Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-15 i Mercury

Ratings agencies Moody’s and GCR Ratings say a positive trend is emerging in South Africa’s economic growth trajectory, with both agencies maintaining a stable outlook as reforms begin to show progress and fiscal discipline continues to hold. At a joint media briefing on Tuesday, Evan Wohlmann, vice president and senior credit officer at Moody’s, said the agency expects real GDP growth to improve to around 1.6% in 2026, supported by gradual structural reforms — particularly in the logistics sector. “There has been some notable structural reform progress. Our baseline expects reform progress particularly on logistics to continue, but the extent of private investment in new logistics infrastructure is unlikely to be sufficient to materially raise growth potential beyond 2%,” he said. Wohlmann added that while friction within the Government of…

South Africa’s business confidence continued to improve in September, boosted by stronger financial market performance, rising commodity prices, and higher export volumes, according to the latest South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI) released on Tuesday. The BCI climbed 1.1 points month-on-month and 10.9 points year-on-year to reach 121.1 in September 2025, reflecting a notable rebound in sentiment after a dip earlier this year. SACCI said the recovery followed a sharp decline in confidence from 125.8 in February to 113.2 in June, which has since been “partly reclaimed” through steady improvements in August (120.0) and September (121.1). “In the short term, the broad financial climate supported positive business sentiment, while real economic activity was fairly stable but with negative elements,” Sacci said. “Over the medium…

Climate change adaptation refers to the plans, measures and actions that we take to adapt to the impacts of a warming world. These impacts include increased drought and reduced soil moisture, extreme heat events, intensified rainfall, sea-level rise, which in turn multiply risks to food and water security, thus resulting in economic distress well suitable to ignite civil unrest arising from the scramble for shrinking resources. Many of these impacts are already ‘baked in’ regardless of how well we mitigate by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Done well, climate adaptation can help to protect society and the economy from these impacts. If we continue to under-invest in adaptation, we will pay an increasingly high price for the unmanaged consequences. Limited resources in an unfolding crisis Currently there is an…

Seriti Green, a black-owned South African renewable energy company, on Tuesday announced that it has achieved financial close and commenced construction on the third phase of its flagship Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm in Mpumalanga. The project will ultimately deliver over 900 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity across seven phases. The company has already installed 25 wind turbines near Bethal, Davel and Morgenzon. Seriti Green said in a statement, "This marks a major milestone in South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET), with Seriti Green leading delivery at scale from the heart of the country’s traditional coal region. With turbines in the ground and thousands of people gaining skills and employment, the Just Energy Transition is no longer theoretical but in action." Seriti Green has successfully closed three 155MW phases…

Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by the South African Police Service’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is set to tackle the persistent issue of conflict of interest when they meet today. The issue first arose on Monday when proceedings were delayed for over an hour after suspended deputy police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya raised the issue of conflict of interest. MPs from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the DA, who are part of the committee, are complainants in criminal cases lodged in the wake of Mkhwanazi’s July 6 briefing. The cases led to the search and seizure raid on Sibiya last week. The MPs heard that the terms of reference of the ad hoc hearing do not empower them to make any decision on conflicts…

The murders of the Cradock Four were deliberate and premeditated, carried out on the direct orders of apartheid’s top security bosses, who killed anyone they did not like. This was the view of Deputy Defence Minister and former chair of the Transkei Defence Force, Bantu Holomisa, who testified at the reopened Cradock Four inquest in Gqeberha yesterday. The Cradock Four — Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto — were anti-apartheid activists from the Eastern Cape town of Cradock, now known as Nxuba. They were abducted by security police in June 1985 after leaving a political meeting in Gqeberha. Days later, their bodies were found. It emerged in the Gqeberha High Court yesterday that while serving as a senior officer in the Transkei Defence Force at the time,…

