The Mercury - April 15, 2025

In this issue

April 15, 2025

Deployment of Jonas as special envoy to US welcomed

South Africa seeks to mend ties with Washington

3 mins

Mayor Cyril Xaba outlines Durban's water strategy

DURBAN Mayor Cyril Xaba has reiterated the city's commitment to addressing water challenges, adding that in two weeks’ time, they will table a detailed plan of action aimed at resolving this problem.

2 mins

Convicted Mxenge killers seek SAPS funding for legal costs

THE two surviving men convicted of the 1981 murder of anti-apartheid lawyer Griffiths Mxenge have asked the SAPS to fund their legal defence.

2 mins

Always respect water

WATER is life and a source of socioeconomic development. Without it, there is basically no life and livelihood.

6 mins

Hazardous holiday booking

A TATTOO belonging to a man from Derbyshire, in England, has appeared in a US government document, according to the BBC, used to identify members of a notorious Venezuelan gang - despite the man having no connection to the group.

2 mins

Confronting conflict: the dangers of avoidance

MAKE peace... confront sooner rather than later.

1 min

NCC warns airlines over illegal practices

THE National Consumer Commission (NCC) has warned airlines, stating that the practice of overbooking flights is illegal under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

1 min

Meyiwa murder trial postponed again

THE trial of five men accused of killing former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates star goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has been postponed again in the Gaut-eng High Court in Pretoria.

2 mins

Man hires PI to prove ex-wife with cystic fibrosis can work

AN AGGRIEVED husband who was earlier ordered to pay maintenance towards his divorced wife's upkeep as she has a life-limiting illness which renders her unable to work, told the court he had a private investigator follow her and he reported that she enjoyed herself at a wrestling match.

2 mins

ANC highlights progress in talks with FF Plus and DA

THE ANC says it remains committed to fostering “inclusive and principled dialogue” as part of efforts to ensure effective governance in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and safeguard South Africa's democratic gains.

2 mins

Leveraging EV tax incentive to secure SA's sustainable future

THE global push for sustainability is reshaping industries, compelling nations to embrace cleaner technologies.

2 mins

Unlocking Africa's trillion dollar potential through startups

While we hesitate, the rest of the world is moving ahead fast

4 mins

Limit children’s access to social media

THE increasing accessibility of social media to children raises concerns that warrant immediate attention and action.

1 min

Malaysia PM to meet Myanmar Junta chief

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim said he will meet Myanmar’s isolated junta chief in Bangkok this week as the strongman makes a rare trip abroad to discuss earthquake relief.

1 min

Chinese exports soared in March

CHINESE EXPORTS soared more than 12 percent last month, according to data yesterday, beating expectations as businesses rushed to get ahead of swingeing tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on his so-called “Liberation Day”.

2 mins

Tensions flair as officials leave

FRESH tensions flared between France and Algeria yesterday as the French foreign minister said its former colony had asked 12 French officials to leave in 48 hours.

2 mins

Nobel literate laureate Llosa dies aged 89

NOBEL literature laureate Mario Vargas, pictured, Llosa died Sunday at the age of 89 in the Peruvian capital, his family announced on the social network X.

1 min

Child killed in Gaza air strike

AN ISRAELI air strike at the weekend hit one of Gaza’s few functioning hospitals, resulting in the death of a child according to the World Health Organization, as Israel warned it would expand its offensive if Hamas does not release hostages.

3 mins

Sting operation Nine arrested in drug raid as police seize R3.6 m in cash

NINE people who were allegedly running drug labs have been arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga.

1 min

SA consumers adapt to rising living costs

SOUTH African consumers are feeling the impact of the rising cost of living with a notable shift in their financial behaviour.

2 mins

Man convicted for undeclared US dollars but Phala Phala case not pursued

THE conviction and sentencing of Mohammed Ameen who was caught with more than half a million in undeclared US dollars has fuelled the African Transformation Movement’s (ATM) determination to ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa answers for the money that was concealed in a couch on his farm.

2 mins

Students urged to settle NSFAS accommodation payments with landlords

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has issued an urgent reminder to students who have recently received accommodation allowances of R10 800 to settle payments with their landlords.

1 min

Doechii and SADAG join forces: turning 'Anxiety into action for global mental health

AMERICAN Grammy award-winning rapper Doechii has teamed with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) for a global anti-anxiety campaign.

2 mins

Uncover the sneaky signs of protein deficiency you can't afford to ignore

EVERYWHERE you turn, there's advice about food: cut carbs, eat more greens, steer clear of sugar, or try the latest diet trend.

3 mins

IVAN MAZUZE STRIKES A CHORD OF CULTURAL HARMONY

CURRENTLY, in Canada, Ivan Mazuze, a Norway-based composer, award-winning saxophonist and world jazz artist of Mozambique origin, is preparing for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).

2 mins

Essential tips for first-time attendees

AS THE Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) approaches, the anticipation is palpable for both seasoned fans and first-time visitors alike.

