Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-17 i Mercury

Transnet saw a steady operational improvement in the six months to 30 September as higher rail volumes and increased tonnage throughput breached the 80 million tons, helping to narrow losses. The State-owned logistics group last week reported that rail volume performance increased by 4.4% to 81.4 million tons, compared with 78.0 million tons in the same period last year. Transnet said momentum strengthened towards the end of the reporting period, with September 2025 recording throughput of 14.8 million tons, the highest monthly performance since the 2022 financial year, despite maintenance-related disruptions to manganese volumes. Group CEO, Advocate Michelle Phillips, said the improved operational performance translated into a 17.7% reduction in the reported net loss to R1.8 billion, from R2.2bn a year earlier. “Transnet’s volume performance has been on an upward…

Minister Ramokgopa confident of breakthrough in negotiations to rescue ferrochrome smelter industry Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa has said that he is confident that negotiations to rescue South Africa’s struggling ferrochrome smelter industry are nearing a breakthrough, with electricity tariffs of between 60c and 70c per kilowatt-hour (kWh) emerging as a realistic target. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ramokgopa said the proposed range was significantly lower than the 87c/kWh currently on the table and would bring South African smelters closer to the pricing enjoyed by competitors in other jurisdictions. Ramokgopa said other countries that South African smelters compete with are offering electricity in the range of 60 to 70 cents per kilowatt-hour. He said despite South Africa holding more than 70% of global ferrochrome ore reserves, much of…

As year 2025 is drawing to an end, many in the technology sector are taking stock to examine if their efforts have been worthwhile and impactful. In a year that has been dominated by artificial intelligence it has been difficult to identify a technology product, initiative that is worth celebrating in the African continent. Enter the first electric bus that is made in Uganda, Kayoora Bus, which travelled from Uganda to Cape Town, 13 000km in 13 countries within 20 days, to showcase innovation, then you realise that there’s finally something genuinely worth celebrating. Here’s why. The African continent has never produced a commercial automotive product that reached the market with success. The existence of an African produced electric bus is alone something worth celebrating even though it has been…

South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has approved 300 crypto asset service provider (CASP) licences since the formal licensing regime came into effect in June 2023, while stepping up enforcement against firms operating outside the regulatory framework. Crypto assets are defined as a digital representation of value that is not issued by a central bank but is capable of being traded, transferred or stored electronically by natural and legal persons for the purpose of payment, investment and other forms of utility, applies cryptographic techniques and uses distributed ledger technology. In an update issued on Monday, the regulator said it had received 512 licence applications as at 12 December 2025. Of these, 14 applications were declined and 121 were voluntarily withdrawn after engagements with the FSCA raised concerns about applicants’…

The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has added close to 20 new wards in KwaZulu-Natal heading into the local government elections next year. The MDB said that for the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections (LGE), there has been a slight increase in the overall number of wards in the country, although there are variations from one province to another. Local government experts indicated that this change could mean there would be 40 new councillors across the province, including 20 proportional representation (PR) councillors and 20 ward councillors. On December 10, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) handed over the revised wards to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, following a successful ward delimitation process. The MDB conducts ward delimitation every five years preceding the general elections of municipal councils. For example, the last…

Pavilion Shopping Centre or simply The Pav as it’s called by its beloved community, is gifting KwaZulu-Natal families an unforgettable festive season – with a full programme of completely free entertainment, activities and holiday magic from December 6 until Christmas Eve. The Pav continues to champion proudly local fashion favourites including Bathu, GALXBOY, Era by DJ Zinhle, and SanHair, alongside global icons such as Steve Madden, Under Armour, H&M, Zara, Typo, Cotton On, iStore and the list goes on. The Pav’s free festive line-up includes: n Carnival of Joy (December 12–24, Main Fountain Court) which is a festive, colourful family activation with: v Stage shows at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm v A variety of Carnival themed games to keep the little ones entertained for hours v Creative Corner including…

Captain Hook, a Cape fur seal whose life was once threatened by fishhooks, has been successfully rescued and rehabilitated. In a heartwarming turn of events, the seal has now made his public debut on the stage at uShaka Sea World. Named fittingly for his unfortunate encounters with fishing gear, Captain Hook’s story reflects the dedication of wildlife rescuers and the indomitable spirit of nature. Amanzimtoti’s Beach Superintendent, Jace Govender, with assistance from the KZN Stranding Network members, rescued the seal in July. The KZN Stranding Network and marine animal experts had monitored him after settling in the surf at eManzimtoti, Durban South. He had evaded capture until his eventual rescue. Captain Hook was admitted into the care of the Saambr Animal Care team. At the time, he was two-and-a-half years…