The testimony of the first in camera witness in the Madlanga Commission, Witness X, has shed light on the alleged connection between KwaZulu-Natal head of the Hawks, Major-General Lesetja Senona and attempted murder accused Vusi “Cat” Matlala. According to Witness X’s testimony: “Major General Senona has a close and beneficial relationship with an alleged criminal, and you will also see the close relationship that Mr. Matlala has with the general’s son.” Witness X's testimony began from where the divisional commissioner of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, left off before he fell ill at the Madlanga Commission. The conversations shared begin on 22 Dec 2024 and end in May 2025. In September, Khumalo delivered evidence in the commission and set out that he would provide chats between individuals — Brown Mogotsi,…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has suspended Lesiba Arnold Malotana, the head of Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness, with immediate effect amid mounting pressure over ongoing investigations into corruption and irregular tenders at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. Lesufi announced the move yesterday, saying it forms part of the provincial government’s renewed commitment to accountability and ethical leadership. Dr Darion Barclay, who currently leads the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), has been appointed as acting head of the Health Department to ensure “stability and continuity” in the province’s most critical portfolio. “Dr Barclay’s appointment highlights the importance of prioritising seamless service delivery,” said Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Government. "The Gauteng provincial government reaffirms its full support for the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)…

Proteas Women aim for perfection ahead of facing Sri Lanka The Proteas women have won three consecutive matches in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, having beaten New Zealand, hosts India and recently Bangladesh as they recovered impressively from the embarrassing loss to England in the first match of the tournament. Although coach Mandla Mashimbyi’s side has been successful, there are still quite a number of concerns about their performances. Too often, the team unnecessarily complicate matters making what should be easy games to win into close encounters. In the match against Bangladesh earlier this week, South Africa had them 78/5 in the 23rd over, but allowed them back into the game as the subcontinent team ended up setting 233 runs as a target. Chloe Tryon’s 60-odd was key…

“The good die young” is something we often hear these days. But nothing could have prepared me for the shock news of the passing of 43-year-old Cape Town-born rugby coach Warren Abrahams on Friday night. Rugby has lost one of its most vibrant and dedicated coaches after Abrahams collapsed next to the field at the Safari Sevens tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, while in charge of the Belgium Women’s sevens team. His death came as a huge shock to the rugby community. In response, the Belgian Rugby Federation withdrew their team from the tournament and announced immediate support for players and staff as they dealt with the loss. Abrahams had joined the Belgium Women’s sevens team as head coach in recent years, bringing with him a wealth of experience gained through…

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Brazil “mentally collapsed” in their 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan on Tuesday and warned that they need to learn from their mistakes before the World Cup. Brazil threw away a two-goal lead as Japan came roaring back in the second half in Tokyo, with Ancelotti’s men helpless in the face of the home side’s pressure. A mistake in the Brazil defence for Japan’s first goal opened the floodgates, and Ancelotti said his players were not strong enough to turn it around. “Brazil didn’t have the attitude in the second half to stop Japan’s reaction,” said the Italian. “I am very clear about what happened, that the team mentally collapsed after the first mistake. This was the team’s biggest mistake.” It was Ancelotti’s second defeat since taking…

Gold prices have continued their record-breaking rally, driven by sustained buying from central banks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), even as South Africa’s domestic gold output continues to shrink under rising production costs and regulatory pressures. Data from StatsSA on Tuesday showed SA’s gold production slumping by 3.6% year-on-year in August, marking the second consecutive monthly decline following a 0.4% drop in the previous month. However, gold prices have rallied to levels around $4 141 per ounce despite a stronger dollar amid a looming trade war with China, a government shutdown in the US and global economic growth uncertainty. John Meyer, an analyst with UK-based advisory firm SP Angel, said on Tuesday that gold prices have “pressed higher again, climbing past record highs on sustained buying from ETFs and central bank”…

The world is entering a new energy era, one defined by technological mastery. In this emerging reality, the countries that lead will not be those with the largest fossil fuel reserves, it will be those that can produce, store, and use electricity efficiently across every sector of their economies. This is the beginning of the age of electrotech and the rise of what can be called the electro-state. An electro-state is a nation whose economy runs primarily on electricity-based technologies rather than on fossil fuels. The shift toward this model is neither ideological nor optional. It is structural, economic, and inevitable. It represents the point where physics, economics, and geopolitics intersect. This transformation is driven by technologies that make it possible for electricity itself to be classified as primary energy.…

