Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-18 i Mercury

Merlog Foods has called on the Department of Agriculture to allow the importation of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) from regions in Brazil unaffected by the recent avian influenza outbreak. This request comes on the heels of the department signing an import agreement with the United States, a move hailed by many industry stakeholders as a crucial step towards enhancing food security in the country. MDM is widely used in lower-cost protein products required by millions of South Africans for food security such as Vienna sausages and polony, and Brazil is South Africa’s primary source of MDM. Georg Southey, manager of Merlog Foods, recently expressed his appreciation for the Department's year-long arrangement with the US that facilitates a responsive trade mechanism in the wake of bird flu outbreaks. “This agreement, which…

Stablecoins - a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets - are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate such digital tokens. But as stablecoins move closer to the financial mainstream, experts warn that weak regulation could leave investors and the financial system vulnerable. What are stablecoins? Stablecoins play a key role in crypto markets, enabling users to trade digital assets without relying on traditional banks, instead using a decentralised register known as blockchain. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoins track the value of traditional assets - such as the US dollar or gold - enabling greater stability. Tether and USDC, for example, are pegged to the dollar, backed by reserves held by their issuing companies. They are useful internationally because they…

Africa is at a turning point in its energy journey. As cities expand and industries grow, the demand for electricity is rising fast. By 2040, Africa will need nearly 1,200 gigawatts of power, yet 600 million people still lack electricity, holding back development, healthcare, and education. This creates a major challenge: How can Africa expand energy access without locking itself into high-emission fuels? The solution must balance affordability, sustainability, and reliability. While solar and wind power are critical, most countries lack the infrastructure to rely on them alone. Grids must remain stable, industries need steady energy, and cross-border trade requires a consistent supply. Natural gas plays a vital role in this—acting as a bridge to cleaner energy while meeting urgent electricity needs.Africa houses about 7% of the world’s proven…

Supplier of coloured gemstones Gemfields reported total revenues of $31.7 million (R566m) from its latest mixed-quality ruby auction, as 78 of the 90 lots offered were sold, representing a sales rate of 87% by lot and 69% by carat weight. A total of 99 830 carats were offered, with 68 705 carats successfully sold at an average price of $ 461.48 per carat, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The auction, which included rubies from a newly developed section of the Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) site in Mozambique, featured a standout 36-carat fine-quality ruby. The stone attracted strong interest and achieved one of the highest prices ever for a single gemstone from MRM, ranking third in the mine’s history, Gemfields said. Adrian Banks, Gemfields' managing director of…

Vukile Property Fund, the specialist retail estate investment trust, has upgraded its guidance by 8% for 2026 as it produced a robust set of results for the financial year ended March 31 2025. Delivering on its market guidance, Vukile achieved 3% growth in full-year funds from operations per share and increased its dividend per share by 6%. Laurence Rapp, the CEO of Vukile Property Fund, said, “We are pleased to report strong results in a transformative year, distinguished by accretive strategic growth and capital rotation. This outstanding performance validates Vukile’s strategy, expands its earnings base and positions the business for compounding future growth.” Vukile's, with total property assets now exceeding R50 billion, is evolving into a more international business with growing exposure to hard currency earnings emanating from blue-chip…

The coalition of political parties leading the country has failed to improve the living conditions of South Africans. This was the assessment of opposition parties outside the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) that leads KwaZulu-Natal as the one-year anniversary of the coalition governments was marked this week. The two structures were formed last year after the African National Congress (ANC) failed to win the majority of the vote in the national government elections. The GNU is made up of close to 10 parties, while the GPU in KZN consists of the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Democratic Alliance (DA) and the National Freedom Party (NFP). ActionSA was scathing in its criticism of the GNU, saying that it has been an expensive exercise for…

