Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-29 i Mercury

South Africans continue to face persistent financial strain, with the country’s sluggish economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic offering little relief to households, according to the online research firm infoQuest. The data says that despite initial hopes that the post-pandemic period would bring improved financial stability, the reality for many remains unchanged. High unemployment, salary increases that lag behind inflation, and a weakened rand have contributed to stagnant household incomes, while the cost of living continues to rise. This has created an environment in which families are compelled to make difficult decisions simply to meet basic needs. In August 2025, infoQuest, in partnership with customer experience consultancy Decapod, surveyed to assess the financial well-being of South Africans and the strategies they are employing to cope. The study, which interviewed 300…

Across South Africa and around the world, women continue to navigate landscapes marked by systemic barriers, unconscious bias and entrenched stereotypes. Whether in boardrooms, council chambers, classrooms, or construction sites, the journey to recognition and representation remains uphill for many. This Women’s Month, we honour the boldness, resilience, and impact of women who refuse to be confined by these limitations. We celebrate those who rise, not just for themselves, but for others. And in doing so, we reflect on the work that still lies ahead. At eThekwini Municipality, we are proud to be part of this movement for change. While the journey is ongoing, we acknowledge the strides we have made in transforming the status quo, particularly in addressing gender imbalances in our workforce and leadership structures. Years ago, women…

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) has warned that criminals are making use of artificial intelligence to make their scams seem like the real deal. Sabric released its annual crime statistics report for 2024, revealing a substantial 18% decrease in financial crime losses, from R3.3 billion in 2023 to R2.7 billion in 2024. The report said this positive trend is a testament to the growing efficacy of the banking industry's enhanced prevention and detection strategies. However, while losses have diminished, the report warned of a burgeoning menace: the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scams that can easily deceive even the most vigilant consumer. Sabric CEO, Andre Wentzel, said: “Criminals are leveraging AI to create scams that appear more legitimate and convincing.” He elaborated on the implications…

THE stability of health services across KwaZulu-Natal is under threat as key leadership positions, including those of hospital CEOs and senior managers, have not been filled due to budget cuts. Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane expressed concerns that key positions are managed by individuals who are in an acting capacity because the department is not in a position to fill these critical roles. She briefed the members of the finance portfolio committee on these and other budget-related challenges recently. Members of the Health portfolio committee and labour unions concurred with her concerns, stating that the situation is critical and needs to be urgently addressed. Addressing the Finance Committee members regarding the state of the department's finances, MEC Simelane said the department was projected to overspend by more than R4 billion, but…

EFF President Julius Malema has vehemently rejected Wednesday's Equality Court ruling that found his statements constituted hate speech and incitement to violence, labelling the judgment a “grave distortion of history, philosophy, and the nature of political speech in a democratic society”. The ruling by the Western Cape Division of the Equality Court upheld claims by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and Dante van Wyk against Malema and the EFF. The SAHRC initiated the litigation in November 2022 following public complaints about comments Malema made at a political gathering in Cape Town in October 2022. The court found that the statements constituted an exhortation to kill white males. “You must never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that, at some point, there must be killing. This is a…

The postponement of the Madlanga Commission into criminality, political interference and corruption of law enforcement, favours those implicated to interfere with evidence and intimidate witnesses. This is according to experts and political parties, who raised concerns about the impact of the delay on the safety of witnesses and whistleblowers. On Tuesday, the Commission announced that its hearings, initially set to begin on September 1, will no longer commence on that date. The commission said this was due to delays in the procurement of essential infrastructure by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCD). This resulted in Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi suspending the department’s Director-General, Advocate Doc Mashabane, and the Deputy Director-General responsible for ICT in the department, Jabu Hlatshwayo, for their lack of due diligence in ensuring that the…