Tharisa, the mining company dual-JSE and London Stock Exchange listed mining company reported a strong fourth quarter performance after higher mining, milling, grade and recovery metrics boosted chrome and platinum production. PGM production increased by 19.7% to 41.3 koz (thousand ounces) in its fourth quarter to September 30, 2025, compared to the third quarter, a report from the company released Tuesday showed. Fourth quarter chrome production was up 2.9% to 407.2 kt (kilotons) over the third quarter. PGM production for the year came to 138.3 koz from 145.1 koz at the same time last year. Chrome production for the year came to 1 558.2 kt versus 1 702.6 kt a year before. "We closed the year on a strong note, delivering robust production results in the final quarter. This performance…

THE key partners in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) have called for an urgent meeting to address their differences amid threats to oust the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, through a vote of no confidence. The IFP and the ANC said there is a need for urgent discussions between the two parties to address some of the challenges threatening the existence of the GPU. This comes as the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) has filed a motion of no confidence against the Premier. Although MKP is the largest party in the province, it is not part of the government, which is formed by the IFP, DA, ANC, and NFP. The move by the MKP follows existing tensions between the parties in the GPU. The ANC alleges that other GPU…

THE South African men’s national football team Bafana Bafana enjoyed a rare favour from arch-rivals Nigeria last night as they ended a 23-year World Cup qualification hoodoo. Bafana pulled on the style beating Rwanda 3-0 at Mbombela Stadium as Nigeria did the same to Benin in Lagos during the last round of Group C of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers last night. They had no business to, but South Africa took a long route to booking their ticket to the global showpiece which will be hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada. After leading Group C of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers for over a year, Bafana were pencilled in the list of nine representatives for Africa. And why not, after all, for the first time in over 20…

THE Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) together with the local law enforcement authorities, is investigating the cause of a bus crash, in which 42 people died, on the N1 North near Ingwe Lodge in Limpopo on Sunday. The bus had been travelling from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe, carrying Zimbabweans and Malawians, when the driver allegedly lost control, and the bus went downhill and landed in a ditch. The Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) said although the cause of the accident is still being investigated, it is alleged that driver fatigue could have contributed. “Their families in Malawi and Zimbabwe must be devastated because they have been awaiting the safe return of their loved ones from the Eastern Cape. Among those who passed away is a 10-month-old baby. Another 38…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has rejected the South African National Association of Special Education’s (Sanase) call to close special schools in the province. Sanase issued a notice for all special schools to close until further notice because of operational challenges. KZN has 76 special needs schools and it is unclear how many remained closed since schools returned on Monday. A special school provides support for pupils with a range of needs, including severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities, behavioural challenges, and other special educational requirements. In a letter to one school, Truro Prevocational in Chatsworth, the School Governing Body (SGB) informed parents on Monday that the school would close indefinitely. This decision follows Sanase’s call for special schools to temporarily shut down due to issues with the Department of Education.…

Christian Horner’s abrupt departure from Red Bull earlier this year left one of the most powerful figures in modern Formula 1 on the sidelines. After nearly two decades at the helm, building the Milton Keynes squad into a dynasty, speculation has only intensified about whether – and where – Horner could make a sensational return to the sport. The rumours have been wide-ranging, touching almost every corner of the paddock. From Ferrari to Haas, and even whispers of a fresh ownership project, Horner’s name is being floated with increasing seriousness. The key question remains: who has both the need and the appetite for Horner’s brand of leadership? Ferrari? Ferrari have endured another torrid season under Fred Vasseur, with a string of strategic blunders, poor tyre management and disappointing race pace…