As questions swirl around the projected R770 million price tag for the forthcoming National Dialogue, Deputy President Paul Mashatile has confirmed that the ultimate decision on funding will rest with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Last week, the National Dialogue preparatory committee announced that the process could cost as much as R770 million. This announcement has triggered public outcry and political scrutiny regarding government spending, with South Africa's largest trade union federation, Cosatu, and several political parties criticising the estimated figures. “Cosatu, like other sober-minded South Africans, was amazed that anyone could even suggest the Dialogue should be allocated R700m. This rash, thumb-suck budget figure should be dismissed as a verbal gaffe and a reckless typo better left deleted and forgotten,” Matthew Parks, Cosatus parliamentary coordinator, said. The National Dialogue was…

Seven suspects appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday for their alleged connection to a passport fraud syndicate. The accused — Mmeli Philani Trevor Zaca-Dlamini, Thandiwe Pretty Khwela, Zime Anita Shange, Fumani Hlayisi, Bongiwe Kubheka, Lindokuhle Bongumusa Mpanza and Lungisani Siyanda Mzobe — face serious charges involving illegal passport issuance. KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the suspects allegedly worked with employees from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to process fraudulent passport applications at various offices in KwaZulu-Natal. “These applications were allegedly processed after hours, during the night, on weekends and on public holidays when the DHA offices were closed,” said Ramkisson-Kara. Ramkisson-Kara added that the fraudulent passports were processed for undeserving foreign nationals using the particulars of South African citizens who are lawful…

THE identity of the Proteas teams, be it in the white-ball or Test arenas, has always been founded in resilience. But as admirable as the trait is for the team, it has somehow cost the team in many instances. After all, to show resilience, you have to take damage – absorb the first punch, instead of being the one to land the first punch or inflict the damage. In recent years, Proteas teams have worked tirelessly to address this challenge. Little did they know that the international schedule, despite it not being in favour of South Africa in terms of the number of Tests played as compared to the big three – India, England and Australia – would help accelerate their process in redefining the meaning of resilience for the…

The crash that McLaren dreaded, but that everyone else was waiting for, will not change the team’s approach, even though Lando Norris lost valuable points in Canada. Although history suggests it is unwise to allow teammates to compete for wins and drivers’ titles – a lesson McLaren learned notably with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1989 and 1990 – the team’s current management believe in their approach. AFP Sport looked at three things we learned from Sunday’s intriguing Canadian Grand Prix, which George Russell won for Mercedes ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, reshaping the landscape of the championship... McLaren’s internal scrap for glory Tough talks are expected in Woking this week after Sunday’s 67th-lap crash at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, when Norris accidentally drove into his McLaren teammate…

The 2024/25 Premiership season has been the most fiercely contested campaign in recent memory, and what has truly stood out is the rise of young talent across the league. Many youngsters have not only stepped up, but have also played pivotal roles in their teams’ success. Here, Obakeng Meletse profiles five stand-out under-21 players who have caught the eye, and could be in serious contention for the PSL Young Player of the Season award. Puso Dithejane – TS Galaxy (20) Since swapping Kaizer Chiefs’ youth structures for TS Galaxy, Dithejane has been on an upward trajectory. His contribution has been instrumental in the Rockets’ remarkable turnaround – climbing from the bottom of the table to an impressive fifth-place finish. The young midfielder featured in 27 matches, scoring twice, and displayed…

Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) said it had detected a cybersecurity incident affecting its internal IT systems on May 27, 2025. Eastplats is a platinum group metals (PGM) and chrome producer with assets located along South Africa’s Bushveld Complex, the world’s largest known PGM resource. Upon detection, Eastplats took immediate containment measures to protect its network and data, it said. Eastplats has since been working with cybersecurity experts to thoroughly investigate the incident's scope and undertake necessary remedial action. "Importantly, Eastplats' business operations have continued without disruption," it said. However, certain files related to its internal affairs were disclosed without authorisation by third parties on a restricted part of the internet. Eastplats said it is actively reviewing these files to ensure ongoing compliance with its legal obligations and to safeguard its commercial…

