The Mercury - May 07, 2025

In this issue

May 07, 2025

Football showpiece a win for Durban

Expected to inject millions of rand into city

3 mins

Crime is down in uMgungundlovu, eThekwini, says KZN police boss

KWAZULU-NATAL police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has taken a proactive stance in addressing crime in the province.

1 min

Concern grows over eThekwini Municipality's cash coverage amid rising debts

THE amount of money the eThekwini Municipality has on hand to continue functioning in the event of a financial emergency has raised concerns among city councillors, who believe it is too “little” and could lead to failure to deliver services.

2 mins

Appeal for action to be taken to address deteriorating state of Lamontville

I’M writing with a plea for help. Lamontville is collapsing.

1 min

Upgrade of RK Khan Hospital is a step in the right direction

THE DA in KwaZulu-Natal notes the recent oversight inspection by Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) MEC Martin Meyer at the RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth.

1 min

The complex dynamics of family relationships

SOME select a victim, a scapegoat, to shoulder all the woes that have little or nothing to do with the chosen one.

1 min

Mexican axolotl back from the brink

GOOD news for those of us who appreciate wildlife and support its protection. One of the world's most endangered amphibians - the strange, perpetually smiling Mexican axolotl - has thrived after being released in artificial wetlands near Mexico City, scientists have discovered, according to the BBC.

1 min

ConCourt rules South Africans can't lose citizenship over dual nationality

The Constitutional Court has struck down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act, which automatically stripped South Africans of their citizenship upon acquiring a second nationality.

1 min

Free State cops' deaths 'heartbreaking'

NATIONAL Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola described the deaths of three Free State police constables as a heartbreaking conclusion to what police first believed was a hijacking and kidnapping case.

1 min

Expert testifies about use of emojis

THE use of emojis in the messages that Judge President Selby Mbenenge sent to judge’s clerk Andiswa Mengo was the central focus in the Judicial Conduct Tribunal inquiry hearing into his conduct yesterday.

2 mins

Old Mutual Music at the Lake returns with Mother’s Day celebration

OLD Mutual Music at the Lake is back for another season of music, nature, and community - and the series kicks off in style with a special Mother's Day concert featuring South African superstars Mi Casa and Shekhinah on Sunday at the Durban Botanic Gardens.

1 min

Sports tourism brings big wins for KwaZulu-Natal

KWAZULU-NATAL continues to position itself as a leading destination for adventure and sports tourism.

2 mins

ARE GNU PARTIES BLIND TO ANC'S GRAFT?

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa won himself huge applause when he declared the ANC, the party he leads, corruption accused Number One.

1 min

Why the GNU holds no promise for true democracy

There has been a steady erosion of democratic responsiveness

4 mins

Romanian PM announces resignation

ROMANIAN Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation this week at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

1 min

Myanmar Junta calls new ceasefire

MYANMAR'S junta declared a new post-earthquake truce yesterday, days after the expiry of a previous humanitarian ceasefire it was accused of violating with a continued campaign of air strikes.

1 min

Woman pilot trailblazer eyes space

THE excited little girl who first touched a plane two decades ago is now flying high as the face of India’s fast-modernising military and its only woman Rafale fighter pilot.

2 mins

Poland: Russia is trying to meddle in election

POLAND is facing an unprecedented attempt from Russia to interfere in its presidential election, the digital affairs minister said yesterday, as the campaign entered its final stages ahead of the first round of voting on May 18.

1 min

India advances hydro projects

INDIA has advanced the start date of four under-construction hydropower projects in the Kashmir region by months after suspending a water-sharing treaty with Pakistan that had slowed progress, according to an industry source and a government document.

3 mins

Ex Prasa CEO Montana disputes Sars tax claim

FORMER Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) CEO, MK Party MP Lucky Montana, has publicly challenged the South African Revenue Service's (Sars) application to attach his assets, saying the tax claim against him is unfounded and politically motivated.

2 mins

Charges withdrawn against woman who allegedly killed her daughter's rapist

A 44-YEAR-OLD woman who allegedly murdered her disabled daughter's rapist has been cleared of all charges.

1 min

Urgent action needed in South Africa's battle against illicit trade

REPORT

3 mins

George building collapse: still no justice

MEMORIAL

3 mins

Pension Funds Adjudicator demands transparency

PENSION Funds Adjudicator (PFA) Muvhango Lukhaimane has taken a firm stance against funds that withhold investigation reports under the guise of protecting personal information, warning that the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) should not be used to conceal poor investigations.

1 min

Anthony Anderson's unexpected gout journey

ANTHONY Anderson is living proof that your body will call you out when your lifestyle isn’t quite as balanced as you think.

2 mins

Women line up to woo 78-year-old millionaire on Tinder

IN A CURIOUS case of age meeting ambition, Sir Benjamin Slade’s quest for love has become a viral sensation, proving that the search for an heir can also be a tale of modern romance.

2 mins

When fashion risks miss the mark

WORST DRESSED AT MET GALA

3 mins

Rihanna rocks Met Gala: baby bump, bold fashion steal the show!

THE fans clocked it, the internet clocked it, the world clocked it and now it's official: Rihanna is pregnant with baby number three.

2 mins

Govt pushes for Arcelormittal SA business sell-off amid R1.2bn bailout

Ministry is pushing for the sale of components of Amsa business to identified buyers

3 mins

Moody's lowers South Africa’s growth forecast to 1.5% amid global uncertainties

MOODY’S Ratings agency has lowered South Africa’s growth forecast for 2025 on the back of expected slow global growth, driven by tariff uncertainty and trade tensions.

