Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-11 i Mercury

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967. Albanese last week published a report listing up to 48 multinational corporations in defense equipment manufacturing, logistics, tech, tourism, knowledge production, and agriculture as having profited from “the genocide carried out by Israel” in Gaza by providing cloud and AI technologies to the Israeli government and military, among other things. The decision to sanction Albanese came under President Trump’s Executive Order 14203, aimed at countering actions perceived as violations of US sovereignty and interests. Rubio on Wednesday said the sanctions derived from Albanese's alleged direct engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in efforts that the US considers to…

The Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) has sounded a clarion call to Parliament, highlighting alarming trends in the fiscal drag imposed by State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). In a recent presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, the FFC revealed that direct government transfers to SOEs rose significantly from 1% of GDP in 2015/2016 to 1.6% in 2021/2022. This stark upward trend raises pressing concerns over the sustainability of SOE funding and the need for urgent reforms. The Commission’s damning analysis underscores a decade-long commitment from the government, which, between 2008/2009 and 2019/2020, spent approximately R160 billion to bail out financially troubled SOEs. The FFC's warnings come amid growing anxiety over the potential fiscal repercussions of the proposed National State Enterprises Bill, which it claims fails to adequately address long-standing…

Merlog Foods has voiced concerns over a lingering shortage of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) despite the Department of Agriculture (DoA) lifting an eight-week ban on poultry imports from Brazil due to an Avian Flu outbreak earlier this week. The ban, triggered by a case of bird flu on a single farm in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, had cut off 95% of South Africa’s MDM supply from 15 May Merlog Foods manager, Georg Southey said it was expected to take a few months for supply and prices of the input material for polony and sausages to stabilise. “We, however, believe this situation can reoccur in the case of another bird flu infection in Brazil,” he said. Southey said that what was needed was an agreement between the…

Continuation funds, otherwise known as GP-led secondaries, have become a key investment trend in the private equity landscape, accounting for between 45 to 60% of all global secondary market deal flow in each of the last five years. Of the record total of $160 billion worth of secondaries deals completed in 2024, $71 billion was accounted for by continuation funds, itself a record total. Around half of all secondary transactions every year since 2021 have been continuation fund deals, and by some estimates, the volume of these deals could reach into hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of this decade and beyond. Continuation funds are a vital tool in a private equity fund manager's toolkit. They enable managers to crystallise returns for either a single asset or a…

The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) has heralded a transformative move as two innovative visa categories, specifically tailored for the film and meetings sectors, are set to take effect. This comes after the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, on Wednesday announced the launch of two further digital visa initiatives in a bid to support the rollout of the pending Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, and building on the success of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS). The Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme (STAGES) will simplify visa access for film production companies as the outdated and paper-based systems hinder the industry. "In just one example, a major Netflix production from Mexico was lost due to visa delays, costing South Africa an estimated R400 million in lost income,"…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Sunday on the allegations that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior police leadership are linked to a criminal syndicate with ties to drug cartels. This comes as the DA, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the EFF yesterday lodged complaints against Mchunu, accusing him of misleading Parliament and being linked to individuals allegedly involved in the capture of the SAPS. The allegations that recently rocked the country were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that Mchunu was associated with businessmen Brown Mogotsi and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Mkhwanazi said Mchunu ordered the unilateral disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in KZN and transferred 121 politically sensitive dockets to Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya’s office, where they have…

Durbanite Luke Thompson says he fulfilled a childhood dream by winning the prestigious Ballito Pro Challenger Series event. The event held from June 22 concluded this past weekend. The 21-year-old, who took up surfing at the age of 10, said it was only after progressing through the heat stages that he truly began to believe he could go all the way. “The entire beach was going mad,” he said. “It was definitely the proudest moment of my life so far.” After three years of hard work and relentless training to compete on the Challenger Series, Thompson finally captured his first tour win — and did so on home soil. The Ballito Pro is regarded as the world’s oldest and longest-running professional surf event. With his maiden Challenger Series victory now…