crisis as rescue practitioners prepare exit Uncertainty surrounds the funding of about R7 billion needed to recapitalise both the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Post Bank after National Treasury firmly ruled itself out as an option. This comes as the SAPO Business Rescue Practitioners prepare to exit the process, leaving the entity with a R1.7bn paper profit. During a briefing to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Digital Technologies and Communications on Tueaday, SAPO's Group acting CEO, Fathima Gany, expressed the urgency of the situation. Gany said SAPO required R3.8bn to efficiently run its extensive network of 657 branches while integrating necessary digitisation capabilities. "The magic number is R3.8bn. It could be anything else, unfortunately the fiscus doesn't have the ability to give us that and we have to appreciate…

Glencore said it made tax, royalty and duty payments amounting to $157 million (around R2.8 billion) to South Africa in 2024 as it considers dialogue with government and other players as key for the country’s energy transition. In the year to December 2024, Glencore’s total payments to governments in markets in which it operates topped $3.7bn, calculated “in line” with the UK Transparency Requirements. Over the same period, Glencore suffered about $611m worth of impairments in its South African operations, significantly contributing to the company’s $1.6bn in losses to equity holder. The $157m in payments to the South African government for 2024 were accounted for by $111.5m in income taxes, $45.3m in royalties. An additional $1.2bn in “taxes and duties relating to non-extractive activities plus other taxes” was also paid…

In a world where energy dynamics are constantly shifting, Sakhile Ngcongwane, Business Development Manager at SolarAfrica, said that renewable energy is no longer confined to the simplistic installation of a few rooftop panels. For businesses intent on maximising the benefits, diversification is the key. As South Africa's energy landscape transforms, mixed policy signals are raising questions about solar energy’s continuing value, particularly for large energy consumers in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. Ngcongwane offered reassurance: solar still retains its merits, albeit in a more complex role than in the past. While the current stability of load shedding may lead some to believe that renewable energy has slipped down the national agenda, the reality is more nuanced. The carbon tax, initially designed to incentivise reduced greenhouse gas emissions, is stalling,…

The board of Assura plc, which is secondary listed on the JSE, said on Tuesday it notes the announcement made by Primary Health Properties (PHP) on June 13 outlining revised terms of its share and cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Assura. Assura is a UK-based Real Estate Investment Trust specialising in the development, investment, and management of primary healthcare properties. Assura owns and operates a portfolio of over 600 healthcare facilities across the UK, including GP surgeries, diagnostic and treatment centers, and private hospitals. Key amendments to the PHP offer include the potential acceleration of Assura’s quarter three dividend, without a corresponding reduction in the overall value of the PHP offer to shareholders; and a reduction in the acceptance condition for…

The Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA) has launched an independent investigation into PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Botswana’s conduct in the 2018 audit of Choppies Enterprises, the JSE-listed supermarket chain - the latest salvo in an ongoing battle. The audit delays triggered by PwC’s handling of the 2018 financials not only caused Choppies’ temporary suspension from both the Botswana Stock Exchange and JSE, but also precipitated a dramatic share price plunge and significant investor losses. The BAOA holds sweeping regulatory authority with the power to investigate, penalize, impose hefty fines, and even revoke licenses from entities found in breach - making it one of the most formidable oversight bodies in Botswana’s corporate governance landscape. The regulator confirmed it has received a formal complaint from Choppies’ legal team and Justice Zein Kebonang, citing two…