The National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) is warning South African consumers about a growing financial scam involving unsolicited offers for debt relief. The schemes are designed to unknowingly enrol individuals into a formal debt review programme, making them ineligible for future vehicle finance. How the scam works “South Africans are increasingly receiving unsolicited calls from organisations offering debt relief services. By participating in a brief survey and answering a series of questions with a simple ‘yes,’ consumers may find themselves enrolled in a debt review programme without providing explicit consent,” said Brandon Cohen, the NADA Chairperson. Debt spiral Debt review plays a significant role in assisting consumers who find themselves in a debt-spiral. The decision to enter formal counselling must not be taken lightly, and a range of options also…

Ashwell Prince may have arrived in England with one eye still closed after the long flight from Sydney and the other squarely focused on his trip to Anfield to watch his Liverpool face off against Premiership rivals Arsenal on Sunday, but the Proteas batting coach was pretty clear about the approach he wanted his charges to adopt in the upcoming three-match ODI series. Prince was adamant that his batting unit, which failed to register an individual century in the recent Australian series, would resist any temptation to curtail their attacking instincts. Instead, they would be looking to possibly even go harder when the opportunity arises. “Yes, maybe a little bit disappointing that nobody went on to score 100, but to be honest, the focus is more making an impact,” Prince…

Lando Norris said yesterday that other teams were catching up with his McLaren outfit, expecting many tough battles ahead as the Formula One season enters the home straight. McLaren have swept all before them this season, a dominant 299 points ahead of closest rivals Ferrari, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri clear favourites to take the individual title. "Of course, we as a team (have) been strong this year. But I feel like other people have caught up a little bit the last couple of races," Norris told reporters. "I don't expect to win by 20 seconds or something," added the 25-year-old, quipping however that he would "love it if that were the case". He said McLaren were going into every race hoping to wrap up the top two positions…

Liverpool and Manchester City will both come up against Real Madrid in this season's Champions League, while title-holders Paris Saint-Germain were handed a daunting set of opponents in yesterday’s draw — including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid will host City at the Santiago Bernabéu and also face Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield, setting up two of the standout fixtures of the league phase. Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who topped the league phase last season only to be eliminated by PSG in the last 16, will also host Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Qarabag of Azerbaijan at Anfield. Their away matches will be no less challenging, with trips to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, and Turkish champions Galatasaray on the cards. City, the 2023 Champions League winners, will…

I think the Patriotic Alliance leader, Gayton McKenzie, is a populist and an attention seeker. McKenzie also likes drawing attention to himself. He behaves as if he's the best thing that has ever happened to South Africa. Shame! As the minister of sports, arts and culture, part of his role is to promote social cohesion. This is important because of South Africa’s undesirable past, which includes many years of racial discrimination. Unfortunately, the nation is struggling to cohere. Instead of promoting social cohesion, McKenzie portrays as victims and presents himself as their leader and Messiah. As a result, he draws his support from this group. Therefore, his politics are narrow. The following question needs to be asked: Is McKenzie the right person to lead the sport, arts and culture department?…

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire all incompetent ANC ministers and mayors who are failing to deliver basic services. Speaking at a media briefing this week at Luthuli House, Malatji said the only way for the ANC to regain public trust was through decisive action against non-performing officials. His comments come as political parties gear up for the upcoming 2026 local government elections. “We are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to decisively fire all ANC ministers that are not implementing resolutions,” Malatji said. “We want the ANC to decisively remove all the mayors (and) anybody else who is deployed by the African National Congress on behalf of South Africa.” The country is battling with ongoing service delivery failures, including water shortages,…

At an altitude of close to 3 800 metres, Lhasa, which sits on the Tibetan Plateau in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region is one of the highest cities in the world and will take your breath away. Xizang has found itself at the centre of unwanted narratives perpetuated by those with an agenda, as it is home to a community of 7 million Tibetan Buddhists and it is the spiritual and physical seat of power for the Dalai Lama. This agenda has created a narrative of persecution, violation of human rights and the lack of autonomy but to the critical observer, Xizang is a province rich in diversity, spirituality, growth, development and in keeping with the rest of the country, equality for all its citizens. At the heart of Tibetan Buddhism…

