The Mercury - April 14, 2025

In this issue

April 14, 2025

Use of Al by South African university students sparks debate

THE increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic spaces has sparked a conversation on its ethical use, particularly as students turn to tools like ChatGPT for assignments and research.

2 mins

ANC ponders backing down on VAT hike

THE ANC is expected to abandon its push for a Value Added Tax (VAT) increase in the budget, following intense opposition from its coalition partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and other political parties.

2 mins

Teen rape victim's suicide leads to freedom for alleged rapists

THE suicide of a 14-year-old rape victim who simply could no longer tolerate being cross-examined at length by the defence lawyers of her three alleged rapists, has resulted in the men now walking free due to a technicality in the case.

2 mins

Spending cuts hit education hard amid financial crisis

Not enough funds to manage critical functions

3 mins

DIRCO must fire diplomat who owes R800K for property vandalism

A REPLY toa DA parliamentary question has revealed that South African diplomat, Adv David Kweli Nkosi, has been redeployed as political counsellor to the South African Embassy in Amman, Jordan, despite owing the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) just under R800 000 for damages incurred to rented properties in Austria and India where he was previously deployed.

1 min

Angry sea lions and tariffs: a connection?

PRESIDENT Donald Trump will not have enjoyed much of the media comment on his postponement of the financial tariff increases hed announced - least of all the comments of Sky News analyst Ian King.

2 mins

SCA orders Minister to enforce air quality regulations in the Highveld

THE Minister of Environmental Affairs was given 12 months by the Supreme Court of Appeal to prescribe regulations in terms of the Air Quality Act and to implement and enforce the published Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.

2 mins

New technology to enhance law enforcement during Easter

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has announced that Automatic Number Plate Recognition System will be used by law enforcement this Easter to identify stolen and unlicensed vehicles in real-time.

2 mins

Alleged irregularities in hiring process for senior municipal job

COUNCILLORS in Msunduzi Municipality have launched an investigation into allegations that interview scores for a deputy municipal manager position was tampered with.

2 mins

Gaza hospital hit as Israel intensifies assault

AN Israeli air strike yesterday heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, as the Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas “command and control centre” operating from within the facility.

1 min

Myanmar celebrates amid quake losses

THOUSANDS marked the start of Myanmar’s water festival yesterday in the ruins of last month's earthquake, with the country’s most raucous holiday muted by the tragedy of the tremor.

2 mins

UK MP denied entry into Hong Kong

BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Lammy yesterday said he was deeply concerned after a UK lawmaker was denied entry to Hong Kong, and said he would be urgently raising the issue with the Chinese authorities.

1 min

US exempts tech imports

THE Trump administration has exempted a raft of consumer electronics from its punishing import tariffs ~ offering relief to US tech firms and partially dialling down a trade war with China.

2 mins

Eskom ramps up maintenance

ESKOM says it has intensified its planned maintenance work and significantly reduced unplanned outages as it seeks to stabilise the power grid ahead of winter.

1 min

Ransom demand made for US pastor kidnapped in Gqeberha

A RANSOM demand has been made for US missionary pastor Josh Sullivan, who was kidnapped at gunpoint during a church service in Gqeberha last Thursday.

1 min

Plea from elderly flood victim for relocation from hall

AN 87-YEAR-OLD displaced flood victim, who has been living at the Jabulani Hall in Trenance Park, Verulam since the 2022 floods, says she is desperate to be moved.

1 min

Basic Education Minister pledges to finalise BELA regulations

BASIC Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said her department is working towards ensuring that the regulations for the Basic Laws Amendment Act (BELA) are finalised in time before the start of the 2026 academic year.

2 mins

When happiness hits snooze: a deep dive into anhedonia and finding your joy again

HAVE you ever looked at something that used to make you happy, like a favourite hobby, a fun outing with friends, or even your morning coffee and felt nothing? Like the spark that made it joyful has gone missing?

3 mins

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC: THE MUST-SEE ARTISTS AT CTJF 2025

AS THE countdown begins to one of South Africa’s most anticipated musical celebrations, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is ready to enchant audiences again.

3 mins

South Africa's aluminium aviation industry hangs in the balance amid US tariff uncertainty

THE fortunes of aluminium component manufacturers in South Africa's aviation industry hang on a balance from ripple effects of global supply chain disruptions arising from the US import tariffs.

2 mins

G20 summit hangs in the balance as US-South Africa tensions escalate

President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about the participation of the US delegation in the summit

3 mins

Optimism prevails at the National Yearling Sale

THE BSA National Yearling Sale showed that optimism still prevails in South African racing as the statistics were only slightly down on last year’s phenomenal returns.

1 min

Muscutt gets the salute

THE Listed WSB Sledgehammer over 1750m was the highlight of the ten race Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting yesterday and the Peter Muscutt-trained three-year-old colt I Salute You gave the Australian-bred Epaulette stallion Soqrat his first stakes winner when prevailing from Selukwe ina thriller under Muzi Yeni.

1 min

Alcaraz slams his way to Monte Carlo title

CARLOS Alcaraz made the best possible start to his preparations for the defence of his French Open title, burning past the Italian Lorenzo Musetti in three sets yesterday to win his first Monte Carlo Masters.

2 mins

Bulls gain selection tips for Munster tie

AS the Bulls made their way back to their home from home, Biarritz in France, they are likely to spend the two-and-a-half hours’ flight time wondering how they lost to Edinburgh.

2 mins

Pirates exact revenge on Gallants to claim final spot

VENGEFUL Orlando Pirates turned the tables on Marumo Gallants to secure their place in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final with a 1-0 win at Orlando Stadium yesterday. The victory served as retribution for their previous 2-0 defeat in the Betway Premiership a month earlier, and also secured the defending champions a place in the coveted 2025 final.

2 mins

Piastri leads Papayas’ to first Bahrain win

OSCAR Piastri powered to victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday from George Russell's Mercedes with the Australian's McLaren teammate Lando Norris in third.

2 mins

Bosch looking forward to sweeping tri-series rivals away

AFTER being served a buffet of T20 cricket for the past 12 months, Proteas women’s batter Anneke Bosch is eagerly looking forward to dining on 50-overs in the upcoming ODI Tri-Series in Sri Lanka.

2 mins

Boks Women gear up for important Spain Test

THE Springbok Women continued to build up for Saturday's Test match against Spain with a commanding 50-17 victory over an England age-group side in Marcoussis, France.

2 mins

LIONS LEAD AT WANDERERS FINAL, BUT KP AND LHUAN-DRE REMAIN FOR TITANS

THE last day of the South African cricket summer has arrived, and the Lions require seven wickets to claim a successive CSA First-Class title at the Wanderers on Monday.

2 mins

Sharks welcome Springbok stars

AFTER two recent defeats, the Sharks have some heavily armed cavalry coming to the rescue for their United Rugby Championship (URC) tour to Edinburgh and Ulster.

2 mins

Liverpool edge closer to title as Magpies go fourth

LIVERPOOL are within touching distance of the English Premier League title after Virgil van Dijk sealed a dramatic 2-1 win over West Ham, while Newcastle climbed into the top four with a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United yesterday.

3 mins

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