Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-17 i Mercury

The agricultural landscape of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is currently grappling with the relentless spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), which has sparked significant alarm among local agricultural associations. As the ramifications of the outbreak unfurl, the Department of Agriculture is ramping up vaccination efforts while aiming to manage the crisis effectively. David de Jager, CEO of Tip-Top Milk—one of South Africa's leading raw milk logistics providers—last week said that the continued spread of FMD was placing South Africa’s dairy sector under severe strain. “Last week, the broader livestock industry, under the umbrella of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), urgently called for the formal declaration of FMD as a provincial disaster. When farms are quarantined inside Disease Management Areas, animals can't move. It affects breeding cycles, which could lead to overstocking and spikes…

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has found itself at the centre of controversy after the recent withdrawal of Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 18.19, which regulates engine overhauls for aircraft across the private flying sector, light commercial operations, aerial work, and flight training. This controversial decision raises concerns about potential paralysis in the aviation industry, with operators warning that it could ground up to 1 400 aircraft and threaten an astounding 300 000 jobs nationwide. The aviation regulator over the weekend insisted that the withdrawal of the notice, which did not affect commercial airlines, had been implemented after sufficient notice given two extensions since December 2023 that made the longest allowed time for an exemption from applicable regulations. The aviation industry's bone of contention is that there was no…

SA Canegrowers has cautioned once again that the local industry was facing many challenges, not least of which is the increasing risk local growers face from unfair global trade practices. Higgins Mdluli, SA Canegrowers chairman, last week said foreign sugar was currently entering South Africa at prices below the cost of production and below the global sugar price, owing to some foreign governments either heavily subsidising their industries or countries dumping their excess sugar at a loss. Mdluli said for every ton of imported sugar, local sugarcane growers lose R6 000 in income and jobs were imperilled. According to Mdluli, local sugarcane growers were unable to compete with such unfairly subsidised imports, particularly at a time when the industry was also facing a host of other challenges including unpredictable weather…

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has enlisted the legendary designer behind the iPhone to create an irresistible gadget for using generative artificial intelligence (AI). The ability to engage digital assistants as easily as speaking with friends is being built into eyewear, speakers, computers and smartphones, but some argue that the Age of AI calls for a transformational new gizmo. "The products that we're using to deliver and connect us to unimaginable technology are decades old," former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive said when his alliance with OpenAI was announced. "It's just common sense to at least think, surely there's something beyond these legacy products." Sharing no details, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said that a prototype Ive shared with him "is the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever…

Vodacom has expanded its footprint across Africa as part of its Vision 2025 strategy, acquiring Vodafone Egypt and extending network connectivity into Ethiopia through a Safaricom-led consortium, CEO Shameel Joosub said in the group's annual report released on Friday. The move has helped Vodacom nearly double its customer base, from 115.5 million in 2020 to 211.3 million in 2025, including Safaricom. Revenue rose from R91 billion to R152.2 billion over the same period, while the company’s profit and revenue profile increasingly reflects its broader, more diversified operations. To meet growing data demand, Vodacom invested R20.3 billion in network infrastructure during the 2025 financial year, down slightly from R20.4 billion the year before. Improved energy availability reduced the need for resilience investments, enabling the group to focus more on network expansion.…

EFF leader Julius Malema lashed out at government yesterday, saying it had failed to create jobs and other opportunities for young people. He was speaking at the EFF's Youth Day commemoration rally in uMlazi. Addressing supporters at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Malema said unemployment should not be allowed to keep increasing. Youth unemployment in South Africa is a persistent challenge, with the latest figures showing a rate of 46.1% for those aged 15-34 in the first quarter of 2025. Malema said the young people should stand up and fight for jobs. “You must be like the 1976 generation and stand up and fight these people who are stealing our jobs, who are stealing our land — because without land we will not have our jobs,” he said. Malema added that…

A MURDER witness who claimed that his life is in danger as the police have divulged his name and details on social media, turned to court in an urgent bid for the SAPS to immediately pay him R2 million so that he can relocate to an undisclosed location. The applicant, only identified as KM, asked the Kimberley High Court to declare the alleged conduct of the State to be unlawful and unjust for leaking his personal information and to find the State to be in contravention of the constitutional rights of the applicant. He said he needed R2m for his relocation, rental, security and living expenses at a location of his choice, without being subjected to the Witness Protection Programme, as he does not trust the state anymore. The applicant…

