Innholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-26 i Mercury

Transnet has announced a landmark signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) and the Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center (APEC). The signing took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Transnet said the partnership signifies a major milestone in efforts to modernise South Africa’s port system, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen regional trade competitiveness. “It establishes a framework for cooperation in port operational excellence, digitalisation, sustainability, infrastructure planning, and regional corridor development to strengthen South Africa’s logistics performance.” Transnet added that the collaboration introduces global best practices, technical training, benchmarking, and advisory support to build long-term institutional capacity within Transnet divisions. “The MoU includes cooperation on hinterland corridor development and global investment programmes, including opportunities linked to…

Team South Africa has returned from the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos expressing confidence that the country’s reform agenda is beginning to resonate with global investors, a marked shift from previous years dominated by concerns over energy shortages and logistics bottlenecks. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Friday said this year’s engagement with investors took place against a far more positive domestic backdrop, particularly regarding electricity supply. “The positive thing is that we have come to this WEF with good news. Electricity challenges and outages are now a thing of the past,” Godongwana said in an interview on Friday. He added that structural reforms are starting to bear fruit, while South Africa’s macroeconomic environment remains stable — a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for stronger growth. “The…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said on Friday that South Africa returned to this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos with tangible evidence of economic progress, presenting a compelling case to global investors and business partners that the country’s reform agenda is delivering results. Key government ministers and leaders from industry and state agencies accompanied Godongwana. He reiterated that the team used the forum in Davos to highlight recent achievements, including the removal of South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist, an upgrade of its sovereign credit rating by S&P Global, and structural reforms under Operation Vulindlela that have improved electricity supply, modernised port and freight rail operations, and boosted investment in infrastructure. “When we came here in 2025, we presented our ambitious plan for driving economic…

A life uninspected is not worth living says Plato. Over a period of 24 years and counting, I have been a columnist in the Business Report, writing two articles a week interrogating South Africa through a lens of numbers. The interrogative narrative is undergirded by a trove of evidence. This has created a Lehohla Ledger of 2 745 instruments. The Lehohla Ledger with its Ten Commandments that consist of Digital Codes of one-one (11), two-two (22), three-three (33), four-four (44), five-five (55), six-six (66), seven-seven (77), eight-eight (88), nine-nine (99) and zero-zero (00) is the Numerical Conscience through which the totality of South African life and life elsewhere will be inspected, the nation is inspired, the nation reclaims its freedom and in the final analysis life is…

Valterra Platinum’s share price built on a year-long rally on the JSE on Friday after it said headline earnings per share (HEPS) will increase sharply by between 85% and 105% for the 12 months to December 31, 2023. The mining group, which was previously known as Anglo Platinum, said in a trading statement the sharp increase was due to a 26% stronger PGM dollar price of $1 852 per PGM ounce, as well as the delivery of R5bn operational cost reductions, more than offsetting the impact of inflation and R1.7bn one-off demerger related costs. Valterra’s share price increased by 3.29% to R1 687.84 on Friday afternoon on the JSE. The share price has steadily risen over 176% over the past 12 months. Headline earnings were expected to increase by the…

WHEN people imagine divorce, they often picture explosive arguments, dramatic ultimatums, or a sudden walkout. But therapists say many relationships do not end with a bang. They fade quietly. While overall divorce rates are declining, relationship experts warn that many separations begin long before the word “divorce” is ever spoken. The early signs are often subtle: emotional distance, secrecy, and a noticeable shift in priorities that can be easy to explain away until it is too late. According to Dr Michael Salas, a licensed professional counsellor–supervisor, the most dangerous stage of a relationship breakdown is often the silent one. “By the time one partner brings up divorce, they’ve often been grieving the relationship privately for months, or even years,” says Dr Salas. “What looks calm on the surface is often…

Emmanuel Macron and his blue aviator sunglasses have become the unexpected breakout stars of the World Economic Forum in Davos this year. It is a rare sight to see a world leader sporting dark shades during a formal indoor keynote, but the French President has carried the look with a mix of military precision and cinematic flair. By choosing the aviator, he has leaned into a style that is perhaps the most recognisable eyewear style in history. The aviator shape is a true design classic that originally took flight in the 1930s to help pilots navigate high-altitude glare. While it started as functional gear for the cockpit, it became a cultural icon thanks to the silver screen. We most often associate this look with the high-octane energy of Tom Cruise…

