The Mercury - April 02, 2025

In this issue

April 02, 2025

DA-ANC power struggle puts GNU at risk

'Rejection of the Budget will mean the end of the present government'

3 mins

Royal Household Trust faces scrutiny over king's new palace costs

THE Royal Household Trust, which manages the affairs of the Zulu-Royal House, has come under fire for its management of the construction of King Misuzulu’s new palace in ophongolo.

2 mins

eThekwini Municipality faces backlash over proposed double-digit tariff hikes

DOUBLE-digit tariff increases proposed by eThekwini Municipality will put more strain on the already embattled ratepayers.

2 mins

Petrol and diesel price reductions revealed

MINISTER of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe announced a price drop in all grades of petrol and diesel yesterday.

2 mins

No easy way to stop the illegal importing of items

I'M NOT sure what the minister of health was smoking when he issued regulations that banned the sale of hemp and cannabis food products.

1 min

South Africans demand justice for Cwecwe

NATIONWIDE peaceful protests under the hashtag #justiceforCwecwe took place yesterday over the child’s injuries by authorities in probing the rape of the 7-year-old girl six months ago.

2 mins

LET'S ALL RALLY BEHIND JUSTICE FOR CWECWE

EVERY now and then, there are incidents or events that call on us as a country to unite behind a common goal.

1 min

Capitalising on SA's biofuel potential

THERE are enormous opportunities for South Africa's economy in the diversification efforts or the sugar industry.

2 mins

Budget deadlock points to lack of a coherent plan

A tree does not bloom in frost, and a frozen economy does not produce income

3 mins

'Heartbreaking' floods swamp Australia's cattle country, drowning livestock

WHOLE herds of cattle have drowned in vast inland floods sweeping across the Australian outback, officials said yesterday, as the military was drenched in area to start recovery.

1 min

Ruling on president's impeachment on Friday

SEOUL South Korea's Constitutional Court will issue its long-awaited ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment on Friday, months after he was suspended for declaring martial law.

1 min

Military drills around Taiwan

CHINA sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for large-scale drills yesterday that Beijing said were aimed at practicing for \"preci-sion strikes\" and a blockade of the self-ruled island.

2 mins

Cops pursue suspects after KwaMashu heist

POLICE in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a manhunt for suspects linked to a cash-in-transit heist on the KwaMashu highway, the M25, on Mon-day afternoon.

1 min

Former intelligence officers in court for defrauding state security agency

TWO former senior intelligence officers have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the State Security Agency (SSA) of R5.8 million.

1 min

Property woes: average first-time home buyer age rises to 37

THE average age of first-time home buyers in South Africa now sits at 37, when only a few years ago it was 33, says Bondal Bendall, BetterBond’s national head of sales.

2 mins

Shoppers spending less on eggs, maize and pilchards, report finds

THE Competition Commission’s latest report shows cautious optimism about South Africa’s food market.

1 min

Woman in legal battle over house of her late partner

THE High Court in the Western Cape has ruled against a woman who wants to live in her late boyfriend's house with her children and also have access to his cars.

2 mins

The Monday work-where dilemma

MONDAYS have long been considered the foundation of the work-week; setting the tone for productivity and collaboration. However, as hybrid work continues to evolve and employers demand more in-office presence, both employees and employers are divided on whether starting the week in the office boosts efficiency — or if a flexible start to the week is key to long-term productivity and employee satisfaction.

2 mins

Rand on backfoot amidst global market jitters ahead of Trump’s tariff salvo

THE rand weakened slightly on Tuesday, trading around R18.48 against the dollar, amid growing risk-off sentiment and investors assessed economic data and awaited details on US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on China.

1 min

SA Revenue Service collects record revenue ahead of Budget vote

THE South African Revenue Service (Sars) collected a record gross revenue of R2.303 trillion for the 2023/24 fiscal year, exceeding expectations by nearly R14.7bn, a day before parliament votes on the National Budget.

2 mins

Economists fear crucial budget vote could threaten economic stability as tensions rise

THE nation is waiting on tenterhooks as the Joint Standing and Select Committees on Finance are set to vote on the fiscal framework on Wednesday, approving or rejecting the National Budget tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana last month.

2 mins

SA automotive sector thriving despite looming US tariffs

March new vehicle sales were the best since March 2023, nudging the 50 000-unit volume

3 mins

Market diversity is essential for SA’s agricultural exports amid geopolitics and trade risks

POST-APARTHEID era trade agreements like the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and numerous other multilateral and bilateral trade agreements have contributed to a significant increase in agricultural exports from $22.4 billion in 2004 to $81.5 billion in 2023.