South Africa's landmass is slowly rising, and new research suggests the surprising cause may not be deep within the Earth but rather due to repeated droughts and water loss. A study from the University of Bonn, Germany, analysing over two decades of satellite data has found that the country experienced a vertical uplift of around 6 millimetres between 2012 and 2020. Scientists say this change is linked to the loss of surface water, with the land rising in response to the weight being lifted. The study used data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base stations across the country to track vertical land movement. Researchers originally considered that this might be due to geological forces such as mantle flow and dynamic topography, the slow, deep movements in the Earth's…

A third group of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrived in South Africa yesterday afternoon, marking another significant phase in South Africa’s withdrawal from a volatile peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The troops, part of a broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force, landed at Air Force Base Waterkloof. They are among more than 2 000 SANDF members who were deployed to the DRC to support efforts to combat the M23 rebel group, which has seized key territory in that country’s eastern provinces. Fourteen SANDF soldiers were killed in the DRC in January this year. This latest return follows the second batch of soldiers who touched down in South Africa last week, amid mounting instability in the eastern DRC. The M23 rebels,…

On the sidelines of the bedlam that exploded at Lord’s after the Proteas’ etched their names into the history books with a maiden World Test Championship title stood Andrew Breetzke. The South African Cricketers Association chief could not believe what he was witnessing. The outpouring of emotion and joy on every South African’s face within the hallowed ground was a world away from the turmoil he was embroiled in just a couple of months before. Kagiso Rabada had tested positive for recreational drug use, and with the WTC Final on the horizon, Breetze needed to act swiftly in piecing together the best team of legal and medical experts that could formulate a plan to ensure Rabada’s participation at Lord’s. The fact that in a previous life Breetzke was the Chairperson…

It is that time of the year when domestic coaching achievements are under the microscope as Premier Soccer League’s panel of judges look at who has made a strong case for the coveted Premier Soccer League (PSL) ‘Coach of the Season’ title. In the competitive landscape of domestic football, a few coaches like Jose Riveiro (Orlando Pirates), Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns), and Steve Barker (Stellenbosch FC) have captured the attention of fans and pundits alike. However, after a stellar two-and-a-half-year tenure at the helm of Pirates, the Spanish mentor, Riveiro has undeniably made a strong case for the coveted gong. Despite his excellence, a debate in the football community is raging regarding who truly deserves the title. Sundowns’ coach, Miguel Cardoso, has also been lauded for his achievements. However, the…

Hindsight is a scurrilous science because it is easy to be a genius when you have it, yet when we saw how a Leinster team containing 12 British and Irish Lions obliterated the Bulls, you wonder why many South Africans thought the South Africans had a realistic chance in the URC final in Dublin. The Bulls were shut out, shut down and shut up by a Leinster team masquerading as the Ireland national team. And the Dubliners did it from the first minute. They smashed the Bulls back in every aspect of the game and 80 minutes later, the Bulls had not fashioned one single attacking movement comprising more than four phases. In short, they did not fire a shot in crumbling to an embarrassing 32-7 defeat, their third loss…

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that it will be establishing a new shipping route on the western coast of the continent among a plethora of measures aimed to facilitate the movements of goods between Namibia and Nigeria and boost intra-Africa trade. This comes as intra-African trade still remains very low at around 15% to 18% compared to nearly 70% in the European Union and around 50% in Asia. Afreximbank's director for trade facilitation and investment promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, on Thursday said the continent was now in a good place to actually see a rapid increase in intra-African trade with the full operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). Zanamwe said the Afreximbank has been putting in place a number of interventions that are breaking…

As much as I do not want to add another voice to the fiasco at the recent White House meeting between Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa it is a starting point for an article about how corruption, crime and food security end up in a concoction of another disaster for the citizens of the country. Ramaphosa stated, in defense of farm murder and genocide accusations that it is not a unique situation as South Africa has a serious problem with crime at all levels. All crime victims and citizens will agree with that statement, although it is the last thing foreign investors want to hear who at consider us as an investment destination. On August, 27, 2024 Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuizen launched a forensic audit into a R500 million…