In a plea for action, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has called for a comprehensive framework aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate-induced disasters across South Africa. Speaking at municipal council chambers, Simelane highlighted that the initiative should extend far beyond the borders of Mpumalanga. On Saturday, Simelane conducted an oversight visit in Mpumalanga to the area recently ravaged by floods. This visit followed her trip on Friday to Limpopo. Both provinces have been severely affected by recent flooding due to sustained, heavy rainfall. “The initiative should not be limited to Mpumalanga but must extend nationwide to safeguard communities and strengthen resilience,” Simelane said. She highlighted that relief efforts, particularly those concerning the human settlements emergency housing programme, are often hampered by the lack of suitable land for relocating disaster…

The KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service (SAPS) has taken a step towards bolstering its investigative capacity by officially re-enlisting 59 retired detectives. The move, aimed at tackling high levels of violent crime and mounting case backlogs, has been widely welcomed by policing experts and union bodies, though calls for more sustainable, long-term solutions persist. The re-enlistment drive culminated in a formal welcome on Friday by the KZN acting deputy provincial commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Anthony Gopaul, for the 59 experienced personnel. While some of the returning detectives had already begun working in November 2025, the ceremony served to formally reintegrate them into the service. Addressing the cohort, Major General Gopaul underscored the seriousness of their task, stating that the people of South Africa deserve justice that can be…

Amid tears and wailing, a profound sense of loss engulfed the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex in Sebokeng yesterday as families and friends bid a farewell to three victims of the recent scholar transport accident. Fourteen pupils lost their lives when a scholar transport minibus taxi collided with a truck on Monday, January 19, on the R533. Yesterday, six-year-old Ofentse Jayden Vinger, Thato Moetji,17, and Bokamoso Mokhomo, 12, were remembered in a ceremony. The funeral service was also attended by Gauteng Premier Panya Lesufi, MECs of Education Matome Chiloane and Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, among others. Vinger was a Grade 1 learner from Oliver Lodge Primary School. Family representative Mamotse Madlela read out a letter from his mother: “Ao ngwana waka hle, you were so young. I only had you for…

Confident teenager Iva Jovic said yesterday she has no “underdog mentality” after barrelling into her first Grand Slam quarter-final and a meeting with two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. The 18-year-old American was undaunted on John Cain Arena against the vastly more experienced Yulia Putintseva, ripping her apart 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 dominant minutes. It marked another giant step in the emergence of Jovic, who stunned two-time Grand Slam finalist and seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in round three for the biggest scalp of her career. She now faces the daunting challenge of Sabalenka, who swatted aside another teenager – Jovic’s good friend and doubles partner Victoria Mboko – in straight sets, also yesterday, 7-6, 6-1. “I don’t really feel like there is a lot of house money or underdog…

Sunrisers Eastern Cape pulled off an incredible heist to secure a third Betway SA20 championship in a thrilling final at Newlands yesterday. Dewald Brevis’ magnificent 101 had seemingly set up the Pretoria Capitals for their maiden title, but Sunrisers captain Tristan Stubbs (62 not out off 41 balls) and Matthew Breetzke (68 not out off 50 balls) delivered an unbroken 114-run partnership to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. The Sunrisers appeared dead and buried when they required 56 runs from the final four overs. Breetzke had held the innings together with 45 off 41 balls at that point, but he needed a partner to inject impetus from the other end. Enter Stubbs. The Sunrisers captain had been guilty of not seizing the momentum earlier in the competition, but…

After more than 60 years of production in Rosslyn, Nissan has sold the plant to Chinese manufacturer After more than 60 years of production at the Nissan Plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, the sale of land, buildings and associated assets including its stamping plant was driven by needing to look at how to keep an important South African manufacturing plant viable, protect jobs, and find a long-term solution that made sense not only for the business, but for the country. That thinking ultimately led Nissan to a deal with Chinese manufacturer Chery. Speaking to Independent Media on the sidelines of the Nissan GTR's AGM at their head office in Irene, Pretoria, Nissan Africa president Jordi Vila said that once production of the NP200 ceased, it became clear that something had to…

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has said the department has long accepted the reality of the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and will continue to work with other countries that retain their membership in the global body. This follows the US announcement on Friday, in a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, confirming its withdrawal from the WHO, as promised by incumbent President Donald Trump when he took office last year. In a response to Business Report, Motsoaledi said the warning had come soon after Trump took office in 2025, when the US president announced that his country would withdraw from the World Health Organisation. The US subsequently boycotted multilateral health forums…

Workers and the nation this week received a deeply worrying reminder about the still fragile state of the Denel Group, the state’s defence manufacturing company, with management’s warning to staff at two of its divisions, Denel Dynamics and Denel PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings), that there may not be funds to pay their salaries this month. Fortunately, after interventions by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the unions organising at Denel; the National Union of Mineworkers, the National Union of Metalworkers and Solidarity, this crisis was averted and workers were paid. We must remain extremely concerned given the devastation unleashed upon the Denel Group during the decade of state capture and corruption, about the state of this once great state-owned enterprise. The systematic vandalism of Denel is well…

