The Mercury - April 22, 2025

In this issue

April 22, 2025

Must-see artists at Africa’s grandest music gathering

AS THE countdown begins to one of the country’s most anticipated musical celebrations, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is ready to enchant audiences again with an enthralling tapestry of sound celebrating the icons who paved the way and the exciting new and local artists shaping the future - paying homage to the theme “Legacy Meets Tomorrow”.

1 min

Plan to appoint Afrikaner ambassador to US sows division within ANC

THE ANC is divided over suggestions that President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering the appointment of a white Afrikaner as the new South African Ambassador to the US.

2 mins

World leaders hail Pope Francis

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday paid tribute to the late Pope Francis's \"extraordinary life story\" and praised his efforts to promote inclusion.

3 mins

Medical tourism could boost coffers

A FAMILY general practitioner recently made a comment that in spite of lots of discrepancies in the system, where the greater majority of poor people are marginalised from proper medical care, particularly in our public hospitals, (and even to some extent within our private hospitals), the private hospitals in our country were definitely easier to access, and the fees were far lower than in other countries.

1 min

Small acts of kindness can make a big difference

MAY we do what we can do.

1 min

ANC’s crisis with Trump administration self-inflicted

WESTERN Cape University research fellow Ali Ridha Khan's assertion that the US has eroded its moral authority in Africa is based on ambivalent logic and a distortion of principles (The Mercury, April 17).

1 min

Rugby bright spots dazzle

IF LAST week’s outing in which the Sharks took on Edinburgh proved one thing, it’s that the talent of your side counts for nothing if they haven't played together for yonks. How we came away with a one-point win in the dying seconds of the game was a marvel.

1 min

Court to hear DA's application to interdict VAT increase, EFF joins the fray

THE Western Cape High Court will hear an urgent application today to interdict the impending Value Added Tax (VAT) increase, scheduled to take effect on May 1.

1 min

Easter road safety campaign 'had positive impact'

AS THE Easter long weekend draws to a close, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says preliminary data indicate a significant decrease in road crashes and fatalities.

2 mins

KZN ANC task team faces internal conflict

A POLITICAL showdown is looming within the reconfigured ANC provincial task team (PTT) in KwaZulu-Natal over the proposal to appoint regional task teams to replace regional executive committees.

1 min

ANC 'won't interfere' in probe into convoy shooting

THE ANC says it will not interfere with the police's investigation into an incident in which the official car of the deputy president Paul Mashatile was shot at.

2 mins

MASHATILE ATTACK RINGS ALARM BELLS

THIS past Easter weekend, South Africa was shaken by an alarming incident that could have profound implications for our democracy - a reported assassination attempt on Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

1 min

Why colonial Christian churches are being rejected

There has been a steady decline in membership of 'mainline' Christian churches

4 mins

Faith and responsibility must go hand in hand

EASTER is a sacred time for most people. One of reflection, community, and spiritual renewal.

2 mins

Russia resumes attacks on Ukraine

UKRAINIAN regional officials yesterday reported Russia has resumed air attacks, after Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of breaking a brief Easter truce.

1 min

Trade talks to rule IMF gathering

HUNDREDS of global finance leaders will descend on Washington this week, each with a singular mission: Who can I talk with to cut a trade deal?

3 mins

Afro-Brazilian fest marks cultural kinship

THOUSANDS of young and old descendants of formerly enslaved people donned elaborate costumes at the weekend to bring the rhythm, vibrancy and colours of Brazil's Rio Carnival to the streets of Lagos in Nigeria.

1 min

‘Cancer’ of cyberscam industry spreading

ASIAN crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities, the UN said in a report yesterday.

2 mins

Archbishop Makgoba issues warning over GNU squabbles

ANGLICAN Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used his Easter sermon to not only preach about the significance of the religious weekend — he also warned that Government of National Unity (GNU) “grandstanding” threatened to create a “crisis of confidence” in democracy, unless political parties learned to accept one another's legitimacy.

1 min

Concerns over eThekwini ward 110 election results

THE DA in KwaZulu-Natal has rejected the eThekwini ward 110 by-election outcome, citing irregularities in the voter registration process.

1 min

Man arrested for possession of 554 stolen phones

A 39-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested after Free State police discovered hundreds of suspected stolen electronic devices in his flat in Bloemfontein. The arrest was made during a joint operation by the SAPS, the Parkweg Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods (FLASH) Unit, and the Parkweg Intervention Unit.

1 min

Urgent action needed to combat foot-and- mouth disease in KZN says Steenhuisen

MINISTER of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has raised concern about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal.

1 min

Medico-legal claims reached R1.1 bn in 2024, says minister

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has disclosed that the cost of medico-legal claims has exceeded R1.1 billion since April 2024.

2 mins

Free concert to set tone for Africa’s grandest gathering

THE countdown is on for the return of Africa's Grandest Gathering - the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF)!

2 mins

TOXIC THREADS

The gross reasons why you should always wash new clothes before wearing them

2 mins

How TikTok queens are celebrating the joys of growing older

LET’S face it: most of us want to live long, fulfilling lives. But the idea of getting older is a little harder to embrace. With wrinkles, grey hairs, and change.

2 mins

CTIJF: Lira set to make triumphant re-return

SOUTH African Afro-Soul singer Lira is set to make a return to the stage at the upcoming Cape Town International Jazz Festival, marking a significant chapter in her remarkable journey following a stroke that sidelined her from performing for several years.