August is set to bring more fuel price pain for those with diesel vehicles, with a significant under-recovery currently developing on that fuel, but petrol could still see a small price reduction. The latest snapshot from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows a significant under-recovery on diesel that could result in price hikes in the region of 60 cents or more if current trends persist. However, petrol is showing an over-recovery of 20 cents for 95 Unleaded and 24 cents for 93 Unleaded. Over- and under-recoveries form when the underlying costs of fuel, such as international oil prices and exchange rates, fluctuate. These discrepancies, compared to the current prices, are then built into the following month’s fuel price adjustments. July saw the price of petrol rise by between 52 cents…

A State witness told the Durban Magistrate's Court yesterday about a video uploaded on the social media platform, TikTok in which Bonginkosi Khanyile, a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, says that if former president Jacob Zuma is not on the ballot paper, there would be no elections. Khanyile is currently on trial and is alleged to have incited violence during the July unrest in 2021, calling for the release of Zuma, who had started serving his sentence for contempt of court for failing to appear before the State Capture Commission. The court heard yesterday about the video made in March 2024 by Khanyile when there was a legal dispute about whether the MK Party would appear on the ballot for the May 2024 general elections. Warrant Officer Juan…

As South Africans continue to experience the winter chill, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is urging citizens to take precautions and seek medical attention when necessary — especially as seasonal viruses remain active. This comes as the 2025 influenza season in South Africa began four weeks earlier than in 2024, marking the earliest onset since 2010, according to pneumonia surveillance in public hospitals. Though transmission remains relatively low, the virus continues to circulate well into the winter months. The NICD has confirmed that flu cases remain active across the country. During the week of 16–22 June, lab testing showed a positivity rate of 15.8% for influenza and 16.7% for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) — two of the most common respiratory viruses tracked during this time of year. RSV,…

Vehicle dealers face a great deal of pressure in maintaining customer satisfaction, often under trying circumstances. But how much support do they receive from the car manufacturers whose brands they represent? This often overlooked aspect, which affects a dealer’s ability to provide satisfactory service, is highlighted by the National Automobile Dealers’ Association’s (NADA) annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI). Consisting of online questionnaires tailored to dealer principals, the 2025 DSI survey gathered 1,588 responses across all vehicle segments, covering around 87% of the country's dealer footprint. The scores, which were benchmarked against industry averages, rated original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) according to three criteria: Dealer Friendly (20%), Investor Friendly (40%), and Customer Friendly (40%). When the scores were tallied, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze status awards were allocated to the top-performing OEMs:…

THE ROYAL AM saga should surely teach the Premier Soccer League (PSL) head honchos some valuable lessons that will see them getting stricter with league statuses, or so we may think. The truth is, though, when it comes to South African football, nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems and common sense is not the currency you can bank on. The league may not and will not go public with it, but the Royal AM saga did play its part in denting the PSL’s reputation with the sponsors. That dent is something that those of us who make a living with PSL content really frown upon. It is a big deal to some of us that the PSL Premiership is listed among the top10 football leagues in the world,…

XABI Alonso is looking forward to "starting from scratch" with Real Madrid next season after being thrown in at the deep end as coach of the Spanish giants in the Club World Cup. Alonso was given a reality check on Wednesday as Madrid were eliminated 4-0 by European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final at the MetLife Stadium. "PSG are a team who have been built over time, whereas we are practically just beginning," Alonso said after seeing Real Madrid go two goals behind inside nine minutes. It was 3-0 before half-time and PSG added a late fourth as they advanced to Sunday's final against Chelsea. "We have lots of room for improvement. There are many things that we want to do better," Alonso added. "We have to be self-critical.…

IRELAND'S Ben Healy won stage six of the Tour de France in Normandy yesterday with a long solo break, as Mathieu van der Poel reclaimed the overall leader's yellow jersey by one second. Sixth at the start of the day, Van der Poel climbed above overnight leader Tadej Pogacar. Van der Poel was billed at the start of the Tour as a potential winner of stage seven to Mur de Bretagne, where he first took the yellow in 2021. "It would be a great finale to a great week," said an exhausted Van der Poel on Thursday. "If I get the win or not it'll be great anyway just to wear the yellow jersey again." Belgian Evenepoel is third at 49sec with Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin fourth at 1min. Jonas Vingegaard…