The Western Cape has recorded hundreds of murders in just seven weeks, prompting urgent interventions from the police and a direct warning to gang leaders from Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia. From July 1 until August 23, 2025, hundreds of people were killed in the policing districts for the top 30 stations, known for violent crime, in the province. “I’m going to engage with religious leaders who have taken the initiative to talk to me,” Cachalia said. “I’ve addressed a communication to my office for a meeting so that I understand what is required, with religious leaders taking the initiative to talk with me on Monday. Hopefully, from those engagements, I will decide what needs to be done. I plan to be back in Cape Town to pay…

KwaZulu-Natal police have detained 15 suspects for questioning following the shooting and assault of e-hailing drivers in KwaDabeka township this week. The arrests were confirmed by SAPS police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda yesterday. “Police in KwaZulu-Natal have detained 15 people for questioning in connection with the altercation between e-hailing drivers and taxi owners and taxi drivers which resulted in the attempted murder of one e-hailing driver and the assault of another in KwaDabeka on Wednesday morning,” said Netshiunda. According to Netshiunda, police responded to reports of a gunshot, and when they arrived on Zaza Road, they discovered that a group of taxi owners and drivers had approached e-hailing drivers who had parked their vehicles on the side of the road and requested that they relocate them. “It was also reported…

Following the launch of the Ford Tourneo Custom last year, Ford has added two more variations with the reveal of the Custom Sport and range-topping Titanium X. With these two passenger-centric people carriers, the company hopes to increase its market share of the MPV segment. Both are built on short wheelbase configurations, but still keep their eight-seater configurations, while the Active and Trend versions in the line-up use the long wheelbase platform with additional luggage capacity. Let's take a closer look at what these two models have to offer. Custom Sport It takes many of the exterior design cues from the Transit Custom Sport van, including the honeycomb-style grille and full body-colour front bumper, Sport body kit with a rear spoiler, as well as dual black and blue sport stripes…

Ground zero. That’s where the Springbok Women’s team will be starting when they face Italy in their crucial Rugby World Cup encounter against Italy on Sunday. The Boks are chasing a historic first-ever spot in the quarterfinals, and victory over the higher-ranked Italians would secure a passage to the playoffs, regardless of the final Pool D encounter against France. Swys de Bruin’s team are brimming with confidence after their 66-6 demolition of South American debutants Brazil in their tournament opener, but are fully aware that the Europeans pose an altogether different challenge. “It was a great start. It's just a sad thing about our sport, knowing that whatever we have done in the last weekend does not matter this weekend. “(We're) reminding ourselves to start back from zero again,” said…

AT times, the excitement of the country when a prodigious youngster makes waves in domestic cricket could spell the end of a senior player’s career. The fans can be quick to forget what the senior player has done for the country in the past and be swallowed by the endless possibilities that a young cricketer brings with their rise. The same happened when the 17-year-old wicket-keeper batter Karabo Meso showcased her talents in provincial cricket. While the youngster was scoring centuries for fun in high school, many were already earmarking Meso to succeed Sinalo Jafta in the Proteas Women’s squad. Following Lizelle Lee’s retirement, Jafta took over as the main wicket-keeper, but lacked the batting pedigree that Lee had during her time. As a result, when Meso showed far better…

This Women’s Month, we celebrate the strength, grace, and brilliance of women across South Africa. While we honour achievements and raise our glasses to progress, there’s one powerful act that deserves just as much attention: drafting your Will. A Will is more than paperwork. It’s a deeply personal and empowering tool that protects what matters most, honours your journey, and ensures your legacy lives on. Here are seven meaningful ways to think about estate planning: Your Will is your voice, use it A Will isn’t just a legal document. It’s your voice, your values, and your final say. It ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Think of it as the last chapter in your story, one only you can write. You don’t need millions…

The will of a man with severe brain cancer, made about a month before his death, was challenged by his two siblings, who said that he lacked testamentary capacity due to his illness. In the last will signed by the now late John Winston Barrow, he left the bulk of his possessions to his partner. His siblings turned to the Gqeberha High Court in a bid to have his latest will overturned. Barrow was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2022. A month later, tests revealed advanced inoperable brain cancer. His condition worsened in December 2022, as he could not walk, struggled to stay upright, and could not feed himself. He required assistance from his partner, only identified as Channon, assisted by the applicants, who are two of Barrow’s three…