In the heart of Lamontville, south of Durban, a movement is quietly transforming young lives, one lap at a time. The Lamontville Swimming Academy, founded in 2023 by local lifeguard and community leader Lungisani Zulu, is not just teaching kids to swim, it’s instilling discipline, confidence and dreams in a community often overlooked. Zulu noted that Lamontville has produced several lifeguards for Durban’s beaches. “Our swimmers have competed at national and even international levels. Swimming has always been part of Lamontville’s DNA. I started the academy to bring back that culture and give our kids a real shot.” Inspired by his own upbringing and the legacy of local swimming coach Sthembiso Madiya, Zulu said it is about giving back. “I believe in serving the community. These kids have talent. I…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has confirmed that Liam Jacobs is no longer a Member of Parliament (MP) following his recent defection to the Patriotic Alliance (PA). This confirmation came in response to questions regarding Jacobs’ resignation and status within the party. DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said, “The DA hasn't received a resignation letter from Liam. Our constitution, however, dictates that should one be found promoting another political party, their membership is terminated immediately. “This has happened, and the speaker of Parliament has been informed that he is no longer a member of the DA and therefore no longer a DA MP.” IOL previously reported that Jacobs, 24, who has been an MP representing the DA since a young age, surprised political observers when he publicly joined the PA during a…

The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has written to the eThekwini Municipality, demanding a full breakdown of the costs related to the legal matter between the eThekwini Municipality and the company, Daily Double Trading. In the letter, MEC Buthelezi stated that the expenditure, especially on litigation regarding this matter, was reckless. The eThekwini Municipality and Daily Double Trading have been involved in a protracted legal battle that was finally resolved by the Constitutional Court about a week ago, which dismissed the City’s appeal against an earlier ruling. At the centre of the dispute was a settlement agreement entered into between the company and officials of the municipality. Daily Double Trading had been one of the service providers for the municipality. However, the municipality terminated the contracts…

The Eastern Cape provincial government has confirmed the identification of 80 individuals who lost their lives in the devastating floods that have severely impacted the province. The adverse weather has impacted households in the wake of recent floods, resulting in multiple fatalities, the displacement of families, significant infrastructure damage, and disruption of livelihoods across the province, particularly in the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities. The death toll is at 90. The provincial government said that out of the 90 fatalities, 60 are adults and 30 are children. It has been reported that of those who died, 48 are male and 42 are female. The Department of Health has also completed post-mortems, with 80 bodies being positively identified and 77 bodies released to families. “The Provincial Government remains in close…

THE World Test Championship final at Lord’s last week was once again a Proteas fast-bowler exhibition as Kagiso Rabada led from the front, returning a nine-wicket haul to help South Africa claim all 20 Australian wickets. Going into the London encounter, there were a lot of questions with regards to Rabada’s ability to stand up from the drug scandal he faced leading up to the match, and boy did the 30-year-old silence his doubters against the No 1-ranked Aussies. He took five wickets in the first innings, his 17th Test fifer, and followed with a four-for in the second as he narrowly missed out on what would’ve been a great 10-for at the Home of Cricket. In the process, Rabada broke Allan Donald’s Test record (330) to move to fourth…

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad wears his heart on his sleeve, even though you might not think it after watching him sit quietly in the left-hand corner of the Lord’s balcony. Conrad spoke during the World Test Championship final against Australia about how the coaches like to keep a “poker face” of sorts when addressing the players, in order to keep them calm and focused on the job at hand. The management would have had to employ the best of those faces when South Africa were bundled out for 138 in the first innings, and were 70/2 in the second in the hunt for victory. That is why one of Conrad’s many inspirational lines in the aftermath of the triumph hit home: “Obviously, a lot of teams in different formats have…

Building and maintaining depth has always been one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Springbok Women’s side. However, under the tutelage of performance coach Swys de Bruin and his assistants Franzel September, Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Bafana Nhleko, they have ticked one box after the other on their way to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. A few blocks must still fall in place over the next month, especially on the field, but the Bok Women are set to head to the United Kingdom in August with their strongest squad ever to compete at the event. The women’s game in South Africa will not only benefit ahead of the World Cup, but also in the long run as well. De Bruin has ensured the blueprint of Springbok head coach…

