The Mercury - May 12, 2025

In this issue

May 12, 2025

Trade unions welcome ruling reinstating Ithala's operations

LABOUR federations have described the court judgment handed down on Friday that restored some functions of Ithala SOC Limited as a victory that has renewed their faith in the justice system, adding this judgment should mark the first step towards turning Ithala into a fully fledged state bank.

2 mins

Afrikaners pursue better lives in US

Group granted refugee status by the Trump administration

3 mins

Solution sought after driving licence card machine failure

THE Department of Transport (DoT) is on a mission to find an interim solution to address the issue of reliance on the current driving licence card machine.

2 mins

Tragic crash claims eight lives in KZN

IT WAS a grim Mother's Day for some families in the province after eight people, mostly mothers, tragically lost their lives in a devastating crash in the early hours of yesterday morning along the N2 near the Mthunzini Toll Plaza.

1 min

Does the sycamore win?

TWO men have been found guilty of cutting down the famous Sycamore Gap tree that stood for more than 150 years next to Hadrian's Wall, in Northumberland, the boundary between Scotland and England.

2 mins

In a conflict stricken world, the silent among us should be feared

IT’S not the bigoted or the pro-Zion that I’m worried about, or the avowedly rabid Islamophobe who speaks his poisoned mind in the public domain and who posts his or her diatribe disguised as debate via the media.

1 min

Cameron's remarks on police acquittal must be condemned

THE Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) welcomes the acquittal of the eight members of the Presidential Protection Unit, who have endured undue public vilification while subject to the legal process.

2 mins

Letting go: habits that hinder personal growth

VERBAL arm wrestling, the need to be right, to outwit, to have the last word, or to win every debate at all costs.

1 min

uMngeni selected for national infrastructure pilot project

SERVICE DELIVERY

1 min

Police Minister denounces shocking rape case involving KZN Inkosi

THE POLICE Ministry has expressed its shock and disdain after an 18-year-old was allegedly raped by a traditional leader in KwaZulu-Natal.

1 min

Timothy Omotoso declared to be illegally in SA

THE Department of Home Affairs has officially declared that Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso is illegally in the country.

1 min

EFF reconfigures leadership in KZN ahead of local elections

AS PART of strengthening the party ahead of next year's local government election, the EFF has reconfigured its leadership in KwaZulu-Natal.

1 min

KZN Premier hails Nedbank Cup Final as peaceful, profitable triumph for province

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the peaceful and incident-free hosting of the 2025 Nedbank Cup Final was a major boost for the province, both on and off the field.

2 mins

China suspends cloven hoofed imports due to disease outbreak in SA

THE People’s Republic of China has suspended imports of cloven hoofed animals and related products following the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal and its recent spread to Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

2 mins

REVIVING SOUTH AFRICA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

AFRICA'S Travel Indaba takes place in Durban this week, and we welcome all foreign and domestic delegates who will be attending the event, which has the theme \"Unlimited Africa\" this year.

1 min

Gender gap in finance, business may take a century to narrow

Underrepresentation of women in leadership and key sectors hinder inclusive development

5 mins

amaBhungane's commitment to media freedom rings hollow

ON INTERNATIONAL Press Freedom Day, Caroline James published an article about how investigative journalism platform amaBhungane joined Independent Media to challenge a Durban High Court judgment.

2 mins

Catholics gather to catch glimpse of pope

POPE Leo XIV was to greet the crowd from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica yesterday, leading a prayer to the Virgin Mary in his second official public appearance since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church.

2 mins

Ex-president granted asylum in Colombia

FORMER Panama president Ricardo Martinelli announced his arrival at the weekend in Colombia, where he has been granted asylum after spending 15 months at the Nicaraguan embassy to avoid a prison sentence for money laundering.

1 min

Sri Lanka bus crash kills 21 pilgrims

AN OVERCROWDED bus carrying dozens of Buddhist pilgrims plummeted down a precipice in Sri Lanka yesterday, killing at least 21 and injuring 24, a senior transport official said.

2 mins

Trump hails China talks as 'a total reset'

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump hailed talks with China in Switzerland on Saturday, saying the two sides had negotiated “a total reset ... in a friendly, but constructive, manner.”

2 mins

Putin proposes direct peace talks

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin yesterday proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war, an initiative welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy who said Kyiv was willing to talk but Moscow must agree to a ceasefire.

3 mins

'More than 500 000 pupils still depend on unsafe pit toilets'

BREADLINE Africa has warned that more than 500 000 pupils still rely on dangerous and unhygienic pit toilets at their schools in various parts of the country.

2 mins

SADC to cover costs for SANDF troop withdrawal from DRC

THE South African Development Community (SADC) will foot the bill for the return of the South African National Defence (SANDF) and their military equipment from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

2 mins

Bleak state of SA's water supply systems

UNDERFUNDING, increasing water scarcity and failing infrastructure are among the serious challenges impacting the country's supply of clean, drinking water.

