Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-28 i Mercury

The JSE on Friday said it had fined Anushka Bogdanov, a former director of EOH Holdings, R500 000 and immediate disqualification from holding the office of a director or officer of a company listed on the JSE for a period of 10 years for fake qualifications. It said that Bogdanov was appointed as an independent non-executive director of EOH Holdings on June, 20, 2019 and served as the chairperson of the Social and Ethics Committee, a member of the Governance and Risk Committee and Nomination and Remuneration Committee and then as the lead independent non-executive director in February 2020. Bogdanov resigned from EOH with effect from July 28, 2020. Upon Bogdanov's appointment as director of EOH, her Curriculum Vitae provided to the company stated that she held a PhD…

Cape Town and Durban have emerged as two of Africa’s most investable logistics and industrial markets due to their resilience, adaptability and strong investor appeal, according to Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL. Cape Town continues to outperform, with rising rents and declining vacancies underpinned by a period of semigration, operational stability and constrained industrial land. “Demand is being driven by a flight to quality, semigration from other provinces and growing e-commerce,” said Shane Howe, the head of Western Cape Industrial Broking at Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL. Strong governance and functioning infrastructure position the city as a low-risk node compared to Gauteng. “The Cape market is supported by limited stock availability and escalating demand, especially for modern industrial parks,” said Howe. Development hotspots such as Brackengate and Richmond Park are…

It was an interesting week with the JSE All Share index hitting 100 000 points on Wednesday morning and the gold price breaking through $3 400 an ounce again. Internationally, US President Donald Trump announced trade deals with Japan and with the Philippines, and there are reports that the EU and US are nearing a deal. In local news the Government of National Unity held together once more as the DA agreed to support the Appropriation Bill after President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. On Thursday, Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau said that a “condition precedent document” has been signed as a precursor to finalisation of the trade negotiations with the US, but little details were available. It was reported that the Framework…

Hyprop Investments has withdrawn its bid for JSE-listed MAS because the central and eastern Europe property group, along with its major shareholder PK Investments, has refused to provide documents about a disputed development joint venture (DJV) agreement. A number of South African institutional minority shareholders, collectively holding about 15% of MAS shares, recently raised concerns regarding MAS's corporate governance, historical disclosure, and potential conflicts of interest among board members. They wanted two members of MAS’s board to step down and proposed the addition of four independent directors. Hyprop, with its share-for-share or optional cash bid, was one of two potential suitors for MAS, the other being PK Investments, MAS’s biggest shareholder at present and the other party in the DJV. Hyprop stated on Friday that the refusal by the Hyprop…

The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), Tsakani Maluleke, formally instructed KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to intervene in a northern KwaZulu-Natal municipality, citing serious governance and financial failings. The embattled uMkhanyakude District Municipality has come under renewed pressure after Cogta confirmed that the MEC had received formal correspondence from the Auditor-General requesting immediate intervention following the uMkhanyakude District Municipality’s continued failure to address material irregularities. The AGSA’s instruction is based on findings relating to the municipality’s long-standing non-implementation of a credit and debt collection policy, as required under Section 62(1)(f)(ii) of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). “The failure of the municipality to implement its credit and debt collection policy for a number of years and to take reasonable steps to recover…

Negotiations between FlySafair and Solidarity, the union representing the airline’s striking pilots, appear to have made progress, but issues surrounding the controversial rostering system remain unresolved, the union said in a statement issued at the weekend. Solidarity said these roster issues, rather than money, were now at the core of the dispute, which is currently being mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). FlySafair submitted a final offer via e-mail on Saturday morning, Solidarity said, but this failed to address the “core issues” that pilots have been raising for some time. It said the airline’s final salary offer for the next three years was largely acceptable. However, important concessions, such as a more predictable shift roster and at least one weekend off per month, were not adequately…

The Fourth G20 Development Working Group (DWG) Meeting and Ministerial Meeting, focused on the need to tackle illicit financial flows, strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, advance inclusive social protection systems and align development finance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the ministerial meeting, Minister Maropene Ramokgopa said South Africa’s Presidency placed particular emphasis on two critical enablers: the mobilisation of domestic resources through curbing illicit financial flows and the acceleration of universal, inclusive, and adequate social protection. “With just five years remaining before the 2030 deadline, only 52.4% of the global population is effectively covered by at least one form of social protection. In Sub-Saharan Africa, that figure stands at a mere 13%, compared to 86% in North America and Europe. The disparity is stark. Social protection, in particular social…