South Africa's markets faced a turbulent day on Tuesday as they traded on the backfoot, grappling with the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding the US Federal Open Markets Committee’s (FOMC) upcoming decision on interest rates. The JSE All Share Index fell 0.7% to 94 695 by 4pm while the rand was weak and traded above the R18.80-mark against the US dollar after reaching R17.70/$1 as the severe escalation in the conflict in the Middle East has increased market risk aversion. Stocks such as Karooooo, Assura and Harmony Gold saw the most declines, falling 4.55%, 4% and 3.3%, respectively. However, the marked US dollar weakness of the second quarter continued to persist amid heightened volatility. The escalation of conflict in the region reached new peaks following a…

I was astounded to see news last week of Transnet’s capitulation to union strike threats, agreeing to give workers 6% pay rises in each of the next three years. This agreement represents a failure of leadership on both sides – militant unions holding the country hostage with strike threats, and management caving to their demands without a fight. While South African businesses slash costs and workers face retrenchments, Transnet workers will get pay rises that are double the inflation rate, funded by taxpayers already struggling to make ends meet. Inflation is running at 2.7% and the economy is expected to only grow 1.4% this year. The news came days after National Treasury had agreed to give Transnet additional guarantees to enable it to manage its huge debt pile. In the…

As geopolitical tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iran, the shipping industry is watching closely, with major players voicing their concerns over potential disruptions. Shipping giant Maersk on Tueday said that its immediate priority was ensuring the safety and well-being of its staff in impacted locations. “Currently, all our colleagues are safe, and we have activated our business continuity procedures to minimise the impact on our business and customers. We are closely monitoring the situation and assessing the potential impact on our operations,” said Adhish Alawani, Maersk spokesperson. “Currently, we are not experiencing any disruptions. We aim to keep our customers informed and help them with alternative solutions if needed.” Disruption in the Middle East could have far-reaching economic consequences. Malcolm Hartwell, director and master mariner at Norton Rose…

The consequences of climate change amplify vulnerabilities in communities, placing additional stresses on water availability, agricultural productivity, health outcomes, and infrastructure resilience, such as roads and housing susceptibility to severe weather conditions. Too often, when the disaster or distress hits, communities turn to mining companies to provide services and infrastructure. Despite this reality, there remains a disconnect between intention, impact, and outcomes in these interventions. Mining is on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation investment boom. The global population is approaching 10 billion people, and many parts of the world, including us, are pursuing a net zero economy towards 2050 and beyond. With an estimated $100 billion in additional capital investment in the resources sector required each year to meet the demand outlook associated with urbanisation and the decarbonisation of…

Stor-Age Property REIT, the largest self-storage company in South Africa, continued to deliver a strong performance in the year ended March 31, 2025 driven by gains in occupancy and rental rates, lifting distributable income per share by 4.1% and a dividend of 53.56c was declared. Rental income and net property operating income increased by 8.3% and 8.0%, respectively. Same-store rental income increased 10.2% in South Africa SA and by 6.5% in the UK. Net property operating income up 11.1% SA and 5.0% UK. Closing occupancy was 91.8% higher in South Africa up 94.0%and the UK 83.9%. The investment property value was up 6.0% to R12 billion. The number of trading properties increased from 99 to 108, with the total portfolio including developments now exceeding 700 000m² gross leasable area. The…

Infertility is a deeply personal and emotional journey that often goes unspoken, yet it affects millions of individuals and couples worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 adults globally will face infertility issues at some point in their lives. June is World Infertility Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this global health challenge while encouraging open conversations and proactive solutions. Importantly, infertility is not just a women’s issue; male fertility factors account for 40% of cases, yet they often remain overlooked. Here, we explore some of the most common factors affecting male fertility and why awareness is critical for couples hoping to conceive. 1. Low sperm count Low sperm count, or oligospermia, is one of the leading causes of male infertility. This condition occurs…