Shoppers gave the retail sector a welcome boost in November, with new figures showing that sales were stronger than expected and supported by Black Friday-related promotion. Data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reveal that retail trade sales rose by 3.5% compared with the same period last year, a positive sign for both consumers and businesses. Experts have welcomed the increase in retail sales. Stats SA said that the largest positive contributors to this increase were general dealers (2.2% and contributing 1.0 percentage point); all ‘other’ retailers (8.0% and contributing 0.8 of a percentage point); and retailers in pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries (10.1% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point). Stats SA added that seasonally adjusted retail trade sales increased by 0.6% in November 2025 compared…

The residents in Msunduzi Municipality have vowed to challenge the new tariffs proposed for the 2026-2027 financial year should they be passed. Last week, the municipality proposed new tariffs for the 2026-2027 financial year. The public will be engaged in public consultation in the coming days, and if the tariffs are approved, they will come into effect in July. The city has appealed for calm regarding the tariffs, stating that they are draft proposals, and no final tariffs have been approved at this stage. Ratepayers and opposition parties, however, stated that even at the proposal stage, the tariffs are unjust. The proposed tariff increases show that: 9.26% has been proposed for electricity, 13% for water, 13% for sanitation, 1.2% for rates, and 3.70% for refuse removal Anthony Waldhausen from the…

A medical expert this week explained to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria that there were several warning signs regarding the manner in which now former Pretoria midwife Yolande Maritz Fouchee handled the births of several of her clients. Fouchee is facing 14 charges, including one of culpable homicide and several charges of assault after a baby died weeks after delivery and three others were born disabled while she was in charge of delivering them. Fouchee, now a deregistered nurse, earlier denied any wrongdoing and explained that she did everything according to the book when she delivered the babies. However, head of the gynaecology department at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Professor Priya Soma-Pillay, disagreed. She issued a statement to the prosecution as an expert witness to shed light on the…

A viral video showing a woman being forcibly removed from the Tygervalley Home Affairs office has reignited concerns about the reliability of the department’s online booking system, after clients claimed they had confirmed appointments that officials said did not exist. The one minute and 30 second video, which circulated on social media on Thursday, shows security personnel pushing a woman out of the department’s offices, causing her to fall to the ground. In the footage, the woman appears visibly distressed and short of breath as she indicates that she had a confirmed appointment on her phone and alleges that her spectacles and handbag were damaged during the altercation. The video was shared alongside a social media post by another client who said they were present during the incident. The post…

An adult female loggerhead turtle, named Finley by her rescuers, is showing encouraging signs of recovery at uShaka Sea World after being rescued near Richards Bay in December last year. Concern arose over Finley’s health after she was observed floating for an extended period near Richards Bay. South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) spokesperson Ann Kunz said Finley was driven to uShaka Sea World, where Saambr’s Animal Health staff received her. “Her initial diagnostics revealed several areas of concern, which confirmed that she was indeed in need of medical intervention. “Despite her weakened state and much to the surprise of her carers, she began feeding very soon after admission, which is quite unusual for turtles in such poor health. As long as squid is on the menu, she…

Sharks coach JP Pietersen threw down the gauntlet to prop Phatu Ganyane and loose-forward Nick Hatton ahead of Saturday’s crunch United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Stormers in Cape Town this past weekend – and he was proud of the way the young duo responded against their much-vaunted rivals. The visitors claimed a famous first victory at the DHL Stadium in the URC-era, powering to a 30-19 bonus-point win in front of a sold-out crowd. Loosehead prop Ganyane enjoyed a strong 30-minute cameo from the start – Pietersen did not reveal if the move was borrowed from Rassie Erasmus’ Bok playbook – before the Junior Bok made way for Springbok powerhouse Ox Nche. His battle against veteran Bok tighthead Neethling Fouché in the scrums was crucial, as the youngster…

Pretoria Capitals 158/7 Dewald Brevis 101, Bryce Parsons 30; Marco Jansen 3/10, Anrich Nortje 1/19 Sunrisers Eastern Cape 162/4 Matthew Breetzke 68*, Tristan Stubbs 63*; Keshav Maharaj 1/23 SEC won by six wickets Unheralded Sunrisers Eastern Cape batter Matthew Breetzke described winning the Betway SA20 as “special” after the Gqeberha-based team beat the Pretoria Capitals by six wickets to claim their third title in four seasons. Going into the final, Breetzke was by no means the form player, while Tristan Stubbs’ numbers were arguably worse. However, under immense pressure at Newlands on Sunday, it was this duo that stood out, digging in to take the Sunrisers over the line. Both batters showed great determination, rotating the strike consistently and running hard between the wickets as they struggled to find boundaries…

