Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-01 i Mercury

August 1, 2025, marks the dawn of a new era for South Africa, albeit a troubling one, as a hefty 30% export tariff to the United States came into effect. This significant policy change has sent ripples through the nation’s economy, stirring anxiety among businesses and consumers alike. With no agreement in sight to prevent this trade burden, South Africans are bracing themselves for the ramifications on both local markets and international trade relations. US President Donald Trump last month announced that his administration would levy a staggering 30% tariff on all South African products entering the US, with some exclusions or reduced tariffs on metals and minerals, in a bid to address long-standing trade imbalances and unfair market restrictions. South Africa exports billions of rands’ worth of goods to…

MTN Nigeria, the biggest subsidiary of the South African telecoms provider, experienced robust demand in the second quarter and saw a sharp turnaround in first-half profit as the West African economy began to stabilise. “The macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria showed notable improvements (six months to June 30), including a relatively stable naira, improved foreign exchange (forex) liquidity and easing inflationary pressures,” said MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola. This follows recent economic instability during which many South African companies suffered foreign exchange-related losses, in particular, from their operations in Nigeria. MTN Nigeria posted a N414.9 billion net profit in the first half of 2025, a dramatic turnaround from the N519.1bn loss in the first half of 2024. “Building on momentum from the first quarter, we delivered strong growth in service revenue…

Woolworths Holdings has warned that its adjusted headline earnings per share (aHEPS) will fall between 17% and 22% for the year to June 29 after a restructuring impacted its Australian business, and despite continued revenue growth in South Africa. The grocery and fashion, health and beauty retailer warned in a trading statement Thursday that aHEPS will likely be between 292.8 cents to 311.6 cents, compared with 375.4 cents at the same time last year. As of this month, more than 24 000 Woolworths employees have access to health insurance, the first group in the retail sector to offer benefits of this scale. Turnover for the group increased by 6.4% and concessional sales by 7.3% in the 52 weeks to June 29, despite the tough macroeconomic conditions and significant uncertainty arising…

While many South Africans are doing their best to save, too few understand the difference between budgeting, saving, and financial planning. As a result, they often end up using their savings to cover everyday expenses, leading to frustration, shortfalls, and savings that vanish by month-end. This confusion is one of the biggest barriers to long-term financial well-being in the country. The problem is that many people believe saving alone is enough, but without a financial plan that shapes their daily habits and future goals, those savings are not sustainable. They disappear, and then there is no structure to rebuild them. That is where people get stuck, reacting instead of planning. Recent data from the FSCA’s Retail Financial Customer Behaviour and Sentiment Report supports this. The report shows that most people…

RHINO poaching is not just a conservation crisis, it is a national emergency that strikes at the heart of South Africa’s identity, economy and global reputation. Every rhino slaughtered is not only a brutal reminder of the greed driving illicit wildlife trafficking but also a symbol of how close we are to losing one of the most iconic species that define us as a nation. South Africa is globally recognised as one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, a prestigious title reserved for nations that harbour the majority of Earth’s species and are exceptionally rich in biodiversity. Our legacy in conservation is a proud one. The remarkable story of the southern white rhino, brought back from the brink of extinction by the unwavering commitment of Dr Ian Player…

The government says it has put various alternative mechanisms in place to tackle the proposed US 30% import tariff on South African exporters. The tariff kicks in today. South Africa is among several countries facing punitive tariffs from the US as it moves to protect its own manufacturer and labour force. US President Donald Trump announced the tariffs in April, but delayed them for 90 days to allow countries to negotiate better deals. South Africa has been trying to negotiate a trade deal with the US since May but is yet to agree on terms. On Tuesday, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) said it remains committed to the cause and awaits substantive feedback from the US on the final status of the country’s framework deal. The department…

Disbarred senior advocate Seth Nthai has been convicted and sentenced by the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to a hefty fine after pleading guilty to corruption charges. Nthai admitted to soliciting a R5 million bribe from Italian businessman Mario Marcenaro during a meeting in Sandton in October 2009. The high court this week accepted a plea and sentence agreement approved by the State and defence. In terms of the agreement, the court imposed a fine of R500 000 or two years’ imprisonment for Nthai. In addition, he received a five-year suspended sentence, wholly suspended for five years on the condition that he was not convicted of a similar offence during the suspension period. In delivering the sentence, the court acknowledged the seriousness of the offence, noting that the complainant in the…

KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with three counts of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. The arrest took place on Wednesday, in Nhlabankosi, a village in Umthwalume, following an intensive investigation by local detectives. The case dates back to June 27, when Sandile Mkhize, 45, Xoliswa Mbhele, 33, and Ndunduzo Duma, 34, were ambushed while driving along the R102 Road in Umthwalume. Mkhize had just left court when the ambush occurred, resulting in all three victims being fatally wounded. In a collateral incident, a nearby bus stop patron was injured by a stray bullet and required medical attention. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said the investigation was led by Hibberdene detectives. They received critical information regarding the suspect’s location. Subsequently, an operation involving multiple police…

A relative of slain DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu is among those who have been arrested in connection with his murder. The DA said in a statement that it can confirm that two more people appeared at the Howick Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with Ndlovu's murder. One of the suspects is his relative. Ndlovu was a councillor in the Umngeni Local Municipality, which is governed by the DA. He was gunned down at his home a few years ago, and several people have been arrested in connection with his murder. The latest arrests were carried out by the political killings task team of the police. According to the official SAPS statement, two additional suspects were arrested, including a 56-year-old Inkosi and a 26-year-old suspect who is alleged to have coordinated…

The Hyundai Tucson has always been a solid and dependable player in the midsize SUV space. But despite its sportier looks, the latest generation model has failed to match the popularity of its predecessor. That’s not altogether surprising, given that in these tough times many buyers have gravitated towards more affordable vehicles, such as the locally-produced Toyota Corolla Cross, and the proliferation of new cut-price offerings from China. Hyundai SA have responded as best they can, releasing a facelifted model earlier this year, which brought a R39,000 price cut to the base version, with the 2.0 Premium petrol model now costing R559,900. The recent facelift brought some purposeful enhancements to the Tucson, with the front end gaining a more rectangular grille, incorporating claw-like “hidden” headlight elements. A new rear bumper…

Nonkululeko Mlaba was the Queen of the Night at a glittering Cricket SA Awards at the Emperors Palace last night. The Proteas Women’s star scooped four prestigious prizes: SA Women’s Player of the Year, Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, T20 Player of the Year and Women’s Best Delivery Fuelled by KFC. Mlaba, who is nicknamed Lefty, was consistent across all formats, starring with the ball in the Proteas’ solitary Test match, claiming a maiden 10-wicket haul, while she also bagged 15 ODI wickets at an average of 22, and a further 16 T20I wickets at 18.62. She spearheaded the Proteas’ charge to a successive ICC T20 World Cup final in the UAE last year, where the left-arm spinner finished as the tournament’s second top wicket-taker with 12 scalps at…

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema is hoping the African Nations Championship (CHAN) will offer Bafana Bafana a chance to break new ground after an absence of more than a decade from the continental tournament. Maema, who captained South Africa during a number of crucial CHAN qualifiers earlier this year, is expected to retain a central role in the squad for the tournament finals. Notably, he remains one of the few players in the current team still under contract with a Premier Soccer League club. The midfielder’s standout displays during the CHAN qualifiers helped him win back the confidence of Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, whose midfield options are among the strongest in the league. His timely return to form saw him earn more minutes at club level. Despite being linked with…

ArcelorMittal South Africa’s interim headline loss was virtually unchanged at R1.01 billion, non-core asset sales may be necessary and the closure of the Longs business in Vereniging next month is still on the cards. All this bad news sent the beleaguered steel maker’s share price tumbling 7.4% on the JSE late Thursday afternoon to R1.00. The price has fallen steadily from R1.36 a year ago. “Subdued market demand, disruptive rail and electricity interruptions (with a R358m cost impact), and aggressive import penetration placed significant pressure on volumes and margins. Domestic sales volumes fell 10%, and exports by 13%, while long steel imports, predominantly from Zimbabwe, rose sharply,” CEO Kobus Verster said. He warned that should due diligence by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) not yield an outcome, non-core assets would…