BAFANA BAFANA 3 (2) Mbatha 6’, Appollis 25’, Makgopa 73’ RWANDA 0 In the heartbeat of Mpumalanga — Nelspruit — the sun shone brightly on Hugo Broos and his Bafana Bafana boys as they successfully knocked on God’s window to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Bafana beat Rwanda 3-0 to reach the promised land — automatically qualifying for the first time since 2002 — after finishing top of Group C, thanks to goals from Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa. The victory was also made possible by an unexpected source: Nigeria, who beat Benin 3-0 on home soil, dethroning them from the No 1 spot in Group C. With this region of the country also boasting the Big Five, Broos and Bafana deserved to feast on the…

A carnival-like atmosphere erupted in the streets of Cape Verde’s capital, Praia, on Monday after the tiny archipelago nation qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Honking horns and street fireworks greeted euphoric fans pouring out of the Cape Verde National Stadium following the 3-0 victory over Eswatini, which secured the Blue Sharks a place in the 2026 finals to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico. In the streets, people danced to the sound of reggae tunes and local funana music. It was “an incredible moment”, 37-year-old fan Jorge Junior Livramento said near the stadium. “I don’t have words. I was at the stadium and I supported our team unconditionally,” he said. Congratulating Cape Verde on their “historic moment”, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the achievement…

IMF’s October 2025 World Economic Outlook shows that growth is expected to hold at 1.2% in 2026 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slightly upgraded South Africa’s economy by 0.1 percentage points to 1.1% in 2025, up from a previous forecast of 1% projected in April, and up slightly from 0.5% in 2024. The IMF's October 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO) released on Tuesday showed that growth is also expected to hold at 1.2% in 2026, signaling a slow and uneven recovery as global and domestic constraints weigh on output. The IMF’s forecast underscored the country’s fragile momentum within a volatile international environment marked by rising trade barriers, weaker global demand, and tightening fiscal positions across developing economies. While power supply stability improved following reforms at Eskom and new renewable…

South Africa is navigating an energy challenge characterised by intermittent load reduction/shedding, ageing infrastructure and limited generation capacity. The country also faces a transmission backlog that affects the seamless integration of renewable energy sources. Addressing these issues is essential for fostering economic growth and enhancing investor confidence. Although new renewable generation capacity is being developed, the current transmission infrastructure may not fully support the connection of these sources to the national grid or adequately deliver power to areas of high demand. As such, limitations within the transmission grid present an important consideration in efforts to expand generation capacity. This is where the Independent Transmission Projects (ITPs) become essential, unlocking private sector investment to accelerate the expansion of South Africa’s transmission network and enable the integration of new generation sources. The…

South Africa will host the first-ever G20 Summit on the African continent in Johannesburg in November, amid unprecedented geopolitical and economic turmoil. The threat by the leader of the most powerful country in the world, US President Donald Trump, to boycott the summit may be a bit of a downer, but Pretoria is determined to host a successful event and will be banking on support from India, Brazil and other BRICS countries to achieve the goals set out for this year’s summit. Both India, which hosted the 2023 G20 Summit, and Brazil, which was the host country in 2024, not only share South Africa’s economic aspirations for the developing world and the Global South, but all three countries are also bearing the brunt of some of the harshest US tariffs…

Bytes Technology Group’s share price slumped over 10% on the JSE Tuesday after it reported a 7% drop in operating profit as it navigated changes to Microsoft partner incentives and adjusted to a new sales structure. The share price slumped even though the UK software, security, cloud and AI services group raised its interim dividend by 3.2% to 3.2 pence. The share price traded at R85.30 around midday, a price also 22.6% lower than the R110.16 it traded at a year ago. The London Stock Exchange-listed company with a secondary listing in South Africa said headline earnings (HEPS) a share fell 5.1% in the six months to August 31 to 12.03 cents from 12.67 cents at the same time last year. Gross invoiced income (GII) increased 9.1% to £1.34 billion,…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he knows alleged Tembisa Hospital corruption kingpin Hangwani Maumela, after meeting him outside his Sandhurst home in 2024. Ramaphosa made the disclosure during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday. This was in contrast to what his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told journalists at a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Monday. In response to a question by ANC NCOP member Onica Dipuo Modupi, who asked him to clarify his relationship with Maumela, and whether the allegation linking him to the individual sought to undermine his commitment to combating corruption regardless of who is involved, Ramaphosa said, “Yes, this matter has occupied the headlines for quite a number of days now. “My spokesperson, Mr Vincent Magwenya, addressed the media yesterday…