A 58-year-old woman has triumphed in her quest for justice after devoting more than three decades to caring for her husband and his family. The ruling, delivered by Judge Pieter Bezuidenhout, recognised the wife's devotion and sacrifices, countering her husband’s perceived entitlement to keep his wealth without acknowledging the commitment of their shared life together. The wife, who testified at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg, painted a picture of a marriage marred by her husband’s unwillingness to share financial responsibilities. Despite her integral role in his business and the rearing of his young daughter from a previous relationship, she stood at the brink of financial hardship following their divorce. The ordeal began when the husband, now 70, adopted a steadfast belief that his wife should have made independent financial…

As much as the Proteas wanted to keep the focus on Wednesday’s all-important fourth T20I in Lucknow (start 3.30pm) to stay alive in the five-match series, their attention kept being pulled towards the IPL auction. Delhi Capitals purchased Proteas finisher David Miller for approximately R3.68million, while fast bowler Anrich Nortje went for the same price to Lucknow Super Giants. It just so happened that Nortje was conducting the pre-match press engagement as the bid padel was raised for him by LSG. “This is news to me,” Nortje said, after finding out that the capital of India's Uttar Pradesh state would be his new home. “I'll see you guys soon then. I'm very happy.” Nortje would certainly be relieved that he was able to land another IPL deal after playing only…

Hugo Broos is far too experienced a coach to be overly concerned by pre-tournament jitters. After watching Bafana Bafana grind out a 1-0 victory over Ghana in their final warm-up match before flying to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the silver-haired Belgian expressed disappointment with the performance but understood why it occurred. “Many times, a few days before a big tournament, it is not the game you want to see," Broos said. "But I am happy with the result. "It is always better to go to Morocco with a victory than a draw or, in the worst case, a defeat. We can do much better than we did (Tuesday)." The septuagenarian, who won the biennial continental showpiece with Cameroon in 2017, has worked with many players and understands…

Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has partnered with the University of Pretoria and global animal health company Zoetis to investigate the economic and regulatory impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus persistence in slaughtered cattle, as the industry seeks science-based reforms to outdated slaughter regulations. The initiative follows Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s announcement that government plans to vaccinate South Africa’s entire national cattle herd of approximately 7.2 million animals as part of efforts to contain ongoing FMD outbreaks. RMIS said the study, titled Evidence-Based Risk Reduction for FMD Virus Persistence at Slaughter, aims to generate the scientific evidence needed to revise current regulations that impose blanket restrictions on meat and by-products from cattle that have recovered from FMD. “These restrictions are not only outdated but also result in significant wastage, especially…

There are years that pass quietly, and there are years that remove our ability to pretend. 2025 was not a year of isolated scandals or unexpected failures. It was a year that exposed patterns we have tolerated for far too long. It revealed the real danger facing South Africa today, which is not simply corruption itself, but ethical neutrality. The posture of watching without acting. The comfort of commenting without consequences. The silence of acquiescence in the face of wrongdoing. Ethical neutrality is one of the most damaging positions a society can take. It is not overt wrongdoing. It is the decision to stand in the middle when the facts are clear. It shows up when leaders acknowledge problems privately while avoiding public accountability. When boards wait for reports, reviews…

Metair Investments is being fined R400 million by the European Union for uncompetitive behaviour after an investigation that started 7 years ago was concluded. The JSE-listed manufacturer of automotive components said Monday that its 100% owned Romanian battery making subsidiary, Rombat SA, had, on December 15, 2023, been levied a fine of €20.2m (about R398.1m) by the European Commission, after the Commission had concluded that Rombat had contravened EU competition law. The Commission also found that Metair and its Dutch subsidiary, Metair International Holding Cooperatief UA, were jointly and severally liable for a portion of the fine, amounting to €11.6m, based on a legal presumption under EU law of parental liability, in that they exercised decisive influence over Rombat since its acquisition on March 14, 2012. The Commission's findings conclude…

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has turned down a bid by a Free State judge for a permanent stay of prosecution of his theft, alternatively money laundering trial concerning the alleged misappropriation of a Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout, stemming from the time when he was still an attorney. The Free State High Court earlier turned down an application by Bloemfontein Judge Mpina Abednego Mathebula for a stay of his prosecution. He subsequently turned to the SCA, where he now faced yet another blow. He is facing criminal proceedings, together with his former candidate attorney, in a regional court ranging from theft to alternative charges of money laundering and fraud. He conducted his practice under the name of Uys Mathebula Attorneys, in Sasolburg, Free State. He is alleged to…