The so-called sandwich generation, people aged between 30-50 years old, are juggling school runs and zoom meetings, managing grocery lists for two households, and now, trying to make sure mum gets her blood pressure checked while helping their adult children find stable footing in an unforgiving economy. It’s a full-time job. And no one’s really talking about it. “It’s this silent pressure that people in their late 30s to 50s are shouldering. You’re not just raising kids anymore, you’re also parenting upwards. You’re emotionally and often financially responsible for your parents, especially if they couldn’t save enough for retirement. It’s a lot,” Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health said. South Africa’s sandwich generation is feeling the squeeze. Many elderly parents rely on their children for essentials, not just food and…

US President Donald Trump pocketed more than $57 million from token sales by the crypto venture he and his sons helped launch last year, according to federal financial disclosure forms released by the White House. The more than 230-page document issued by the Office of Government Ethics, dated Friday, lists the US president's holdings including stocks, dividends, real estate and investment portfolios. It showed that Trump, who during his first presidential election campaign in 2016 broke with the long tradition of candidates publishing their income tax returns, raked in $57.4 million from the sale of World Liberty Financial tokens. Trump and his sons helped launch the cryptocurrency investment and lending platform ahead of last year's election, raising conflict of interest concerns especially after he went on to win. He lent…

In a wide-ranging interview, Hannes Wessels, General Manager for Southern and Francophone Africa at Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, said while South Africa's conduct regulator, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has made strides by extending existing financial advisory frameworks to crypto firms, the process remains under-resourced and delayed." "I do believe, though, that a lot more work needs to happen to tailor regulation specifically for crypto asset service providers because our business is very different from, say, insurance brokers," he said. “We’re in the last batch of firms still waiting for our crypto license approval,” Wessels said. “The FSCA has good people who know what they’re doing, but they’re simply under-resourced. You can only do so much with the bandwidth you have.” Wessels touched on…

Iran launched missiles at Israeli cities yesterday, after Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic, raising Israel's death toll by 11 on day four of an escalating air war. After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel on Friday launched a surprise aerial campaign targeting sites across Iran, saying the attacks aimed to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring atomic weapons — a charge Tehran denies. Israel's strikes have so far killed at least 224 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians, according to Iranian authorities. In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it had “successfully” struck Israel with a salvo of missiles and warned of “effective, targeted and more devastating operations” to come. The Iranian attacks hit Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva and Haifa — with…

The death toll from the recent devastating floods in the Eastern Cape has risen to 90, as authorities intensify search and rescue efforts for several missing people. Ahmed Bham, head of Gift of the Givers’ search and rescue team, yesterday told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the air wing of the South African Police Service has been instrumental in locating the bodies. “We have a multi-disciplinary search and rescue team consisting of the South African Police Service, Department of Health and Gift of the Givers. We said over the next two days, we are going to intensify our searches, and we are lucky to have the (SAPS) airwing assisting us. We recovered two bodies at the same place yesterday (Saturday),” said Bham. “While hovering (in the helicopter) and doing our searches,…

Police in the Eastern Cape have arrested two suspects in a shocking human trafficking case involving ten children, believed to have been smuggled illegally from Lesotho. A swift police response led to the rescue of ten children and the arrest of two men, aged 40 and 20, in Matatiele on Saturday. The arrests came after a tip-off from a vigilant community member who noticed an adult male with several children near a fuel station in the Matatiele CBD. Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that the 40-year-old suspect, a Lesotho national without valid documentation, initially claimed he was transporting the children to meet their mothers in Pietermaritzburg. This narrative quickly unraveled when the children contradicted his story. “However, the children contradicted this, stating they did not know the man and…

Prior to the Lord’s Test the odds on Proteas captain Temba Bavuma hitting the only six of the World Test Championship final would have been fairly long. But, then again, what would the odds have been of a young man hailing from Langa in the Western Cape leading the South African national cricket team to the Holy Grail at the Home of Cricket? I suspect significantly longer. It’s almost as if the geographical plates of world cricket have shifted this past week in St John’s Wood. But whether it was just a slight tremor or a full blown earthquake will be seen in the coming months. The World Test Champions are only home for a few days before they cross the border for the first time in more than a…