2 mins

Mcebisi Jonas takes up US envoy role, but faces potential diplomatic hurdles

A UNITED States foreign policy expert has warned that Mcebisi Jonas could face the same treatment that former South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rassol, was subjected to as a result of his previous comments on US President Donald Trump.

1 min

Eskom accelerates renewable energy transition with new Exxaro partnership

ESKOM has moved swiftly to accel-erate its drive to harness 2 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2026 as it announced signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Exxaro Resources on Monday.

2 mins

Rand dips below R19/$ as markets rebound on easing political tensions

Fears of a potential collapse of the Government of National Unity appear to abate

3 mins

SA sugarcane farmers face uncertainty as US tariff policies threaten livelihoods

SOUTH African sugarcane farming associations have raised alarms as potential tariff increases by US President Donald Trump threaten to disrupt the already precarious equilibrium of the local sugar industry.

2 mins

How shared digital infrastructure can bridge the gap in Africa

IN UGANDA'S Buheesi village, a school that once lacked electricity or internet now downloads digital textbooks and files reports in real time. The transformation came when a pilot programme combined rural electrification with fibre deployment, bringing both power and connectivity to the heart of the community.

3 mins

New Bill risks further breakdown in bilateral relations amid SA fatigue and US tariff war

EARLIER this month, US Congressman Rodney Jackson introduced a bill that would not only demand a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa.

5 mins

Keren Energy advances green hydrogen production in South Africa

Keren Energy has made significant progress in the development of its green hydrogen (GH2) production facility in the Western Cape, South Africa, near Vanrhynsdorp, the first project of its kind in South Africa,

2 mins

Matthews Phosa appointed chairman of Jubilee Metals as company expands operations

MATTHEWS Phosa has been appointed new chairman of Jubilee Metals, which has copper and platinum group metals (PGM) operations in Zambia and South Africa, respectively.

2 mins

Remgro's CEO highlights challenges with key investments

REMGRO believes its three biggest non-performing unlisted investments, CVIH, Hirslanden and Heineken South Africa are largely to blame for the continuing discount to intrinsic net asset value that the investment group trades at on the JSE, CEO Jannie Durand said Monday.

3 mins

Why Steve Jobs remains unmatched in technology leadership

ONCE upon a time there was a view that technology leaders were better leaders.

3 mins

Why Capitec’s funeral cover strategy is beating legacy insurers - Tech Tides Africa

R102.95 versus R360.00. That stark price difference - for essentially the same R50,000 funeral cover product - isn't merely an aggressive pricing strategy. It represents a fundamentally different understanding of South African market realities.

5 mins

Chennai struggle, openers sizzle and Delhi rise

THE Indian Premier League season reaches its halfway point this week, as ten teams battle for supremacy in the Twenty20 tournament. AFP Sport highlights five talking points from the opening weeks of the 2025 IPL:

2 mins

Meso and Naidu wow Mashimbyi

PROTEAS Women's coach Mandla Mashimbyi is hoping teenagers Seshnie Naidu and Karabo Meso bring their \"fearless type of mindset\" with them on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

3 mins

Buffalo Storm Cody is a contender to be reckoned with

AT Turffontein Standside on Saturday the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody stamped himself as a Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint contender to reckon with when putting in his second fine performance in succession.

2 mins

McLaren conducts rhythm as rest of the paddock follows tempo

MCLAREN made another huge statement early in the 2025 season with a dominant win from Oscar Piastri. The Australian driver broke the team’s duck at the Bahrain International Circuit after 22 visits, cruising to victory and handing them a valuable 58-point lead at the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings.

2 mins

Kovac believes in miracles ahead of Barca clash

TRAILING 4-0 going into tonight's Uefa Champions League quarter-final return home leg against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said his side can draw inspiration from Liverpool's 2018-19 comeback against the same opponents.

1 min

AmaZulu hunt revenge against high-flying Stellenbosch

THERE are wounds that time hasn‘t quite healed - and for AmaZulu, one such scar leads straight back to January, when Stellenbosch FC humiliated them with a ruthless 5-0 thrashing in Umnlazi.

2 mins

Riveiro lauds Dlamini’s brilliance for Sea Robbers

ORLANDO Pirates coach José Riveiro showered praise on the often-overlooked Kabelo Dlamini, recognising the midfielder’s significant yet understated contributions to the team’s performance.

2 mins

Salah’s new deal holds promise of ‘Mo’ titles for Liverpool

WHILE Liverpool stumble to the Premier League title, the news of Mohamed Salah’s contract extension has surely put a spring in their step.

3 mins

Emery calls for fan energy as Aston Villa face PSG

UNAI Emery says his players can feed off the energy of their fans as Aston Villa seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit in tonight's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

2 mins

McIlroy Masters it all in emotional victory

RORY Mcllroy’s dramatic win at the Masters early yesterday put an end to the questions that have hounded him every time he set foot on Augusta National over the past 10 years as he finally turned the page on years of frustration.

2 mins

Etzebeth spearheads powerful Sharks squad for overseas tour

TIMING can be everything in life, and the Sharks have it on their side after John Plumtree named by far his strongest squad of the year for a vital overseas tour to Edinburgh and Ulster.

2 mins

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