The Lions’ handsome 46-5 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks came at a cost, with flank Izan Esterhuizen suffering a serious injury. However, this setback could be offset by the timely arrival of burly Bathobele Hlekani, a Junior Springbok who made a huge impact in Italy. Hlekani has been with the Sharks but, curiously, has slipped out of their net. His signature is a significant coup for a Lions squad that usually sees players going the other way – to Durban, as has been the recent case with Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and Emmanuel Tshituka. Hlekani was one of three players from the victorious Junior Bok side at the World U20 Championship to be invited to train with the Springboks. Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi said they would like Hlekani…

Performance coach Swys de Bruin admitted that a shift in the Springbok Women’s approach after half-time bore fruit as they came close to a come-from-behind win against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa were more direct and physical in the second half, keeping the ball tight and employing crash-ball tactics after being outplayed in the opening 40 minutes. “We simply did not get going in the first half, but I have to give credit to the team for the way they adapted in the second half, where we created numerous chances,” De Bruin said after the 34–26 defeat to the New Zealanders, who led 20–12 at the break. “If we did not have one of our tries disallowed at a crucial stage in the second…

India’s enthralling series in England is going all the way to the finish after the resilient tourists drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford yesterday. Record-breaking skipper Shubman Gill scored his fourth century of the campaign before Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also made hundreds. England remain 2-1 up in this five-match contest ahead of a quick turnaround to Thursday’s start of an Oval finale, where an India victory in south London would ensure a share of the spoils for Gill’s men. A draw looked anything but likely when India collapsed to 0/2 in the opening over of their second innings on Saturday as Chris Woakes struck with successive deliveries after England had piled up a mammoth 669 in their first innings. But Gill, in on a hat-trick, went on…

Recent “leaks” between the US and SA governments indicate deep mistrust between the two administrations US foreign policy expert Michael Walsh has warned that the recent “leaks” between the US and the South African governments were indications of deep mistrust between the two administrations. Reuters reported on Saturday that US embassy Charge d'Affaires in South Africa, David Greene, reached out to Washington asking for clarification whether non-whites such as "coloured" South Africans who speak Afrikaans qualify for the refugee program for South Africans under the contentious US policy. US President Donald Trump's February executive order in February establishing the program specified that it was for "Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination," referring to an ethnic group descended mostly from Dutch settlers. Walsh - a…

South Africa’s labour market faces a difficult contradiction: unemployment is high, yet many businesses can’t find the skilled workers they need. This is especially true in sectors like logistics and construction, where foreign labour is often used to fill urgent gaps. While this approach helps keep operations running, it often raises concerns that jobs are being taken away from South Africans. But framing the issue as a choice between local and foreign labour doesn’t capture the complexity of the problem. What’s needed is a practical, balanced approach - one that meets immediate business needs while supporting long-term local skills development. Temporary Employment Services (TES) providers can help businesses strike this balance by handling legal compliance, ensuring fair hiring, and supporting programmes that transfer skills from foreign to local workers. Skills…

Democracies are sites of contestation. It is important to engage in debate anchored upon facts, honesty and respect for institutions of social dialogue. Cosatu has been dismayed by the explosion of fake news over the past few years. Of late we have seen this addiction to peddling hysteria expand to the Nedlac labour laws reforms negotiations. It is important to reassure workers that their hard-won rights, guaranteed by the Constitution and set in law, will continue to remain intact. Covid-19 highlighted numerous gaps in our labour laws, from 4 million informal workers falling outside the social security net, to actors and artists lacking collective bargaining protection. The Department of Employment and Labour with Business and Labour at Nedlac agreed to an open discussion on our labour laws…

The share price of Cashbuild, the JSE-listed building materials and related products retail group, fell by 2.25% on Friday after it announced a 4% increase in revenue for the fourth quarter ending June 30. In an operational update, the group noted that revenue growth was 3% when compared with the 304 stores that were in existence before July 2023. Revenue from 14 new stores opened by July 2025 contributed 1% to the growth. The share price closed at R139 on Friday, which is approximately 17.8% lower than at the same time last year. For the financial year, revenue for the group increased by 5%. Transactions through the tills during the fourth quarter rose by 6% compared to the same period last year, with existing stores contributing a 5% increase and…

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is set to deliver a formal proposal on Monday that includes a series of alternatives to retrenchments at Macsteel Service Centres South Africa. This initiative aims to establish a voluntary severance framework that respects the dignity of workers while considering the current socio-economic challenges they face. On Saturday, Numsa called on management at Macsteel to abandon its unilateral measures and return to the negotiation table in good faith. This plea follows Macsteel's announcement last month that it has taken the difficult decision to enter into a process of restructuring, which may affect a number of its operations and employees. The company said the global steel and manufacturing sectors have undergone significant changes over the past few years, and neither South Africa…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an urgent investigation into contracts awarded by Kenny Kunene. His resignation as a Proportional Representation (PR) councillor and MMC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg comes amid mounting public and political pressure, following a claim of his alleged association with a suspected member of a murder syndicate, a link now under internal investigation by the Patriotic Alliance (PA). Kunene was found at businessman Katiso Molefe’s Sandton house last week when the SAPS Political Killings Task Team and the Gauteng Organised Crime Detectives arrived to arrest Molefe in connection with the murder of DJ Sumbody. In his resignation letter, Kunene stated that: “I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation as a Proportional Representation Councillor for the Patriotic Alliance, effective…