2 mins

Nersa stands firm on licensing private operators amidst Eskom's court battle

THE National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has expressed confidence in its decision to grant trading licences to private electricity operators, despite Eskom's legal challenge.

2 mins

South Africa's private sector rebounds as sales and employment see positive uptick

SOUTH Africa's private sector has emerged from a difficult downturn, recording a slight uptick in sales that has reignited activity and employment.

3 mins

Markets are adjusting to a major turn in the political consensus

WE'VE had a dramatic start to the year — DeepSeek’s disruption of the artificial intelligence (AI) narrative, a seismic shift in defence and infrastructure spending out of Germany and of course “Liberation Day”.

4 mins

Transnet calls for proposals to enhance Durban port with new fresh produce terminal

TRANSNET National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the appointment of a terminal operator to construct a multi-purpose terminal (MPT) to handle fresh produce and compatible break bulk cargo at the Port of Durban.

2 mins

Industry urges South Africa to curb illicit trade as report reveals economic losses

INDUSTRY players are urging the South African government to prioritize policies to curb illicit trade through the crafting of an anti-illicit trade strategy, strengthening border controls and utilising technology in securing supply chains.

2 mins

Agri-industry raises concerns over declining production of sorghum in SA

THE Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has raised its alarm over the alarming decline of sorghum farming, a crop that once held promise for various applications including cereals and biofuels.

2 mins

High Court ruling clarifies Renergen's operations in South Africa's gas sector

JSE-listed Renergen has won a “legal victory\" that frees its onshore helium and natura gas production from operating under National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regulations, and the ruling adds regulatory clarity to South Africa's petroleum sector.

1 min

South African households see slight income improvement, but challenges remain

THE financial position of South African households improved slightly in the fourth quarter, but real disposable income per person for 2024 continued its decline from 2022, when the interest rate raising cycle increased.

3 mins

South African gold miners grapple with rising costs despite record prices

SOUTH African gold miners are being weighed down by elevated costs, with the Minerals Council of South Africa saying on Tuesday that the sector recorded the highest increase in input costs.

2 mins

AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields pause joint venture discussions in Ghana

ANGLOGOLD Ashanti's share price surged 3.65% on the JSE Tuesday after it and Gold Fields announced they would pause their proposed Ghana joint venture plans.

2 mins

Spain's blackout highlights renewables' grid challenge

THE cause of last week's massive power outage in Spain and Portugal remains unclear but it has shone a spotlight on solar and wind energy, which critics accuse of straining electricity grids.

2 mins

Green hydrogen to power Africa's path to energy independence

ACCESS to reliable electricity remains a significant challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural areas.

2 mins

A Just Transition code of good practice is needed to protect SA workers

MAY DAY as annually observed globally is more than just a rededication to the struggles for workers' rights, but about the centrality of the global work force's need to secure the future of work.

3 mins

Parker is smiling all the way to Turkiye

GUS Parker was all smiles following his stunning win at the prestigious Erinvale Golf Club in Somerset West recently — a victory that not only secured him the title but also an all-expenses-paid trip to Antalya, Tiirkiye, for the World Golf Cup Amateur Series final, courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

1 min

Cherry Oh Baby to break the ice

AFTER a long overdue refurbish, the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly will be back in use today and a number of trainers have delayed in the interim to get their poly specialists into action again. This could be a telling pointer to the performance of some runners but the revamped surface should be fair for all.

1 min

Nabi draws on experience as Chiefs look to end trophy drought

WITH head coach Nasreddine Nabi well-versed in high-pressure encounters, having honed his skills during spells with AS FAR Rabat and Tanzanian side Young Africans, Kaizer Chiefs will be determined to end their lengthy trophy drought when they face Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

2 mins

Forest's Euro ambitions cut down

NOTTINGHAM Forest's bid to qualify for the Uefa Champions League suffered a setback as they were held to a damaging 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.

1 min

Downs close in on historic title as Chippa test awaits

MAMELODI Sundowns have once again proven their dominance this season and are now on the brink of making history.

2 mins

All about the 'bigger why' for Bulls in URC title quest, says van Staden

The Bulls may be coming off arguably their finest win since the 2022 semi-finals, but they are not carried away with that momentum in their United Rugby Championship title quest.

3 mins

'Trokkie' has the tools to drive Springboks at No 8

DID you know that the last South African to be chosen as the world’s best Under-20 player was Juarno Augustus?

3 mins

Rabada drug-use scandal was poorly handled

WHO would have thought an educated athlete such as Kagiso Rabada would be involved in a drug-related issue?

2 mins

Sharks to go from 'gritty to pretty' against Ospreys, Mongalo

Sharks fans will agree that watching their team grind out wins in recent weeks has been like watching a rock being pushed up a hill, but defence coach Joey Mongalo is certain the summit is in sight.

2 mins

Sinner ready to rise in Rome after limbo

JANNIK Sinner is the star of the show at the upcoming Rome Open as the world No 1 and Italian tennis hero gears up for his return to the courts after a contested doping ban.

2 mins

Arsenal to test Donnarumma's class in Paris

OUSMANE Dembele and his fellow attacking players may have stolen most of the limelight on Paris Saint-Germain's run in this season's Champions League, but the form of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been just as important in taking the French giants to the brink of the final.

3 mins

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