2 mins

IMF urges emerging markets to maintain exchange rate flexibility

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged emerging market economies and countries with unsustainable public debt, many of whom are in Africa, to preserve exchange rate flexibility and move proactively to restore sustainability amidst prevailing global economic uncertainty.

3 mins

SA network providers concerned by Tribunal blocking R13bn Maziv acquisition by Vodacom

THE Association of Communications and Technology (ACT) has raised concerns about the impact of the Competition Tribunal blocking Vodacom Group from acquiring a 30% to 40% stake in fibre company Maziv for R13.2 billion.

2 mins

Transnet on edge as union refuses to back down on wage demands

The union has rejected Transnet’s final 2025/26 wage offer of 6%, 6% and 5.5%, and declared a dispute

3 mins

Collapsed Steinhoff faces revived 2019 price-fixing case as probe heads to Competition Tribunal

AN EXTENSIVE and lengthy legal battle, which went through several courts, has just seen the Pretoria High Court rule against the now-defunct Steinhoff over allegations of price fixing, paving the way for the matter to ostensibly proceed.

2 mins

Unpacking the final employment equity sector targets in South Africa

ON 15 APRIL 2025, the Minister of Employment and Labour published the 'Determination of Sectoral Numerical Targets' (Final Sector Target Regulations) and the 'Employment Equity Regulations, 2025' (General Administrative EE Regulations), which repeal the Employment Equity Regulations, 2014 (collectively, the 2025 EEA Regulations).

6 mins

Fuel price set to drop in May as VAT hike kicks in

MOTORISTS in South Africa could expect to have some relief next month as a fuel price cut is on the cards on the back of easing global Brent crude oil price, benefitting consumers who will be facing the 0.5 percentage point VAT rate hike from 1 May.

2 mins

Africa remains a key investment hub despite global turbulence

DESPITE geopolitical and economic uncertainty across the globe caused by US President Donald Trump and his vacillating position on trade tariffs, among other decisions with far-reaching ramifications, Africa is still an attractive investment destination.

2 mins

Record gold prices sparkle for miners thanks to Trump tariffs, yet SA’s economy loses its Midas touch

SOUTH Africa, once the world’s gold powerhouse, is now only the globe's eighth largest producer of the yellow metal and the only real benefit the country is seeing from record prices is the psychological impact on shares in the gold mining sector and the rand.

2 mins

Former Anglo American suitor, BHP, expects to benefit from Trump-induced global turmoil

GLOBAL mining and metals company, BHP believes it is set to “benefit from a flight to quality” assets in the face of global volatility and policy uncertainty.

2 mins

Africa's gas and liquified gas potential: tapping opportunities for sustainable growth

AS AFRICA'S gas and LNG potential continues to grow, African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 will highlight key opportunities and challenges in unlocking the continent's vast energy resources, driving economic growth and advancing energy security.

2 mins

Flexible return policies key to e-commerce success

FOR online shoppers, the ease of returning a product is just as important as the purchase itself. A seamless returns process isn’t just a part of a good customer service journey; it may prove to be a competitive advantage in the e-commerce space.

1 min

Reassessing SA's diplomatic missions: balancing budget cuts and economic growth

IN THE MIDST of budget pressures, calls have been made by political parties to close some South African diplomatic missions across the world. This has been done previously by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

4 mins

Molokwane's suspension raises questions

WORLD Netball has suspended Cecilia Molokwane, the president of Netball South Africa (NSA) and Africa Netball, and a World Netball director, casting doubts on her bid for a third term as NSA leader.

2 mins

Okavango stakes his claim

LOCALLY based trainers always face an uphill task during South Africa’s Champions Season as the out-of-towners arrive with the cream of their crops. Highveld-based trainers have their moments but most are hard-pressed to match runners from the Western Cape.

4 mins

'Scary' Sacha, but Moerat demands tighter Stormers defence

STORMERS captain Salmaan Moerat says his team are grateful to have an attacking genius in flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ~ but that his talent needs to be backed up by a better team performance on defence.

2 mins

Gabriel revels in 'telepathic' teamwork as Richards Bay shines on the pitch

RICHARDS Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel believes his side are peaking at just the right time as the KwaZulu-Natal outfit fight to retain their top-flight status in the final stretch of the Premiership season.

2 mins

Chiefs' hot and cold form threatens PSL top-eight hopes

KAIZER Chiefs’ subdued form continues to cast doubt over their top-eight ambitions, even as they cling to eighth place in the Premiership following a goalless draw against Chippa United last Saturday.

2 mins

Milnerton excel at KERF as Westville, DHS go unbeaten

THE 2025 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) concluded yesterday following three absorbing days’ play, with KZN’s Durban High School (DHS) and Westville winning all three of their matches.

1 min

Europa League success potential lifeline for Amorim, Postecoglu

THE Europa League could prove to be to Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim what the FA Cup was to predecessor Eric ten Hag... a lifeline.

3 mins

Pirates walking Pyramids semi-final tightrope

ORLANDO Pirates' CAF Champions League unbeaten run remains intact - but only just.

2 mins

Cardoso: Sundowns can cope in Cairo cauldron

AFTER Mamelodi Sundowns failed to capitalise on home-ground advantage over the weekend, a dream all-South African CAF Champions League final hangs in the balance.

2 mins

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