The Department of Correctional Services has revealed that it has a staggering population of 57 000 remand detainees while prisons are bursting at the seams with an overcrowding of 163 000 prisoners. The department said its attempts to refer cases to court for some categories of prisoners to be released to serve community corrections were not yielding much success, as few matters were approved. Deputy Minister Lindiwe Ntshalintshali said the law provided that remand detainees may be considered for correctional supervision after serving almost two years of uninterrupted detention. “Where we apply and seek approval, we don’t have control over that, hence we say the engagement between ministers (Correctional and Justice) is very important so that they can assist in that regard,” she said, adding that some remand detainees can’t…

Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) will not discipline the ‘rebelling’ six members of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature who voted against the Division of Revenue Bill because they did the ‘right thing’. This was confirmed by the party’s provincial leader, Willies Mchunu, on Saturday. He said there was no plan to act against the six Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) for their action, which the party does not deem wrong. He stated that when you look at the national leadership position on the Bill which rejected it, the six members do not seem to be in the wrong. Mchunu further stated that there was no communication between the provincial leadership and the caucus before voting, therefore, the party will not act against anyone, adding that he has directed the caucus to discuss…

Series leader Oscar Piastri grabbed an early lead and extended his title advantage yesterday when he drove to a perfectly-controlled triumph ahead of McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris at a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Australian managed his tyres expertly to remain out of reach in the closing laps as the Briton, 25, who had started on pole, closed in on a harder-wearing compound, finishing 3.415 seconds clear as McLaren reeled off their sixth 1-2 in a dominant season. It was Piastri’s first win at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, his sixth this season and the eighth of his career, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship to sixteen points after thirteen of this season’s 24 races. For McLaren, it was a tenth win this year. Charles Leclerc…

What is it that could motivate a team that has won a competition an unprecedented three times in a row to want to win it again? Could the lure of extending the record further drive Orlando Pirates to going all the way in this season’s MTN8? The Buccaneers have made the season-opening competition their own ever since Spaniard Jose Riveiro took charge – winning the tournament contested by teams that finished in the top eight from the preceding season every year from 2022 to 2024. Riveiro has since left Pirates to join continental giants Al Ahly of Egypt and the big question is which coach is going to replace him as the king of the MTN8. The Ghost surely need the trophy to remain their property and will be backing…

Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo has lauded flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain for his pivotal performance in the Bulls’ emphatic 48-23 victory over Western Province at the Cape Town Stadium at the weekend. Chamberlain has had a challenging time at the Bulls since joining them from the Sharks, struggling for game time in the United Rugby Championship. However, in the Currie Cup opener, he shrugged off the rust, expertly guiding the Bulls to a six-try win. Scrumhalf Zak Burger and Number 8 Jeandré Rudolph each contributed two tries. Chamberlain was flawless with his kicking, converting all eight attempts at goal – six conversions and two penalties. “The last time Boeta started a game was about five months ago, and to come out and put in a performance like he did, I’m sure he’ll…

At South Africa’s northern border, the crossings continue quietly, steadily and mostly unrecorded. While public debate often centres on the visibility of foreign nationals, the far more consequential reality remains largely neglected: South Africa has not conducted a comprehensive national audit of migration flows in over a decade. There is no integrated system tracking who enters, who stays or how movements across borders intersect with labour markets, infrastructure pressure or regional development. This absence is not merely an administrative gap; it is an entrenched institutional blind spot that weakens governance, inflames public anxiety and erodes our credibility in a continent that is moving towards integration through data. The Department of Home Affairs, along with other state organs, operates with fragmented or outdated systems. A biometric border management system, budgeted at…

The Bureau for Market Research (BMR) has remained cautiously optimistic about the consumer landscape in South Africa over the next three years. This is according to the BMR's latest flagship study, titled Consumer Market Outlook for 2025 to 2027, which delivered critical insights into evolving consumer sentiment and spending habits shaped by macroeconomic influences in South Africa. Authored by Dr Requier Wait, chief researcher at the BMR, the report examines how changing economic and policy conditions are poised to impact consumer behaviour over the next three years. The BMR projected that modest growth in real household consumption, underpinned by wage increases and easing inflation, will battle against high household debt and a heavier burden of personal income tax. The report forecasts a 2% rise in retail sales in real terms…