Local government and spatial integration have remained the two most pressing issues in which the government continues to struggle to implement reforms at the onset of Phase II of Operation Vulindlela (OV) even though momentum was gaining traction in other areas. According to the OV progress report for the first quarter for the 2025/26 financial year, reforms on these two were facing significant challenges and an intervention is required. OV is a joint initiative of the Presidency and the National Treasury which aims to achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth through a programme of far-reaching economic reforms. Seven priority reform areas have been approved by Cabinet as part of OV Phase II, including energy, water, freight logistics, visa system, local government, spatial integration and housing, and digital public infrastructure…

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 30% tariff on all goods imported from South Africa, citing “unfair trade practices” and a lack of reciprocity. While the decision has rattled exporters and drawn sharp criticism from Pretoria, it may well be the catalyst we need to rethink our economic destiny. Rather than respond with indignation or fear, South Africa should view this challenge as an opportunity: to accelerate innovation, create new export markets, and, above all, build jobs for our youth - both at home and abroad. We’ve faced shocks before. From sanctions during apartheid to the 2008 global financial crisis, from Covid-19 to greylisting - South Africans have shown resilience in adversity. This tariff shock, while painful, could become a turning point, especially if aligned with…

When it comes to tax season, there are three types of people: the proactive (they know what to do and get on it fast); the procrastinator (they know what to do but leave it to the 11th hour); and the panicker, who is not sure what to do and hopes that if they ignore it, it might go away. This year’s tax filing season officially kicks off in July, with auto assessments running from July 7 to 20, 2025. For non-provisional taxpayers who were not auto-assessed, they will be able to submit and file their income tax returns between July 21 to October 20, 2025. If you’re a “procrastinator” or “panicker” type, a common–but dangerous–mistake is assuming Sars will auto-assess or that no filing is needed, especially if you earn…

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a 50% tariff on all Brazilian goods, marking a sharp escalation in a diplomatic feud over Brazil’s prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro over his alleged role in a plot to retain power by military force following his 2022 electoral loss. The tariff, effective August 1, opens a new theater in Trump’s ongoing trade war, bringing into the fray Latin America’s largest economy, which had until now remained largely unscathed by the trade measures. If carried out, the tariff would severely affect the Brazilian economy, whose second-largest trading partner is the United States, behind China. In 2024, Brazil sold $40 billion (R711bn) worth of goods - primarily oil, coffee and steel - to the United States. “The way that Brazil has treated former President…

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of Elon Musk’s X, announced on Wednesday that she is stepping down from the social media platform after two years in the position. She made the announcement a day after the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot launched into an antisemitic tirade and invoked Adolf Hitler. Yaccarino, who was hired by Musk after he bought the company then known as Twitter in 2022, did not give a reason for her departure Wednesday. Yaccarino led the social media platform through a tumultuous period as Musk remade Twitter in his vision - which included loosening content rules and reinstating previously banned accounts that spread misinformation and conspiracy theories. Musk himself frequently used his platform, which he renamed X, to spread falsehoods and post about his own right-wing political views on…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements needs an additional R128 million to continue accommodating the flood victims who are currently living in hotels and other private accommodations across Durban. It has spent approximately R185 million on about five or six accommodations, including hotels throughout the city that are housing the displaced families since 2022. The department revealed this yesterday after approximately 189 individual and 64 families who were being accommodated in the Bayside Hotel in Durban were evicted on Wednesday night due to non-payment for their accommodation. It was not immediately clear how much was owing at this one hotel and whether the families in the other accommodation facilities were also at risk. The department confirmed yesterday afternoon that new accommodation had been found for those evicted from the Bayside…