Stormers head coach John Dobson will demand a massive response from his troops on Saturday when they head to Kings Park for the return coastal derby in the United Rugby Championship (URC) against the Sharks. On Saturday, in front of over 52 000, the Cape side delivered their most disappointing home performance of the season yet, although there were some highlights, falling to a 30-19 loss against the Sharks. Their unbeaten run in the tournament came to an end, and they lost for the first time at home to the Sharks in the URC-era. The Stormers now find themselves in second place on the URC log, handing the Glasgow Warriors the top-spot after failing to collect any points this past weekend in the Mother City. While the sharp thinking of…

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille is facing mounting criticism after stating that “there has never been a crisis at South African Tourism (SAT),” a remark that has sparked outrage among opposition parties and industry stakeholders. Speaking during an interview at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos last week, De Lille defended the embattled tourism agency and her decision to dissolve its board last year, replacing it with an interim structure. The move followed the suspension of SAT CEO Nombulelo Guliwe over allegations of financial misconduct. Among the claims was a R4.1 million prepayment to a service provider for work that investigators allege was never completed. The company implicated in the matter has denied any wrongdoing. “There’s never been a crisis in SA Tourism because at every financial year, as…

WeBuyCars investors would have seen an impressive 198% increase in their investment in the used vehicle group in just under 18 months since its listing on the JSE in April, 2024, chairman Johan Holtzhausen said. Writing in the annual report released on Friday, he said their shareholders had enjoyed an aggregate 195.4% growth in share price and cumulative dividend payout of 55 cents a share since listing. In the past financial year to end-September 2025, the share price had increased 64%, which he ascribed to mostly a function of performance and growth prospects. During that year, core headline earnings, which is the key performance metric for management to gauge the company’s success, increased 15% to R937.6 million. Revenue increased by 13.1% to R26.4 billion. Meanwhile, Friday’s closing price of R52.85…

Domestic financial markets continue their bullish run. The All Share index (ALSI|) on the JSE last week gained another 2 112 points, or 1.75%, after breaking through the 120 000 level the previous week. Since the beginning of the year the index has already traded higher by 4.9%. Over the last year the index is now higher by 44.7%. This reminds us of the previous massive boom in 2005 where the ALSI improved by more than 50%. The main reason for this sharp rise remains the same as over the last six months. The geo-political factors in the US, Middle East, Europe, and the Russia Ukraine conflict, together with the negative effects of the Trump administration current economic policies on the Dollar. These factors contributed to the ongoing safe-haven investments…

Wholesale trade sales indicated a decrease by 0.8% in November 2025 compared with November 2024. An economist believes that the economy is still stabilising. Stats SA said that seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales increased by 2.0% in November 2025 compared with October 2025. “This followed month-on-month changes of 0.1% in October 2025 and -0.9% in September 2025.” Stats SA added that in the three months ended November 2025, seasonally adjusted wholesale trade sales increased by 0.5% compared with the previous three months. “Measured in nominal terms (current prices), wholesale trade sales increased by 1.2% in November 2025 compared with November 2024. The main positive contributor was dealers in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products (5.0% and contributing 1.0 percentage point). Wholesale trade sales increased by 1.0% in the…

More than 3,000 employees could keep their jobs as AMSA engages in advanced discussions with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and its parent company, ArcelorMittal Group, over a potential transaction. IOL previously reported that Newcastle communities have raised major concerns about the possible closure of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) and its long steel business, putting thousands of jobs on the line. At the time, Amsa said that the company had worked closely with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), government, and other stakeholders to explore every possible strategic option. No solution had been concluded. Talks between AMSA, its Luxembourg-based parent ArcelorMittal Group, and the IDC collapsed late last year after the company rejected a previous R8.5 billion non-binding proposal, which included the repayment of R7 billion in debt to its parent…

The IFP has been accused of “abandoning” its duties to lead the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) following its failure to meet with the NFP to resolve the tensions that are threatening the GPU. Sources within the GPU said that it seems the IFP is “running away” from meeting with the NFP. They believe that the IFP, as the leader of the GPU, should have spearheaded a meeting with the NFP to resolve the tensions between the two parties that have led to the NFP walking away from the GPU. Political analyst noted that relations between the two parties are frosty, dating back to the time when the NFP broke away from the IFP. He believes that the GPU partners will have a difficult time “finding something worthwhile” to offer…

