The Mercury - April 03, 2025

In this issue

April 03, 2025

ANC secures narrow win as opposition parties cry foul

THE National Assembly witnessed a dramatic showdown last night as the Budget was passed with a difference of just 12 votes between those for it and those against.

3 mins

Movement condemns SA banks' discriminatory practices

THE Resistance Against Impunity Movement (RAIM) has issued a condemnation of South African banks for their practice of arbitrarily closing accounts using the controversial criterion of \"reputational risk\".

1 min

Omotoso walks free, judge slams State's handling of case

SCENES of jubilation played out at the Gqeberha High Court yesterday as tel-evangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, walked free after a marathon eight-year trial.

2 mins

Divorce and children: strategies for a healthy transition

DIVORCE is painful for the children.

1 min

Trump’s trade tariffs may hark back to the Cold War

AT THE time of writing, the world was waiting in agonised anticipation of President Donald Trump’s updated tariffs on China.

1 min

Short- and long-term perspectives needed on Expropriation Act

THE controversy surrounding Act 13 of 2023, the Expropriation Act, needs to be considered from two perspectives: the short term and the long term.

1 min

Durban family prays for son missing after quake

A DURBAN family continues to pray for the safe return of a loved one, reported missing following the Myanmar earthquake.

1 min

KZN mortuaries reduce number of unclaimed bodies by 60%

THE number of unclaimed bodies in KwaZulu-Natal medico-legal mortuaries has been reduced from 1600 to 620 since October last year.

1 min

KwaZulu-Natal vehicle licensing offices will now only accept card payments

KWAZULU-NATAL's Department of Transport has transitioned to a cashless payment system in motor licensing offices across the province.

1 min

Plan to combat poverty, boost economy

A RESEARCH and development institute has outlined a five-point plan it believes will eradicate South Africans communities from poverty and trigger economic progress.

2 mins

DA NOW AN UNWELCOME GNU GUEST

FROM now onwards, the DA's continued stay in the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) is untenable.

1 min

Death of Herbert Chitepo an unsolved mystery

Zimbabwean IF ASSASSINATED author, poet, barrister, and liberation fighter Herbert Chitepo was not killed, maybe Zimbabwe would not be in the situation it is in.

3 mins

Are you sure you have never raped, my brother?

Heinous acts of violating women and children must end

4 mins

US approves $5.58bn fighter jet sale to Philippines

The US said yesterday it has approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, as Washington backs its ally in rising tensions over China.

1 min

Fight against misinformation

MASSIVE student-led protests in Serbia have been met with a barrage of disinformation from pro-government media and social networks, in what analysts say is an attempt to undermine the anti-graft movement.

2 mins

Seoul braces for protests as court decides on Yoon's impeachment

SOUTH Korean police will mobilise \"all available resources\" to prevent violence when a court rules Friday on the fate of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, with top tourist sites to close and embassies warning citizens to stay away.

2 mins

Vietnam to host China, EU leaders in coming weeks amid US tariff risks, sources say

CHINA'S President Xi Jinping and European Union leaders are set to visit Vietnam in the next few weeks in a swirl of diplomatic activity amid growing risks from US trade tariffs, officials said.

1 min

Durban to add Ricksha buses to its fleet, despite operating at a loss

THE eThekwini Municipality’s Durban Ricksha buses have incurred an estimated loss of R4.5 million in the past three financial years, but plans are in place to increase the number of buses.

1 min

How tobacco, alcohol spending impacts households in South Africa

A GROUNDBREAKING study by the University of Cape Town (UCT) has shed light on the economic and health consequences of tobacco and alcohol consumption in South Africa, particularly for lower-income households and children.

2 mins

Parliament edges closer to endorsing a new deputy public protector

PARLIAMENT is edging closer to filling the deputy public protector position that has been vacant for almost two years.

2 mins

Court rejects 'just fooling around' argument

A MAN who claimed he was 'only fooling around' with a female colleague in the boardroom, while she claimed he gripped her breasts and tried to force her skirt and panties down, lost his legal bid to his job back.

2 mins

Tupperware's second serving: iconic brand set for fresh start

FOR decades, Tupperware was a household name in food storage and a social phenomenon through its famous home-selling parties.

2 mins

Nafcoc calls for urgent economic transformation to empower black-owned businesses

THE National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) will embark on Wednesday with a call for economic transformation aimed at empowering black owned businesses in South Africa.

2 mins

PIC under scrutiny as Scopa demands answers on irregular expenditure

THE Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC) unlisted portfolio came up for scrutiny without wholly satisfying the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), which has scheduled another date to receive answers that had raised red flags with the Auditor-General (AG).

1 min

Rand slumps amid SA budget turmoil, political uncertainty

DA says party will file papers in the High Court to challenge passing of the 2025/26 Budget

2 mins

¡OCO plans debt reduction and potential acquisitions after profitable turnaround

iOCO's (formerly EOH Holdings) plans to reduce debt in the second half of its financial year, and it may consider share buybacks or acquisitions after that, co-CEO Thys Summerton said on Wednesday.