Multinational mining and metals processing group Sibanye-Stillwater, which is listed in South Africa and America, has filed an antidumping petition with the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) on imports of unwrought palladium from Russia. Sibanye-Stillwater, together with the representative union at its US PGM operations in Montana, the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers Union), said on Thursday they have initiated legislative processes intended to ensure the sustainability of Sibanye-Stillwater's US PGM operations and protect the long-term viability of domestic United States platinum group metals (PGM) supply. Neal Froneman, the CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, said, “We believe that Russian palladium imports are being sold below market prices due to various factors, beginning primarily after…

With credit increasingly being used to cover essential living costs such as food, rent, electricity, and transport, alarm bells are being sounded about unsustainable debt levels of consumers, according to the National Financial Ombud Scheme of South Africa. The National Financial Ombud Scheme South Africa (NFO) describes itself as a single, one-stop, all-in-one dispute resolution service made up of four former longstanding industry ombud schemes: the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance, the Ombudsman for Life Insurance, the Credit Ombud, and the Ombudsman for Banking Services. The NFO says it is concerned about high levels of debt exposure in the wake of the release of TransUnion’s Q1 2025 Industry Insights Report, which confirms a troubling trend: credit products commonly used by lower- and middle-income consumers are experiencing rapid growth in both uptake…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has threatened to take to the streets following the ruling made by the Constitutional Court, which has unanimously dismissed the party’s case challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decisions regarding the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. MKP had challenged Ramaphosa’s decision to put police minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and establish the Madlanga commission of inquiry. However the Concourt denied MKP leader Jacob Zuma and the party direct access. The court’s decision paves the way for Cachalia to be sworn in as the acting police minister at the Union Buildings in Tshwane today. “In accordance with section 91(3)(c), President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Prof. Cachalia as Minister in the National…

Parliament's Ethics Committee has imposed a R10 000 fine on Deputy President Paul Mashatile for failing to declare a diamond gift from businessman Louis Liebenberg to his wife. Mashatile failed to make the disclosure in the confidential part of his financial and registrable interests register. The committee, through the Office of the Registrar, received a formal complaint against Mashatile on March 5, 2025, for an alleged breach of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Members' Interests. The code requires Members of Parliament to disclose gifts received by their immediate family in the confidential part of the register. Following consideration of the complaint and perusal of the confidential part of the Deputy President's disclosed interests, the committee noted that the gift in question (a diamond from Louis Liebenberg) was not…

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has revealed that she hired a private public relations firm to address the allegations made against her because matters being discussed in the public domain about her are unrelated to her role as the political head of the department, and she will be footing the bill. This was after questions were raised as to why she used the services of a private firm when she has a large communications team at her disposal. Among the allegations that surfaced against the MEC were that her family farm received a loan and agricultural support from Ithala Bank, the employment of family members in government positions, and media interference. KZN Health spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said: “The MEC chose not to use official government communication channels, as she considered…

The Department of Home Affairs has intensified its fight against corruption and misconduct within its ranks, announcing the immediate dismissal of five more officials this week. This brings the total number of officials dismissed for offences ranging from fraud to sexual assault to 38 over the past 12 months. The progress follows a recent crackdown on a passport syndicate in Durban, which led to the arrest of two officials and three members of the public. “In just 12 months, we have already rid Home Affairs of 38 crooked and delinquent officials,” said Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber. He issued a stern warning to those engaged in illicit activities. “I repeat my warning to anyone involved in corruption: the days of defrauding this department, or committing acts of sexual…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that with the electric vehicle white paper and the incentive programme, the country has committed to a stable, predictable and supportive framework for companies to be able to invest and grow in South Africa. Speaking at the BMW plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, with the theme “A strategic vision for South Africa’s automotive future”, he was quick to praise the company for the work they have been doing. BMW South Africa manufactures the X3 range of SUVs, exporting them to more than 24 countries around the world. More importantly, they are the sole manufacturer of the BMW X3 plug-in hybrid. Transformation “We are on an exciting journey of transformation, change, and development in numerous ways, and your efforts have been pivotal in driving this transformation forward. “The…