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi announced that a revised version of the SABC Bill is set to be presented in Parliament after April 2026. “The revised version of the South African Broadcasting Corporation SOC Ltd Bill, which will incorporate the new funding model, is envisaged to be tabled in Parliament during the course of the 2026/27 financial year,” Malatsi said. He revealed the timeline in response to a parliamentary inquiry from ANC MP Tshegofatso Meagan Chauke-Adonis, who sought clarity on the bill's tabling and the steps being taken to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the SABC. Malatsi withdrew the controversial bill from Parliament in 2024, arguing that it did not address a sustainable funding model for the SABC, among other things. The portfolio committee had deemed…

The eThekwini Municipality says its billing system remains accurate, reliable and fully operational. It was responding to the DA’s eThekwini mayoral candidate, Haniff Hoosen, who had alleged that there are widespread systemic inaccuracies or a failure of the billing system. In response, the municipality said Hoosen’s claims are unfounded and misleading. The Mercury has, however, previously reported complaints from ratepayers and councillors about inaccurate billing and estimated billing issues that have left customers with accounts in arrears. The City said while there are isolated cases where customers raise queries regarding their municipal bills, its investigations indicate that the alleged inaccuracies are not due to defects or failures within the billing system. It said these are largely attributable to external factors, including: Undetected water leaks on customer properties, resulting in high…

In response to ongoing service delivery challenges, the ANC has announced a new task team and war room specifically designed to fix local government issues before this year's municipal elections, with water supply and rural infrastructure as top priorities. During the party's second day of the three-day lekgotla currently taking place in Boksburg, ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile yesterday revealed that the party will set up a war room to deal with local government challenges across the board. Mashatile's address to the media came a day after the party tabled a political overview report presented at the gathering, which pointed to a lack of policy implementation as one of the party’s long-standing issues. Mashatile indicated that this targeted intervention, aimed at stabilising municipalities and improving service delivery, will be led…

Aston Villa closed to within four points of the Premier League summit with an impressive 2-0 win at Newcastle, while Chelsea climbed into the top four yesterday. Villa bounced back from a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Everton last weekend to remain on the fringes of the title race. Emi Buendia put Unai Emery’s men on course for their first win at St James’ Park since 2005 with a brilliant strike from outside the box on 19 minutes. Newcastle were shorn of inspiration without injured captain Bruno Guimaraes in a damaging defeat for their chances of Champions League qualification. Ollie Watkins set the seal on Villa’s victory when the England international headed in Lucas Digne’s cross two minutes from time. Newcastle slip to ninth but remain only three points…

The Bulls may have won their last two matches, but coach Johan Ackermann is keeping his troops grounded following the horror of their recent seven-match losing streak. The Bulls returned home yesterday from a dogged 19-17 defeat of Edinburgh and have already turned their attention to this week’s “revenge” SA derby against the Lions at Ellis Park. In November last year, the Lions shocked the Bulls 43-33 in Pretoria. In Edinburgh, the Bulls started slowly and had to overcome a 17-5 half-time deficit to secure the spoils. For Ackermann, the result was too close for comfort. “We all strive for that perfect game where you finish every 22m entry, so that is a big work-on,” Ackermann said. “I think the first positive is that we made Edinburgh work hard in…

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged patience and perspective after his side were held to a goalless draw by Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership. Pirates dropped points against Babina Noko on Saturday but remained firmly in the title race, with Ouaddou stressing that consistency and belief in the process will ultimately be decisive in what he described as a demanding league. “Every point counts in this league and I think we all agree that it’s a tough league and Sekhukhune is a very good team, one of the best teams in the league,” Ouaddou said. Pirates dominated large spells of the contest, controlling possession and territory, but once again found converting pressure into goals to be their biggest challenge. In spite of that, Ouaddou felt the overall…

Durban City 1 (1) Trevor Mokwena 18 Polokwane City 0 Sinethemba Badela enjoyed a winning start to life as Durban City coach, securing a 1-0 victory in their Betway Premiership clash against Polokwane City at Chatsworth Stadium yesterday evening. A fine first-half header from Trevor Mokwena proved to be the difference. The former Chippa United coach, who stepped into the hot seat following the shock departure of Gavin Hunt last month, faced a stern test against Phuti Mohafe’s solid Limpopo side. Polokwane City sat one point and one place above Durban City on 24 points before kick-off, but Badela passed his first assignment with flying colours. The hosts shaded the early exchanges, though clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 18th minute…