Magistrates based in Durban held a placard demonstration this week to draw attention to the longstanding issues regarding their salaries. The magistrates, all dressed in their robes, held their picket on Monday, calling for an end to what they described as systematic discrimination within the South African judicial system. The Association of Regional Magistrates of Southern Africa (ARMSA) said in August that salaries of magistrates’ court presiding officers are so low that they are below those of members of parliament, amakhosi, and mayors. Magistrate Scelo Zuma, who represents the Judicial Officers’ Association of South Africa (Joasa), said the demonstration came after the magistrates’ concerns regarding their remuneration had been ignored for several years. He added that while recommendations were made to the president and the Judicial Service Commission regarding the…

Czech fugitive and jailed organised crime boss Radovan Krejčíř faced a dilemma, as the court earlier granted him permission to use his laptop in his cell for study purposes, but he cannot charge the device overnight, as he has no plug point in his cell. Krejčíř told the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, that correctional services are refusing to allow him to charge his laptop via an extension cord to an electrical device outside his cell. The department offered to charge his laptop overnight and give it back to him the next morning, but Krejčíř is refusing this offer. He explained that he had signed an indemnity agreement with the department that he will not hold it responsible if anything happens to his laptop. He was earlier given the green light…

The case of the theft of R158 million, related to social grant payments and cyber fraud, at state entities Postbank and the Post Office is yet to be finalised, almost two years after it occurred. Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke, revealed that she will provide an update on the matter in her next audit. Maluleke stated that she has been assured by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the official name of the Hawks, that the investigation is in progress after the matter was referred to the law enforcement agency. The Hawks are investigating three cases of theft amounting to R158 million at the South African Post Office (Sapo) and Postbank after Maluleke expressed dissatisfaction with how the matters were handled by the entities themselves. The cases were…

Arsenal eye chance to pull clear in EPL title race Arsenal have a great opportunity to cement their new-found status as English Premier League title favourites when league action resumes, with closest challengers Liverpool facing an extremely challenging run in their next five fixtures. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners face a trip to Fulham next up on Saturday, which will be followed by league matches against Crystal Palace at home, Burnley away, Sunderland away and a derby against Tottenham at home. Arsenal will have a point to prove, especially in the first two matches, having dropped points against Fulham and Palace last season in finishing a distant second behind Liverpool. Arteta’s side have momentum on their side, though, and demonstrated that they are a different beast this season with wins over Newcastle…

You would have expected the head honchos at Kaizer Chiefs to have learnt their lesson by now. But such is the questionable nature of management that they seem not to care anymore. Chiefs announced this week that they had officially parted ways with head coach Nasreddine Nabi after suspending him due to licensing and mistrust issues. That was a smart move. The relationship between the two parties seemed disconnected — almost as if Chiefs needed Nabi more than he needed them. But while that decision to end the relationship showed that Chiefs’ big shots have nerves of steel, they went on to undo all their good work by retaining Nabi’s former trusted lieutenants, Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, as co-coaches for the rest of the season. You see, the…

Stellenbosch FC will return to the CAF Confederations Cup this weekend, travelling to Equatorial Guinea to face 15 de Agosto FC at the Ebebiyin Stadium on Saturday. The Cape Winelands side make their entrance in the second preliminary round after reaching the last four of last season's competition, where a narrow 1-0 aggregate loss to Simba FC denied them the chance to extend their impressive continental run. With this marking their second consecutive season in Africa’s secondary premier competition, the Maroons progress on the continental stage has been undeniable, demonstrating their growth and ambition despite being a relatively young club in top-flight football. However, the team heads into this weekend’s clash following a tough start to their league campaign. After nine matches, they have claimed only a single victory and…