Mercedes found their rhythm at the Canadian Grand Prix, with both drivers not only successfully navigating the daunting ‘Wall of Champions’, but also securing significant points, as George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli both delivered strong performances on a rare off day for McLaren. The high standards set by the Surrey-based outfit have positioned them as the team to beat this season, having dominated much of the campaign. However, after enduring one of their most challenging weekends, McLaren may have received a timely reminder to address some areas that still need refinement. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen continues to carry the Red Bull Racing banner alone, as Yuki Tsunoda still struggles to fully adapt to the demanding RB21 car. This has added further intensity to the battle for second place in the…

As South Africa commemorates Youth Day on June 16 , a wave of talent has emerged. These young players are not just taking the pitch by storm, but also igniting hopes for Bafana Bafana as they prepare for pivotal tournaments such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this year in December. This Youth Day, we highlight the promising prospects that South Africa has to offer. 1 Mbekezeli Mbokazi (19 years, Orlando Pirates) At just 19 years old, Mbokazi has swiftly made his mark in South African football, gaining recognition as a leading contender for the left centre-back position in both Orlando Pirates and Bafana. National team coach Hugo Broos had long expressed the urgent need for a left-footed centre-back, and in Mbokazi,…

Resurging war may force the SA Reserve Bank to put interest rates cut on pause in July The resurging war in the Middle East may force the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) to put interest rates cut on pause in July as the escalation of oil prices to a three-month high may affect both global and domestic inflation outlooks. This comes as the Sarb last month reduced the policy rate by 25 basis points to 7.25% per annum, and the prime lending rate to 10.75% per annum, and revised down its inflation forecasts as consumer prices remained below the lower band of the 3-6% target range, currently at 2.8%. The Sarb said this reflected the lower starting point, as well as a stronger exchange rate assumption and lower world oil…

In the theatre of corporate leadership, strategy is often presented as a management exercise, being something crafted by executives, presented in compelling slides, and approved by the board before being shelved until the next annual review. But governance theory, particularly King IV, challenges this view. Principle 11 is unambiguous: the governing body should govern risk in a way that supports the organisation in setting and achieving its strategic objectives. That is, strategy cannot be separated from risk, and boards cannot be passive participants in either. From observations of governance practice, it appears that the board’s involvement in strategy tends to be more reactive than generative. Strategic plans are often presented for endorsement rather than developed in close partnership with the board. Even multi-day strategic planning workshops, intended to promote alignment…

In the fast-paced, metrics-driven digital landscape, hard skills often dominate the conversation. Proficiency in coding languages, data analytics, AI implementation, and cloud architecture are seen as the essential, teachable competencies that tech leaders put a strong focus on when hiring and scaling their teams. But as the digital world continues to evolve with increasing speed and complexity, a surprising truth is emerging: soft skills are the true differentiators of success. For digitally led businesses, failing to prioritise soft skills isn't just an oversight, it's a competitive disadvantage. In a space where innovation, speed and adaptability are the currency of success, technical brilliance alone isn't enough. Without the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate across functions, build trust or lead through change and disruption, even the most sophisticated digital solutions can stall…

Primary Health Properties (PHP) has renewed its push for a merger with rival Assura Plc dismissing financial concerns raised by Assura’s board and underscoring strategic benefits in an intensifying battle over the future of Britain’s largest primary care real estate groups. PHP is a UK-based Real Estate Investment Trust specialising in the acquisition, development, and management of primary healthcare facilities. PHP and Assura are secondary listed on the JSE with primary listings on the London Stock Exchange. On Friday afternoon PHP shares rose 6.7% at R25.01, while Assura's shares were up 6.17% to R12.21. PHP said on Friday it continues to believe a combination with Assura represents a “highly compelling proposition,” providing shareholders with long-term value and enhanced exposure to resilient healthcare property assets amid improving macroeconomic conditions. The renewed…

Transnet has signed a three-year wage agreement with its majority union, the United National Transport Union (UNTU), following a protracted negotiation process that required intervention from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). In a statement on Thursday, Transnet said that the wage agreement would see an increment of 6% for the 2025/2026, 2026/2027, and 2027/2028 financial years. Transnet stated that this above-inflation agreement corresponds to an overall wage increase of 18% across the three years, encompassing increases to basic salaries and additional components, such as the 13th cheque, pension fund contributions, medical aid subsidies, and housing allowances. “The finalisation of the three-year wage agreement provides labour stability and will enable the company to focus on its immediate strategic priorities of improving operational and financial performance, while positioning the…