Stellenbosch FC are ready to be the Western Cape flagbearers in South Africa’s football top-tier this season, according to veteran goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt. Local rivals Cape Town City were relegated at the end of last season, while Stellies finished in a credible third position for the second consecutive season. The Winelands club also finished runners-up in the MTN8, and enjoyed a dream run to the semi-finals in the Caf Confederation Cup. Langeveldt feels the Maroons have become accustomed to carrying the Cape football’s hopes on their shoulders. “Over the past few seasons, I think we were carrying Cape Town football,” Langeveldt said at the MTN8 launch at the SuperSport Studios in Randburg. “Last season we won a trophy, this season we want to continue with that, winning trophies. Last season…

Oscar Piastri returns to the scene of his first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend seeking to stretch his lead in the title race over his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The 24-year-old Australian, with six wins from 13 races this year, has a 16-point lead over Norris, but he is well aware of the potential pitfalls ahead. "I'm looking forward to going back to where I had my first win," said Piastri. "It's a great city and a cool track and a fun weekend so it will be nice, but once we are in the cars and out on track all that will be forgotten." His victory last year came with the help of team orders. Having taken the lead from pole-sitter Norris at the start he fell…

Monetary Policy Committee reduces benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to 7% The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) has signalled potential future interest rate cuts as it embarks on a strategic adjustment to its inflation-targeting framework from the midpoint of 4.5% to 3%. This comes as the Sarb’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Thursday unanimously reduced its benchmark lending rate for the second time in a row by 25 basis points to 7%, 2025, the lowest level since November 2022. This means that the prime lending rate will also decline from 10.75% to 10.50% per annum. The cut was widely anticipated amid concerns over a new US tariff regime threatening the already fragile economy. FNB chief economist Mamello Matikinca-Ngwenya said the decision highlighted the MPC’s focus on stable domestic…

SA Breweries (SAB), which managed to grow its revenues and profits by the mid-single digits for the second quarter to end-June, has warned that increasing volumes of illegal alcohol products were entering the South African market. SAB CEO Richard Rivett-Carnac, interviewed on the same day as its parent Anheuser-Busch InBev released its half-year report, said illegal alcohol product sales were now estimated to make up as much as about 20% of the local market, generating up to R25 billion a year in sales. This also translated into a loss to the government of many billions of rand through unpaid customs and excise duties and other taxes, he said in an interview. He said many illegal alcohol product vendors were operating relatively sophisticated schemes, such as recycling bottles, counterfeiting brand labels…

In a rapidly evolving world, fostering entrepreneurial skills in our children is critical. Cultivating innovation, resilience, and a proactive mindset from an early age lays the foundation for future success – and parents play a pivotal role in nurturing these qualities. Here’s how parents can empower children to navigate an ever-changing landscape with an entrepreneurial spirit. Model entrepreneurship at home: Entrepreneurship is an attitude, not just an occupation, making it easy to model at home. Encouraging curiosity, independence, and problem-solving is essential. Prosek and Rende’s book, ‘Raising can-do kids,’ identifies seven key entrepreneurial traits to nurture: exploration, innovation, optimism, risk-taking, industriousness, likeability, and serving others. Importantly, parents don’t need to be business magnates to set an entrepreneurial example. The family home is ideal for teaching soft skills such as collaboration,…

Nearly two decades have passed in Nkosana Makate’s fight to receive compensation for his Please Call Me (PCM) invention, and yet there is no end in sight in the matter. This as the Constitutional Court yesterday upheld an appeal by cellphone service provider Vodacom and ruled that the matter must be reconsidered by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). Makate said he is ready to fight on. Acting Deputy Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said the SCA failed to deal with all the matters that were presented before it during the appeal. “The jurisdiction of the court is confined to constitutional issues. In this judgment, we dealt with factual issues, without deciding them, purely to demonstrate the SCA’s failure to comply with the duty of proper consideration,” Justice Madlanga said.…