A Durban man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping his 16-year-old niece, a case that highlights the hidden dangers children can face even within their own homes. The 43-year-old accused lived in the same household as the complainant, her grandmother, and her sister in Mayville. The abuse began when the grandmother and sister moved away, leaving the teenager in the care of her uncle. Even after the grandmother returned, the complainant feared speaking out and instead recorded the assaults in a diary. The diary was later discovered by her aunt, who confronted her about the abuse, prompting her to eventually report the matter to the police. Prosecutor Tanuja Bechan presented testimony from the complainant, her aunt, another relative, and a medical doctor who examined the teenager. The…

Scores of staff members from different companies within the Sekunjalo Group attended the launch of the new book by patron and founder of the Survé Family Office and chairperson of the Sekunjalo Group, Dr Iqbal Survé. The new book, A Shared Future For Humanity, details the Survé Family investments, philanthropy and global initiatives in which they honour the friendships, partnerships, and global connections that have supported the family's work in business, philanthropy, diplomacy, and nation-building. The reader is invited into the story of the Survé family, which is described as being the story of South Africa itself, “a journey shaped by resilience, sacrifice, heritage, and an unwavering belief that business must serve humanity”. The book takes the reader into how the family legacy was built across generations, inspired by ancestors…

As worries about the safety of South African men who are thought to be stranded in Russia due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine grow, the Presidency said it has no updates on efforts to free them. Vincent Magwenya, a spokesperson for the presidency, warned that the men are in a very dangerous environment and face grave threats to their lives, and that the process to secure their return is still “very sensitive”. Government, he said, is still engaged in discussions with multiple authorities in an attempt to extract them from harm’s way. According to Magwenya, diplomatic engagements are focused primarily on the Russian authorities rather than Ukraine. This comes after news emerged after at least 17 South African men claimed they were recruited, allegedly by Duduzile Zuma Sambudla and…

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his side had inspired the Old Trafford crowd in a pulsating 4-4 draw against Bournemouth, but must be more ruthless to turn draws into victories. Three times United led the Cherries on Monday in arguably the best offensive performance of Amorim’s reign. Matheus Cunha netted just his second goal for the club, Bruno Fernandes curled in a brilliant free-kick, and Amad Diallo signed off for the Africa Cup of Nations with the opening goal. But United’s defensive frailties, without the experienced duo of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, were exposed as they failed to win for the third consecutive home game. The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford by 10-man Everton last month and also blew the lead in a 1-1…

Paris Saint-Germain were ordered to pay their former forward Kylian Mbappe up to €61 million (about R1.2 billion) in unpaid wages and bonuses by a French labour court yesterday. France captain Mbappe, who left PSG in June 2024 to join Real Madrid, had been claiming over €260m (R5.13bn) in total from his former club. PSG, in turn, had demanded that Mbappe pay them €440m (R8.68bn). Mbappe, 26, also claimed the Parisian club applied the wrong French legal classification to his contract, but this was rejected by the court. The labour court said the final figure of between €60m and €61m comprised €55m (R1.08bn) in unpaid salary and around €6m (R118m) in holiday payments. Qatari-owned PSG did not immediately indicate whether they intend to appeal. Lawyers for Mbappe said in a…

Electricity and Energy Minister, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has stressed that South African companies will be positioned to secure preferred bidder status in later phases of the country’s 10-year transmission expansion programme, even as international firms dominate the first phase of the landmark Independent Transmission Project (ITP) initiative. Ramokgopa on Monday announced seven pre-qualified bidders for the initial R17 billion, 1 064-kilometre phase of the transmission development programme, selected from 17 respondents to the prequalification process. A request for proposals (RFP) for the first phase is expected to be issued in the second half of 2026. The pre-qualified consortia are: n The Adani Power Middle East–Momentous Energy Consortium, led by Adani Power Middle East Limited, based in the United Arab Emirates; n The AREF Cobra Transmission Consortium, led by the South African…

The Group of Twenty (G20) remains a critical pillar of global economic co-operation but risks losing relevance unless it sharpens its focus and streamlines its agenda, according to a major review released under South Africa’s 2025 G20 Presidency. The G20@20 Review, published on Monday, assesses the bloc’s first full cycle of presidencies since it was elevated to a leaders’ forum during the 2008 global financial crisis. The report concludes that while the G20 has delivered decisive outcomes during moments of global crisis, its effectiveness has declined in recent years due to geopolitical tensions, an overcrowded agenda and weak continuity between presidencies. Commissioned by G20 leaders at the 2024 Rio de Janeiro Summit, the review was conducted through surveys, Sherpa-level discussions and expert input, with support from the OECD, the South…