Two suspects, aged 26 and 22, appeared before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court yesterday following their arrest in Mfuleni and Strand respectively by the Hawks’ specialised 419 Scam Task Team. The two were arrested on Tuesday in Western Cape. Three other men were previously arrested and they have been appearing before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. In the past year, several South African women and men have lost their hard-earned money, including pensions and bank loans, in dating scams. The victims have regrouped and are knocking on different doors, demanding answers. The duo’s arrest emanates from an incident reported in August 2024 at Lyttelton police station in Gauteng, where a woman claimed that a man she had met online had scammed her of more than R3 million. “The one suspect is reported…

Never before has there been a time such as the present where families need to protect their older family members and those living alone from the ills of cybercrime. Those who struggle with failing memory are particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals and predators. A growing number of older adults are falling victim to online scams, and we need better awareness, clearer guidance, and stronger support systems to protect older people online. This is according to a research study titled "Cybercrime Against Senior Citizens: Exploring Ageism, Ideal Victimhood, and the Pivotal Role of Socio-economics", co-authored by Dr Suleman Lazarus, a sociologist affiliated with the University of the Western Cape. His research, alongside colleagues from the University of Surrey and the University of Portsmouth, sheds light on how older adults are deliberately targeted…

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that South African Olympian Caster Semenya was denied a fair trial by Switzerland’s legal system, marking a significant milestone in her ongoing legal battle against regulations requiring athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) to medically alter their natural hormone levels to compete. In a Grand Chamber judgment delivered yesterday, the court ruled by 15 votes to two that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court failed to conduct a sufficiently rigorous review of Semenya’s appeal against the 2019 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which had upheld World Athletics' so-called “DSD Regulations”. These rules compel female athletes with naturally high testosterone levels to undergo hormone suppression therapy to compete in certain events. The court found that Switzerland had violated…

Special edition vehicles have always been a hit in the South African market, with Ford having launched a number of them successfully over the years, particularly with their double-cab bakkie Rangers and have now added the Territory Dark Edition to the mix. The family-oriented SUV, launched last year, has been a welcome addition to the Ford stable while also providing a boost to their monthly sales. The Territory focuses its attention on being a family-friendly SUV with a comfortable and spacious interior. The Dark Edition aims to capitalise on that by adding interior and exterior additions to make it stand out from the crowd. It’s now on top of the Territory pyramid, replacing the Titanium model. Exterior On first glance at the launch drive, it certainly looks like Ford has…

TOMORROW afternoon in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Edwill van der Merwe will breathe a big sigh of relief when he takes to the field in the second Test against Italy. The speedy winger will run out for Springbok cap number two after waiting over a year to don the green and gold again. He last played against Wales at Twickenham in June 2024, when he made his debut. Now, Van der Merwe will get to live out his boyhood dream again. After injuries curtailed his international dream last season, he wondered if he would stay a one-Test Bok. That will not be the case come tomorrow as he is set to take on the Azzurri alongside Springbok veteran Willie le Roux, who will be playing in his 100th Test,…

Reeza Hendricks will celebrate his 36th birthday next month, but the veteran Proteas batter is not ready to fade quietly into the background just yet. Named in the squad for the upcoming T20 Tri-Series in Harare, alongside fellow senior Rassie van der Dussen, Hendricks forms part of a transitional South African side that also features rising stars such as 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 22-year-old Dewald Brevis and 23-year-old Nqaba Peter. It will be Conrad’s first assignment since taking over as South Africa’s all-format head coach following Rob Walter’s resignation earlier this year. But with a youthful squad signalling a changing of the guard, questions inevitably arise about the role of experienced players like Hendricks moving forward. In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Hendricks acknowledged the uncertainty. “To date, I haven’t…