Ten municipalities have been struggling to pay salaries of municipal employees in at least five provinces since April this year. The implicated municipalities are located in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Cape. The culprits are Mafube, Kopanong, Mohokare, Impendle, Jozini, Nkomazi, Thaba Chweu, !Kheis, Ditsobotla, and Mamusa local municipalities. Kopanong, Thaba Chweu, and Ditsobotla local municipalities have a history of non-payment of employee salaries, as they had been experiencing the same issue during the 2024/25 financial year. This was revealed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa when he responded in writing to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Constance Nonhlanhla Mkhonto. He explained that a municipal manager was responsible for the management of the expenditure of the municipality and was also mandated…

Ashley Oosthuizen, who is imprisoned in Thailand after she was found guilty of drug smuggling, is one of 81 000 inmates who will receive royal clemency on the king’s birthday, with 12 739 prisoners to be released and thousands more to have their sentences reduced. Oosthuizen is from the Western Cape. Oosthuizen’s mother, Lynn Blignaut, confirmed Oosthuizen was included in the pardon. She is currently facing 13.4 years behind bars after the term was reduced from 20 years earlier this year during an appeal. According to the news publication, Nation Thailand, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong confirmed the pardon will benefit over 80 000 prisoners. Blignaut said it was the beginning of positive news for her daughter, who will have her sentence reduced. “We find grace and we are grateful for…

Councillors in Msunduzi Municipality are feeling unsafe and are demanding an overhaul of security after one of their colleagues allegedly walked into the council chamber during a meeting with a gun. The incident involving an ANC councillor occurred at the City Hall on Wednesday. The DA and the EFF said there is a pressing need to evaluate and overhaul the security at the City Hall. While the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) councillor described the act as criminal in terms of council procedures and shocking. The City Hall building houses, among other key offices, the chamber, the mayor's office and the municipal manager’s office, and it used to accommodate the offices of some members of the executive committee. ACDP's Rienus Niemand stated that they found the act to be intimidating.…

Currently sitting in second place on the vehicle sales charts, it’s not for nothing that Suzuki has been hitting the lights out with its refreshingly cheerful portfolio. Chief among those is the Swift that’s dominating the passenger car market. Popular among first-time buyers It also helps that the brand is selling its cars in the price and categories that South African consumers are spending their money on, starting in the sub R200 000 region, with the most expensive evening out under R550 000. The B-segment hatchback Swift has also proven popular with first-time buyers, and I know of quite a few people who have bought one for their children going on to study further after school. We spent some time in the flagship 1.2 GLX, priced at R271 900, and…

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus says the first week of the team’s conditioning camp in Johannesburg has laid a solid foundation for the forthcoming Rugby Championship, and momentum will be accelerated when the players reassemble on Sunday. The team wrapped up the first block of training yesterday and will spend the weekend with their families before reporting for duty again in a few days, where they will continue to build on their structures for the opening leg of the tournament. The Boks play back-to-back Test matches against the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 16, and Cape Town on August 23. “We had an intense week of conditioning to get the players ready for what will undoubtedly be a challenging Rugby Championship campaign against some of the top teams in the…

The big question ahead of tomorrow’s final Test match between the British and Irish Lions and Australia in Sydney is: who wants it more? Few will be more glued to their screens than Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, as the teams contest a dead rubber match. The Lions are 2-0 up in the series and have said they would love to make it three-zip — but do they want it that much? And will the Aussies be able to replicate their magnificent showing last week, when they came within 30 seconds of levelling the series? The Wallabies delivered their best performance in more than four years to almost upset a Lions side that had been in a different class in the first Test. Nobody saw an Australian revival coming, but it…

Goal-kicking ace Vusi Moyo is among six Junior Springboks included in the Sharks XV squad for their Currie Cup visit to the Bulls in Pretoria tomorrow. Moyo, Jaco Williams, Albie Bester, Ceano Everson, Simphiwe Ngobese, and Matt Romao have injected U20 world championship success into the Sharks side that endured a baptism of fire last week at Ellis Park, where they copped 40 points from the Lions. Coach JP Pietersen says the U20 stars, fresh from their triumph in Italy, have picked up the team’s intensity in training this week. “The time is ripe for the youngsters to make the step up into Currie Cup rugby,” said Pietersen. “Their recent achievements on the world stage will add firepower.” Williams, with his eye for the tryline and pace to match, has…