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is tightening the net on social media stars, using AI and data analytics to track undeclared influencer income in its bid to recover billions of rand in unpaid taxes. Social media influencers are being warned to get their tax affairs in order, as the taxman looks into undeclared income earned through online content creation and partnerships. The revenue service is on a mission to collect around R513 billion in unpaid taxes and earlier this year warned that it will be “unrelenting” in its efforts to meet the revised tax revenue target of R1 840.8bn for the 2024/25 fiscal year set by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana. The revenue service also confirmed earlier this year that it will be using artificial intelligence (AI) and data…

Kurt Winter’s new book, ‘Help Us Find Kerry’, sheds light on the tragic disappearance of his sister, Kerry Winter, and the ongoing fight for justice and social change. This tribute not only seeks to honour her memory but also aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and the importance of community support. Kerry, 35, a former Durban resident who was working in Dubai, disappeared in August 2008 after a violent argument with British ex-boyfriend Mark Arnold. Arnold was found guilty of Winter's murder and, after appealing the verdict, was sentenced to 25 years in jail. Speaking at the Johannesburg launch, event host Alison Weihe said this book tells the remarkable, brave journey of a man who moved “heaven and earth” to try and find his sister, who had been…

A decade after their Ponzi scheme ground to a halt, Cape Town ex-pastor Colin Davids, 58, of Platinum Forex CC and his co-accused, Derek Bredekamp, 59, were each sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for financial fraud. Davids and Bredekamp appeared at the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this week, where they were sentenced after being convicted on a myriad charges, which included soliciting investments worth R329 million from the public. Hawks spokesperson, Zinzi Hani, confirmed that the sentences were handed down following their conviction on June 10. The case has been ongoing since 2015. “In 2015, the Western Cape Division of the High Court in South Africa, Cape Town, granted the preservation order to seize the assets of Platinum Forex and its sole member, Davids. It was due to the…

Judging by the evidence seen so far, you can rest assured that the recently launched Chery Tiggo 9 is an extremely safe vehicle. To prove this, Chery South Africa recently conducted Africa’s first real-world dual-vehicle crash test by colliding two Tiggo 9s in a controlled 50% offset head-on crash at 50km/h. This, said the Chinese carmaker, replicated one of the most common and dangerous types of accident. Thankfully for Chery, all went according to plan. The cabins of both vehicles remained completely intact, with zero deformation of the A-, B- or C-pillars, according to the carmaker, while all the doors could still be opened normally. Featuring 85% high-strength steel and no fewer than 10 airbags, the Tiggo 9 was designed to meet global five-star safety standards. However, Chery South Africa…

The Springboks have arrived in Auckland to face the All Blacks in arguably the best possible psychological state after a sobering series against the Wallabies. The Boks are in second place in the World Rugby standings thanks to losing a Test to Australia in Johannesburg, and face off against the No 1-ranked team, New Zealand, in matches in Auckland (September 6) and Wellington a week later. While few rugby fans will accuse the Springboks of arrogance under “feet-on-the-ground” coach Rassie Erasmus, the reality is that the Boks are chastened by a series recently shared with a Wallabies team that was tipped to be heavily beaten by the Boks in South Africa. The reality is that the Aussies went home with five Rugby Championship points, compared to the four of the…

Kaizer Chiefs’ coach Nasreddine Nabi walked away from the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night feeling a twinge of regret following his side’s goalless draw with rivals Mamelodi Sundowns. This high-stakes clash saw Nabi return to the touchline after family commitments saw him miss the opening three games of the season, but also served as a notable litmus test against the reigning Premiership champions. Despite the stalemate, Nabi believes his team had the necessary measures in place to secure a victory. “We could have got the three points,” he said in the post-match interview. “But there was a good team in front of us. We have a little bit of regret not getting the win today, but we will work and look ahead to the future.” The result does not overshadow…