The national dialogue has long started, not only with Lt Mkhanazi explosive and important revelations exclusively on South Africa, but much earlier in the year with Vusi Mavimbela revealing global genesis of the “whitening” project which sheds light on Trumpism. The wise will visit “The Africa in Brazil.” In his book titled, The Africa in Brazil, the author Vusi Mavimbela, a former director general of South Africa’s National Intelligence Agency, has proved to be more than a national spook. Through his pen Mavimbela is not only physically ambidextrous, but he is also a cranially ambidextrous global intellectual and a deep thinker and contributor to how a better world is possible. In his earlier title, Time is not a measure, Mavimbela’s book explored South Africa’s contemporary post-apartheid rapture, which in the…

Fast moving consumer goods and food manufacturer AVI said headline earnings per share were expected to increase between 5% and 7% for the year to June 30, off the back of only a 1% increase in group revenue. The headline earnings per share forecast of between 721.5 and 735.2 cents would be higher than last year's 687.1 cents, when the final results were expected to be released on September 8, the group directors said in a tradong statement on Friday. They said the results were achieved despite a very challenging consumer trading environment, with "anaemic demand" in many of the group’s key categories. The directors said the 6.4% increase in second semester operating profit was a good result considering the very high growth figure that was reported for the same…

Concerns have been raised about the high commercial property rates charged by the eThekwini Municipality in comparison to the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg. Publicly available information indicates that eThekwini Municipality has the highest rates, a view echoed by the South African Property Owners Association. Documents reveal that in the City of Cape Town, the rates randage on commercial property for the 2025/26 financial year is 0.016824, as confirmed by the city. In the City of Johannesburg, the charge for the same financial year is 0.023862. In eThekwini the rates randage stands at 3.6234 for the same year. Councillors of the municipality and a resident, have warned that these high rates could undermine the city’s efforts to attract businesses. The South African Property Owners Association confirmed…

The Oceans Umhlanga development continues to anchor major investment in KwaZulu-Natal, with Southern Sun announcing a landmark R1.5 billion hotel and residences project set to open in late 2027. The announcement, made during the official roof wetting ceremony of the R1.4bn North Residential Tower on Friday, further cements Oceans Umhlanga’s position as a key driver of regional economic growth. Southern Sun CEO Marcel von Aulock said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this extraordinary development. Oceans Umhlanga offers a world-class setting with unmatched positioning, and we are proud to anchor the hospitality component. “This new hotel will stand as a flagship for our group and a key asset in our national portfolio.” The new property will be called Southern Sun Hotel & Residences Oceans Umhlanga and will cater to both…

The highly anticipated Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on March 27 and 28, 2026 — but this time, the festival marks more than just a return. It signals the start of an exciting new chapter in the life of Africa’s most celebrated music event. Under the leadership of festival head, Shaakirah Adams, the festival is undergoing a powerful transformation — evolving into a year-long platform that celebrates music, fosters talent, and drives lasting social and economic impact. “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival must now become a movement — one that not only showcases great music but supports the people and communities behind it. It must be inclusive, African, developmental, and deeply impactful,” said Adams. This new direction sees the…

Martin Odegaard scored the winner from the spot in the 84th minute as Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 in a pre-season friendly in Singapore on Sunday. Viktor Gyökeres, the Swedish international striker signed on Saturday from Sporting Lisbon, was introduced to the crowd of more than 38 700 before kick-off. He watched from the bench as his new clubs won an entertaining encounter in the Singapore heat. The 27-year-old could make his debut when Arsenal take on Tottenham in Hong Kong next Thursday in another friendly. “We are increasing the quality of the squad all the time, so we’re super happy to have Viktor with us,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “It has been a long journey to get him here.” Newcastle, who were missing striker Alexander Isak as he considers his…

Tadej Pogacar closed out a supreme 21-day performance to win the Tour de France in Paris yesterday, crushing his rivals in the 3,400km slog to rack up a fourth title. Wout van Aert won the final-day cliffhanger on the cobbled roads of Montmartre, but Pogacar was spared any late challenge when rain forced times to be neutralised, but he gamely tried for the stage win anyway before Van Aert dropped him on the last climb. Pogacar was clearly enjoying himself as he played to the delighted crowds, racing to the head of the peloton near the Moulin Rouge cabaret at the foot of the climb. Huge crowds packed the old neighbourhood to follow his progress up and down the narrow lanes of the popular tourist spot in his leader’s yellow…