Videos have been circulating on social media showing job candidates using AI tools to generate real-time interview responses. The clips, spawned by an Instagram account called newschoolboosted, feature someone with an earpiece receiving AI-whispered answers while speaking to interviewers on camera. The account is run by someone who goes by Kagehiro Mitsuyami, who describes himself as CEO of Lockedin AI, the very tool being demonstrated. The content is essentially promotional material dressed up as candid footage, which adds its own layer to the authenticity question. Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, flagged one such video, arguing that HR departments are unprepared for this kind of augmentation. Fair point. But I found myself asking a different question: if a candidate can genuinely deliver the work using whatever…

Marshall Monteagle, the JSE-listed import and distribution group, more than tripled headline earnings a share in the six months to September 30, 2025. The company, which holds portfolios of investments in the US, UK, Europe, Far East as well as commercial properties and interests in food processing and logistics in South Africa, said headline earnings came to $22.6 cents a share compared to earnings of $6.2 cents per share in the six months period to September 30, 2024. An interim dividend of US 2 cents per share (33.706 cents) would be paid. Net assets per share increased by 9.4% to $2.67 from $2.44 at March 31, 2025. "Our actively managed global equity portfolio delivered a strong performance attributable to increased equity positions, fair value gains and realised profits on trading…

President Cyril Ramaphosa again addressed the perpetuation of misinformation on farm murders by US President Donald Trump when he delivered his Day of Reconciliation address. Ramaphosa was received by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie at the Ncome Museum in the Nquthu Local Municipality in northern KZN, for the 2025 National Reconciliation Day Commemoration yesterday. The president delivered his keynote address under the theme “Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations,” which seeks to reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to unity, healing and nation-building. In his address, he subtly tackled the remarks made by Trump last month on his social network “Truth Social” that the US did not attend the G20 in South Africa “because the South African Government refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific…

As South Africa and China elevate their diplomatic ties to an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership,” a groundbreaking new Think Tank report released alongside Longyuan South Africa Renewables’ latest Social Responsibility Report, the academic study – titled “Chinese Corporations and South African Culture” – was prepared by the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) in partnership with People’s Daily Online and Longyuan SA at the Century City Conference Centre and argues that the next frontier for Chinese investment is not just infrastructure but deep cultural integration. While China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, the report reveals that economic dominance has not yet translated into seamless social integration. The study serves as a “scoping exercise” to map how Chinese enterprises are navigating South Africa’s…

Nedbank has approached the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg in an attempt to secure over R365,000 from a home loan linked to a property that was demolished due to significant structural defects. The case involves Evodia Tshabalala, a homeowner who purchased a house in the Protea Glen Estate, Soweto, back in July 2012 with financing from Nedbank. Tshabalala’s journey into financial turmoil began when she fell behind on her monthly payment of R4,970, accumulating more than R99,000 in arrears. Tshabalala’s property was in a new development area, however, shortly after taking occupation, significant structural defects, including cracks in the walls, were discovered. The defects were of such a serious nature that regulatory bodies, including the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), intervened. The property was subsequently declared uninhabitable and…

The community of Verulam gathered yesterday to mourn those who died when an extension to the temple in Redcliffe collapsed last Friday. Five people, including temple founder Vick Panday, were killed when an extension under construction near the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection in Redcliffe, Verulam gave way. The others who died included senior devotee Vasudeva Datta Das, electrician Jayseelan Perumal and a worker, named as Abdul. The Post newspaper reported that Kishore Haribhujan, a local farmer also died in the incident. The funerals for Panday and Das were held yesterday at the River Range Ranch site in Verulam. At Panday’s funeral, a message from his wife Helena was read, by Sudeshni Prithipal, in which she described him as an “incredible soulmate” whose impact on the world extended far beyond…

Abdeslam Ouaddou was undoubtedly the standout coach in the PSL top flight in the first half of the season, winning two trophies — the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout — while also finishing top of the Betway Premiership standings. However, there were five other coaches who impressed, even if their results were not as eye-catching. Here, Mihlali Baleka looks at that shortlist. Arthur Zwane – AmaZulu When Zwane started the season as sole head coach of Usuthi, expectations were high following the departure of co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi and a disappointing spell at Kaizer Chiefs. More than 15 games into the campaign, Zwane has delivered solid results. Usuthu finished the year fifth on the table, blending senior players with a mostly youthful squad that has consistently battled for results. Zwane has…