3 mins

US urges visiting South Africa business leaders to balance trade

REPAIRING the fractured relationship between South Africa and the US hinges on balanced trade, according to business and labour leaders who met with American politicians in Washington.

2 mins

MTN Cameroon wins court appeal to release seized assets

A CAMEROON appeals court has ordered the release of South African mobile operator MTN's bank accounts in the country, which were seized in 2022 over a loan dispute with a Cameroonian businessman, MTN said.

1 min

iOCO plans debt reduction and potential acquisitions after profitable turnaround

iOCO's (formerly EOH Holdings) plans to reduce debt in the second half of its financial year, and it may consider share buybacks or acquisitions after that, CEO Symon Summer ton said Wednesday.

3 mins

US urges visiting South Africa business leaders to balance trade

REPAIRING the fractured relationship between South Africa and the US hinges on balanced trade, according to business leaders who met with American politicians in Washington.

2 mins

MTN’s ethical dilemma: human rights violations amid internet shutdowns

MTN is more widely known for the communication, education, and financial benefits its mobile and internet services bring to 19 African markets, but allegations of human rights violations due to internet shutdowns ordered by governments in conflict continue to surface, raising an ethical dilemma for the group.

3 mins

OK Zimbabwe seeks $30 million capital raise amid financial struggles

ZIMBABWE’S largest but struggling retail operator, OK Zimbabwe, is seeking to raise $30 million (around R560m), in capital to strengthen its balance sheet, enhance working capital and to support its turnaround after profitability subsided amid a worsening economic environment.

2 mins

Tongaat Hulett’s business rescue: New investors secure credit approval

TONGAAT Hulett’s (THL) business rescue has reached a pivotal point after the sugar and property group’s new investors, the Vision Parties confirmed to Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) that they have secured credit approval to meet the balance of their payment obligations owed to lenders.

2 mins

Bank Zero and Green Riders: empowering SA's marginalised youth through entrepreneurship

A NEW partnership between Bank Zero and Green Riders aims to bolster entrepreneurship among South Africa's marginalised youth, leveraging cost-effective banking to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are vital to the country's gross domestic product.

2 mins

The 'Mob of Public Opinion' in the Age of Entrepreneurship

I WOKE up one morning, did my usual doomscroll on twitter (previously known as X, back when things made sense), and there it was: another empire falling down in real time.

1 min

Is email marketing dead? Unpacking the latest trends in marketing for your small and medium enterprise

WITH 4.37 billion users worldwide, email persists as a core digital marketing channel. The question is, with the evolution of how businesses communicate with consumers, is email marketing still effective?

2 mins

Kirsten: Bulls set for 'fight until the death' in France

WITH a partisan home crowd in the stands, the Bulls are prepared for a “hostile environment” in Saturday’s Challenge Cup last 16 clash against Bayonne in France (3.30pm start).

2 mins

I'm A Fireball scorches home in style

FORMER champion jockey Anthony Delpech has been on a few 'good' ones in his time and now as racing manager of Hollywood Racing he has been on the cutting edge of managing a large string.

2 mins

Pressure just too much for Walter, now Proteas ODI scene set for Conrad

ROB Walter's sudden resignation as Proteas white-ball coach sent shockwaves through South African cricket on Tuesday afternoon.

3 mins

Pirates face Polokwane City selection headache after Africa heroics

AFTER Tuesday's gruelling outing against MC Alger in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals in Algiers, Orlando Pirates' technical team will have to apply some special measures to manage their squad over the next couple of days.

2 mins

Wayne Roberts’ SA swansong: A second Professional Bowls Association title

SITTING across from Wayne Roberts in what could be his last interview as a South African competitor, one cannot help but be struck by the composed confidence the World Bowls No 4 ranker conveys.

2 mins

Do-or-die: Chiefs' top-eight hopes hang by a thread

KAIZER Chiefs' inconsistent showing this season has placed them in a situation where every game is a must-win encounter, as they face the danger of missing out on the top eight in backto-back seasons.

2 mins

AmaZulu's defensive woes: Can they turn the tide against Richards Bay?

AMAZULU will be looking to address their ongoing defensive frailties when they face Richards Bay in a crucial Betway Premiership clash tomorrow.

2 mins

Shalulile confident Sundowns can win CAF Champions League

PETER Shalulile believes Mamelodi Sundowns have what it takes to go all the way in the CAF Champions League this season, having come so close last year when they were knocked out in the semi-finals.

2 mins

Royal AM on the verge of PSL expulsion as club owners prepare to vote

ROYAL AM’s future in the Premier Soccer League looks set for doom after the league’s executive committee has resolved to terminate the club’s membership.

2 mins

Masuku pushing for a start as Grobler bolsters Sharks

THE good news for the Sharks is that combative lock Gerbrandt Grobler will make his comeback from injury against Lyon on Sunday in the Challenge Cup.

2 mins

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