Weddings in South Africa aren’t just a celebration, they’re a family affair. But if you’ve ever found yourself locked in a cold war over the seating chart or caught in the crossfire of floral preferences, you’ll know the real test isn’t sticking to the budget. It’s navigating the complicated, beautiful, sometimes bonkers relationship between a bride-to-be and her mom. When “yes, mom” feels like “no, me” We all know that moment your mom tears up at your dress fitting, remembers her own wedding, and suddenly, her dreams for your day start to bubble up. Experts believe that it is natural for moms to be invested in their daughter’s wedding day as they have also waited years for the occassion. However, it is vital to establish boundaries as well as a…

The R900 million pledged by the provincial government to tackle the funding crisis in the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department is insufficient to deal with all the outstanding issues plaguing the province’s schools. This is according to a political party and labour union who said yesterday that more funding was needed. One source claimed that an additional R700m was needed. Last week, the provincial government committed to providing R900m for schools and for norms and standards funding after labour unions downed tools, which led to the disruption of exams at some schools. There had been reports that, as a result of the failure to disburse the funds, some teachers have been using their own funds to pay for school operations. Some school principals have claimed they are borrowing money to run school…

The ANC has come to the defense of its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, after Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse filed criminal charges against him. Pieterse, represented by AfriForum’s Private Prosecuting Unit, alleges that Mbalula, along with EFF leader Julius Malema and Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, violated his dignity by falsely accusing him of raping a child. Pieterse claims the trio publicly accused him of raping a 7-year-old girl after her mother suspected that she was raped; however, medical reports have since found that there was no evidence of sexual assault. The ANC has slammed AfriForum’s decision to pursue the matter, calling it “disingenuous, ideologically driven and flawed.” The party maintains that defending outrage against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) is not a crime. “We will not apologise for speaking…

Five suspects involved in an alleged passport fraud syndicate in Durban were arrested in a Home Affairs-led law enforcement operation at the weekend. The operation, supported by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, took place at the uMngeni and Commercial Road offices in Durban. One suspect was found with 226 passports that had been stolen from the uMngeni Road Home Affairs office. Among the five people arrested are a former Home Affairs official from the Prospecton office, a municipal project volunteer at the Commercial Road office, and three members of the public. One of the private citizens was found in possession of the stolen passports, the department said. It said the successful operation was initiated by Home Affairs’ Counter-Corruption Unit following information received from the public. One of the suspects…

FORMER Mamelodi Sundowns wingback Isaac Shai believes the Brazilians would have long put the disappointment of losing the CAF Champions League final behind them when they open their FIFA Club World Cup account against South Korea’s Ulsan midnight on Tuesday. The South African champions are one of four clubs from Africa participating in the inaugural 32-team global soccer showpiece in the United States. Grouped along with the Koreans, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund as well as Fluminense of Brazil, Sundowns are going to be hard-pressed to produce some of their best performances yet to progress into the knockout stage. And the fact that they were recently denied the chance of adding a second star above their club crest when they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids FC in Africa’s premier club knockout…

The Springbok Women returned home on Monday relieved and proud that they executed their mandate in Madagascar at the 2025 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup after wins over Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar. This resulted in another continental title and trophy for the South Africans. According to Springbok Women assistant coach Franzel September, the planning stages for this tournament were one thing, but the execution thereof was another and they are pleased that the young team delivered on several objectives planned. “We came here with a clear view of what we wanted out of the tournament,” said September. “It was part of our Rugby World Cup preparations, but we also wanted the players to express themselves out there. “We decided to bring a number of uncapped players here but there was never…

The rise of varsity student Ntokozo Makhaza from nowhere to the Springbok squad is a heartening story that gives the youth in South Africa hope that their dreams can come true. The 23-year-old from Harrismith in the Free State is studying for a degree in psychology and social development at the University of Cape Town where he has also been an amateur rugby player for Ikeys in the Varsity Cup. A month ago, Rassie Erasmus called Makhaza to invite him to the Springbok alignment camp, but he thought it was a prank call at first. Ikey’s had won the Varsity Cup and Makhaza was the Player of the Tournament, as he was last year, too. Erasmus has been watching and was so impressed with the wing’s performances – yes, Big…