There are some unshakable truths in this world. Elephants, for example, cannot jump. A single teaspoon of a neutron star weighs as much as about 900 Pyramids of Giza. And there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way. Personally, my favourite fact is this: it’s highly likely – though not impossible – that you’ve only ever eaten one type of banana in your life. The Cavendish banana – which, botanically speaking, is a berry rather than a fruit – has been cloned repeatedly since the 1950s. Every banana you’ve doubtless consumed is a carbon copy of the one before it. And the one before that. And the one before that ... ad nauseam. Christian Horner was one of those facts of life. Much like the speed…

South Africa’s manufacturing sector saw a 0.5% increase in production in May In a tentative sign of resilience, South Africa’s manufacturing sector saw a 0.5% increase in production in May when compared to the same month a year earlier following six consecutive months of year-on-year decline. This reading, released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Thursday, highlights a delicate turnaround following a tumultuous April which witnessed a significant production revised slump of 6.4% year-on-year. Nicolai Claassen, director of industry statistics at Stats SA, said five of the 10 manufacturing divisions recorded upward growth. Claasen said the metals and machinery division was the largest positive contributor, expanding by 4.3% year-on-year and pushing overall growth higher by 0.9 of the percentage point. “Glass and non-metallic metal products, wood paper printing and…

On July 7, 2025, the President of the United States Donald Trump issued a formal letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing a 30% tariff on all South African goods and products entering the US. This decision, he claims, is in response to “persistent trade deficits” and South Africa’s own tariff and non-tariff barriers. While the tariffs are not limited to the tech sector, their implications for the South African digital economy, SMMEs, and ICT service providers are especially severe. This is a sector built on fragile margins, export driven business models, and global digital dependencies. The 30% tariff, and the separate 10% tariff on companies aligned with BRICS, threatens to undo years of slow, hard-earned progress in transforming South Africa into a digital player on the continent. So, what exactly…

Those investing for the long term can generally expect a smoother investment experience, provided they maintain emotional discipline. Knowing you’re committed to a longer investment horizon helps you manage inevitable market fluctuations with patience, consistency, and composure. In this article, we explore how these principles underpin successful wealth creation. Firstly, effective long-term investors accept market volatility as entirely normal. Short-term fluctuations should be viewed as temporary distractions rather than threats to your strategy. Historical data clearly illustrate that, although markets experience downturns, they always recover and continue an upward trajectory. Investors who panic and exit during downturns risk locking in losses, disrupting the power of compounding, and missing out when markets rebound. By remaining composed, long-term investors position themselves optimally for market recoveries. Investors attempting to time the market typically…

Southern Palladium has released an Optimised Prefeasibility Study (OPFS) for its 70%-owned Bengwenyama Project that outlines a staged development approach that should reduce capital costs by $173 million (R3.1 billion) to $279m (R4.9bn) compared to the first study, presenting a “highly attractive option” for shareholders. The board of the Australia and JSE-listed company said Thursday that the staged production option provides the best balance between unlocking project value and allows the company to fund project development with minimal future dilution for shareholders. "We are pleased to announce the results of the OPFS for the Tier 1 Bengwenyama Project where our primary aim has been to reduce the initial capital requirement," said MD Johan Odendaal. "The board and its consultants have evaluated a number of options and believe that a staged…

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube believes her department is on track to transform the basic education sector into a “builder” of the country. The minister tabled her department’s budget in Parliament yesterday afternoon, revealing that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) received a total budget of over R35 billion — an increase of over 8% from last year. She touched on the work needed to be done, including improving access to Grade R education, growing the capacity of teachers, and establishing the infrastructure required to ensure quality education. She also touched on the financial challenges faced by the provincial departments stating that she has asked them to produce credible financial recovery plans. Financial problems have plagued the KwaZulu-Natal education department in recent months. Addressing the members of Parliament, she stated…

The SA Navy has handed over a copy of its Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigation report regarding the Kommetjie submarine tragedy, in which three South African Navy officers were killed, to the Hawks this week. Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, along with Warrant Officers William Malesela Mathipa and Mokwapa Lucas Mojela, lost their lives during a storm when rough waters disrupted a vertical transfer operation. The incident saw seven crew members swept out to sea, with only four surviving. While Romero Hector, the widower of Gillian, welcomed the handover of the report, he said he was still fighting to access it, as he wanted answers. “I just want to give one last, hard fight for my wife. This will be the last thing I ever do for her and I want…

Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital patients will receive faster and more efficient care now that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has procured a CT scanner worth approximately R14 million. Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and several officials were at the hospital yesterday to unveil the state-of-the-art CT scanner. Simelane expressed her excitement over the CT scanner since the old machine, which had been problematic for more than two years, finally gave up in December last year. It was also difficult to get different parts because it was old. This forced the department to discontinue its use and procure a new machine. “It is really going to be a game changer for this hospital, considering that this hospital sees over 1 500 patients a day. “So you certainly need equipment that’s…

Mbombela was warm, a lot warmer than icy Gauteng when we climbed on board a Toyota Quantum 2.8 six-seater VX Premium to join the throng of people attending the 21st Inniebos Festival. It was the first time that South Africa’s leading vehicle manufacturer was the sponsor for the event and considering their broad-based appeal across every gender, race and language with their various vehicle offerings, Inniebos is just one aspect of their commitment to South Africa. Numerous sponsorships They have several sponsorships, CSR projects and vehicle supplier agreements aimed at a broad spectrum of appeal throughout Mzansi that include, motorsport, Kaizer Chiefs, Cheetahs Rugby, the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, Pedal Power Association, Equestrian events, Community Chest, One Voice SA, Toyota Reach and Owl Rescue, to name…

Officially, Christian Horner will still be an employee of Red Bull but he will no longer be involved in any operations nor will he sit on the throne. The 51-year-old British F1 mogul did, however, tell his former staff members that he was shocked at the decision to replace. Horner also teared up while telling Red Bull staff what the 20-year-tenure meant to him. Horner was just 30 years old when he began his reign at Red Bull which was called Jaguar at the time, and has undoubtedly left his mark on the sport. Red Bull are now but a shadow of their former prowess, having lost key members like Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and now Horner. Their departures do pose an opportunity for other engineers, designers and…

A top European court yesterday said a Swiss court did not give double Olympic champion Caster Semenya a fair trial in a much-awaited appeals ruling over contested gender testing. The European Court of Human Rights' decision comes after a row engulfed the 2024 Paris Olympics over the gender of an Algerian boxing champion. Semenya, a 34-year-old South African runner, is classed as having "differences in sexual development", but has always been legally identified as female. She has been unable to compete in her favoured 800m category since 2018, after she refused to take drugs to reduce her testosterone levels under new rules from World Athletics, the governing body for track and field. Semenya told journalists the ECHR's decision was a "positive outcome". "We need to respect athletes, we need to…

The Junior Springboks will face off against Argentina when the two Southern Hemisphere sides meet in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Monday evening in Italy. After a flawless group stage, the South African U20s progressed as the top-ranked side to the playoffs, while the Junior Pumas snuck in as the fourth side after finishing with more points than former champions England. On Wednesday, the Junior Boks completed their second 70-plus point victory after hammering Scotland 73-14, scoring 11 tries in the process. They beat Australia in the opening round 73-17 and tackled their way to a 32-22 win over the English. Now, a rematch against the Pumitas awaits after the two sides played out a thrilling encounter during the U20 Rugby Championship earlier this year. South…

Banyana Banyana stalwart defender Bambanani Mbane has cautioned her teammates against underestimating their next opponents, the Twiga Stars of Tanzania, in today's Women's Africa Cup of Nations Group C fixture (kick-off 9pm). In their opening group clash, Mbane spearheaded Banyana Banyana’s Wafcon title defence on Monday with a ‘Player of the Match’ performance as the South Africans defeated Ghana 2-0 at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. When the teams return to the same venue today, Banyana Banyana will be expected to overcome Tanzania, who are making only their second WAFCON appearance. However, Mbane has stressed that they cannot afford to undermine the Twiga Stars and has urged her teammates to approach the match with the same mentality they showed against Ghana. Having experienced the fierce competition within African women’s football,…