3 mins

South Africa embarks on independent transmission programme to boost energy security

MINISTER of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has unveiled an ambitious plan aimed at enabling energy security and attracting private sector investments to revolutionise the country’s electricity transmission infrastructure.

2 mins

Manufacturing sector bracing for further decline amid power woes and US tensions

BUSINESSES in the manufacturing sector in South Africa are expecting conditions to deteriorate over the next six months on the back of intermittent power supply and the souring relations between South Africa and the United States.

2 mins

Absa Group’s leadership shuffle: Executive pay rises amid reputational challenges

ABSA Group faced a rocky leadership shuffle that left its reputation bruised 2024, while it paid its executive team handsomely, its latest annual report shows.

2 mins

New hope for Newcastle as ArcelorMittal defers long steel business wind down

ARCELORMITTAL South Africa (Amsa) announcement about deferring the winding down of its Long Steel business has been met with relief and optimism from local stakeholders including the Newcastle Growth Coalition and the Association of South African Chambers (ASAC).

2 mins

Renergen reports increased helium exports, more LNG production

JSE-LISTED Renergen, which plans a midday IPO, has sold and exported its first helium production, and liquid natural gas (LNG) production has increased by 21.9% from the previous quarter's reporting period, it said in a quarterly update Tuesday.

2 mins

Umngeni-Uthukela Water reports sharp drop in profit due to municipalities’ unpaid bills

UMNGENI-Uthukela Water, the government-owned water authority serving KwaZulu-Natal, has reported a substantial fall in profits for the six-month period ending December 31, 2024, citing substantial increases in expected credit losses as the primary culprit.

2 mins

The urgent need for adaptation in South Africa's infrastructure investments

WHEN torrential rains unleashed terrorizing floods in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022, witnessed a state struggle with over 400 lives lost, thousands displaced, aggregate damages exceeding R7 billion. This damage, alongside others countrywide sends a clear message: we remain highly exposed to climate-related risks, with devastating consequences already visible across the nation.

3 mins

The 2025 Budget and the future of renewable energy in South Africa

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025 Budget presents a crucial opportunity for renewable energy in South Africa. With R219.2 billion allocated to energy infrastructure, government aims to modernise and expand the grid. However, success depends on efficient execution, streamlined regulations, and sustained investor confidence.

2 mins

Trump's second term: A rare opportunity for real African energy independence

DONALD Trump's return to the White House in 2025 marks a defining moment for Africa's fossil fuel industry. Within weeks of his inauguration, his administration reproved a $4.7 billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank (Exim) for TotalEnergies' liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique.

4 mins

Blitzboks aim to rectify errors as they prepare for Singapore

THE road to redemption on the SVNS Series for the Springbok Sevens is blocked with Argentina and Great Britain at the Singapore event this weekend.

1 min

Bulls face selection dilemma

How do you plan for upcoming matches if you don’t know if there will be a fifth one instead of just four?

2 mins

'Hurting' Lions seek redemption against Edinburgh in crucial Challenge Cup knockout

THE Lions will be going all-in against EDINBURGH on Friday evening (9pm kickoff), look-ing for some redemption after back-to-back losses on tour.

2 mins

Blinkered Roman Agent to make his mark

PUNTERS face a hugely competitive en-race card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today a card littered with maidens and some classy handicaps.

3 mins

Chiefs’ decline: How the Glamour Boys lost their shine and how they can rebuild

Another football season, another barren campaign for Kaizer Chiefs. With few one-on-one encounters still to come towards the edge of the abyss.

3 mins

Antonelli a rookie on the move after two races with Mercedes

ANDREA KIMI Antonelli is the youngest rookie this season and has been the most impressive, having collected 22 points from his tally but also his many rity and decisiveness in two tough opening races have demonstrated why the Italian is rightly rated by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as one of the brighter prospects into the future.

2 mins

Contenders for Premier League manager of the season: Can Arne Slot hold off the competition?

LIVERPOOL manager Arne Slot is regarded by many as a shoo-in for the English Premier League manager of the season accolade as his Reds continue their march to the league title.

2 mins

The Rugby Rubicon: Will Middle East money transform World Cup?

WHEN Japan won the rights to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, I wasn’t too excited.

3 mins

Home is the Slot where Reds want to be

LIVERPOOL manager Arne Slot said he expects Wednesday's clash with Everton at Anfield to be similar to their last meeting at Goodison Park in February, but with the key difference that his players will have the backing of a home crowd.

3 mins

Conrad set to take over as new Proteas head coach

PROTEAS Test coach Shukri Conrad has emerged as the frontrunner to take over all the South African senior men’s national cricket teams following Rob Walter’s resignation on Tuesday.

2 mins

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