Kiwis with some winning momentum, following the 30–22 victory at DHL Stadium. South Africa will face New Zealand in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September). Those two games could determine whether the Boks defend their Rugby Championship title. As attention…

The Springbok Women’s team are up and running at the World Cup and looking red hot after routing Brazil 66-6 at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. While the weakness of the opposition must be taken into account — Brazil are ranked 24th in the world, 12 places below the South Africans — the Bok Women stuck to their structures and ticked most of the boxes coach Swys de Bruin would have listed. Apart from a flat patch in the middle of the first half, the Boks were impressive. The Brazilians never gave up and tackled like terriers, making this an ideal opening game for South Africa as they had a valuable workout in match conditions. De Bruin will be pleased to have their first match out of the way, and attention…

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has hailed the emergence of Darren Johnson as a much-needed boost for the club’s goalkeeping department, long regarded as one of Usuthu’s most problematic areas. Johnson, who joined from Chippa United at the start of the season following the departure of long-serving captain Veli Mothwa, was expected to serve as understudy. But fate had other ideas. With Richard Ofori sidelined through injury, the 28-year-old was thrust into action earlier than anticipated — and Zwane believes he has not looked out of place. “The goalkeeping department has been a challenge that we’ve had at the club for some time when you look at the kind of goals we have been conceding,” Zwane admitted. The coach emphasised the role of a reliable shot-stopper in shaping a successful team,…