IN A post-match interview after the test match triumph, national cricket captain Temba Bavuma remarked that he is more than a black cricketer. To be recognised more than a black cricketer is special. Temba Bavuma, you are enough. Temba Bavuma, you are beyond people’s imaginations and inferiority complexes. Temba Bavuma, you are a special human being. The National Youth Commission Act of 1996 defines young people in South Africa as between the ages of 14 and 35. The youth of 1976 had to struggle and sacrifice for their rights and privileges. We honour their legacy, tenacity and vision. The right and dignity to learn in any language should forever be a plat form for destiny and not a platform of destruction. History portrays the 1976 youth protesting for equality and…

Former African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Pule Mabe’s corruption case has been postponed to July 7 to allow for the finalisation of the amended charge sheet. This comes after the National Prosecuting Authority requested a postponement to allow for more time to finalise the charge sheet. Mabe, alongside his six co-accused, appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, yesterday. They face a combined 16 counts of fraud, money laundering, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act in relation to a R27 million tender secured by Mabe’s company, Groen Mintirho (formerly Enviro Mobi), in 2017. Lawyers for all the accused have since requested to be given the final charge sheet at least a week before the next court appearance. Appearing on behalf of Mabe and…

Water supply in most areas of eThekwini Municipality — inner-west, outer-west, central, south and north regions — has stabilised. This is according to Richard Mngoma, the deputy head of operations at the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit, who presented the state of water supply report city-wide at the Executive Committee meeting yesterday. Two eThekwini areas were found to have connected to the City's water supply illegally, which is one of the issues the municipality is dealing with, including beefing up security around infrastructure. The areas identified by the municipality as “off the system” were Trenance Park 3 and Luganda in uMlazi. The municipality was concerned that the Trenance Park 3 system remains a major problem due to the increase in illegal connections and rapid development in the area. The City…

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says there are lessons to be learnt from the failed prosecution of Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso and Moroadi Cholota, the former personal assistant of former Free State premier Ace Magashule. Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces, Kubayi said more work can be done to support prosecutors. “A lot of work is being done and over time, where there is a shortage of capacity, for example, we are able to source even external capacity to come and support the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority).” The NPA has been facing sharp criticism after court losses, including in the Cholota and Omotoso cases. Kubayi said the NPA was working to build capacity and 268 vacant posts were at various recruitment stages at the end…

The changing of the guard in the Springbok front row will start as early as the opening Tests of 2025, as the world champions look to build on and maintain their dominance upfront of the last couple of Rugby World Cup cycles. Looking ahead to the 2027 edition in Australia, where the Boks will look to defend their title for the second time in a row, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that it’s time for them to bleed some new blood in the front row. However, he and his assistant coaches want to see the Bok scrum keep that consistent dominance that has been there for the last six years. With a handful of injured front-rankers and double World Cup winners reaching the age where they could start looking at…

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada is sticking to his ambitious target of winning the Premier League in 2028 to mark the club’s 150th anniversary despite a historically bad season for Ruben Amorim’s team. The 20-time English champions endured their worst top-flight campaign since they were relegated in 1973/74, finishing 15th, 42 points behind champions Liverpool. Coach Ruben Amorim’s team also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, meaning they will have no European football next season. Berrada told staff of his “Project 150” vision in September last year, setting out his aim to win the Premier League and the Women’s Super League (WSL) titles in 2028. While United’s men’s team have a mountain to climb, the women’s side, who have never won the WSL, will have to dislodge Chelsea,…

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca labelled the atmosphere in his team’s opening Fifa Club World Cup game on Monday as “strange” after the Blues triumphed in front of nearly 50,000 empty seats. The Uefa Conference League winners defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with only 22,000 fans present at the 71,000-capacity arena. Chelsea’s goals were scored by Pedro Neto in the first half and Enzo Fernandez in the second. “The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full,” Maresca told reporters. “We are professional... We have to adapt to the situation, to the environment... “It’s important the behaviour of the players, the attitude, and once again, they showed how professional they are.” The Chelsea coach said his team had expected a larger…