4 mins

Iron out the details: easy ways to naturally boost your iron intake, improve your health

IRON is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in our health, contributing to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, facilitating oxygen transport and helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue.

2 mins

Skin cancer: Why you need sun protection in winter

AS TEMPERATURES drop and layers go up, many South Africans ease off their sun protection routine - yet skin cancer doesn't take a break when summer ends.

2 mins

How one nursing home is tackling loneliness by pairing seniors with students

WHEN we think of nursing homes, we often picture quiet halls, a subdued atmosphere, and a world separated from the bustling lives of younger generations.

3 mins

BAWLING FOR BALANCE: DISCOVER HOW CRYING CAN BOOST YOUR MOOD AND REDUCE STRESS

THEY say there’s nothing like a good cry to make you feel better, and they're right.

3 mins

Mantengu files criminal complaint against JSE execs about alleged share price manipulation

MANTENGU Mining (MTU) has filed a criminal complaint with the Hawks against several executives of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) regarding allegations of share price manipulation aimed at depressing its stock value, claims that the JSE has roundly denied.

2 mins

Transnet and UNTU set to resume wage negotiations in effort to avert workers' strike

TRANSNET and the United National Transport Union (UNTU) are gearing up for critical negotiations this week in an effort to stave off a potentially debilitating workers’ strike.

2 mins

Daybreak Foods' workers call for urgent management overhaul

This follows a welfare emergency currently unfolding at two of Daybreak’s breeder farms

3 mins

Agricultural machinery sales on the rise, signalling optimism in farming

THE Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has reported a significant upswing in agricultural machinery sales, marking a breath of fresh air for farmers and agricultural experts alike.

3 mins

Protecting the downside: how hedge funds shield against tariff turbulence

Once again, US President Donald Trump is dominating global headlines—this time with economic policies that carry broad global consequences.

2 mins

Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease spreads from KZN to Mpumalanga and Gauteng

THE Department of Agriculture has confirmed a worrying outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that is making its way beyond KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) into neighbouring provinces, including Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

2 mins

Chicken wings, trucks: the surprising Saudi obsession with America

DURING his nine years living in Tennessee, Fahd, a Saudi national, found comfort and consistency at Dunkin Donuts, where he placed the same order every day.

3 mins

AngloGold Ashanti reports 671% increase in headline earnings in its first quarter for 2025

ANGLOGOLD Ashanti's headline earnings soared by 671% to $447 million following a 22% increase in production in the first quarter to end March, good cost management and a rising gold price, the group said Friday.

2 mins

Barloworld extends R23bn buyout offer amid shareholder delays

THE contentious buyout offer for Barloworld has been extended by more than six weeks because some brokers and financial services companies are delaying selling their clients' Barloworld shares in support of the offer.

1 min

Financial markets remain positive despite uncertainty in the US regarding interest rates

IN THE US, the “backlash” from the Trump administration's tariff policies is starting to affect the US economy and financial markets quite negatively.

3 mins

Cosatu: Employment Equity necessary to correct centuries of discrimination

EMPLOYMENT Equity is a necessary path to correct three and a half centuries of the most brutal forms of discrimination.

4 mins

SA and the AfCFTA: a strategic opportunity to lead continent's industrial future

THE African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unite 54 nations into a thriving common market, igniting an African industrial revolution with the potential to echo across global trade systems.

3 mins

Difficult weekend for Brad Binder at French MotoGP

SOUTH African MotoGP rider Brad Binder did not finish the French MotoGP after he crashed the RC16 at turn 14 at the Bugatti Circuit.

2 mins

Nel makes a July booking

THE Andre Nel yard look to have booked a berth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July for the consistent five-year-old Pomodoro gelding Selukwe. A further development in the July build up over the weekend was the impressive win of the East Cape's best three-year-old My Best Shot in the Listed East Cape Derby on Friday, begging the question of whether he will be supplemented for the big race, while up at Turffontein the well regarded Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas winner Parisian Walkway disappointed when only fourth in a Pinnacle event over 1800m that was won by July 100/1 shot Navajo Nation.

2 mins

July is chrome-plated for Selukwe

TABLE team efforts in racing, trainers, their assistants, stable jockeys and stable staff coupled with a loyal owner base goa long way to success on the racetrack. Difficult for the smaller yards with the top jockeys hunting the best rides from bigger stables but it all paid off at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday as the five-year-old Selukwe put a smart field to bed in the Gr3 WSB 1900.

5 mins

Stormers' Libbok faces contract uncertainty ahead of Japan move

THE Stormers are still to sit and talk with flyhalf Manie Libbok to work out a plan around his contract with the playmaker set for a stint in Japan next season.

2 mins

BCCI orders IPL franchises to assemble by Tuesday

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told all 10 IPL franchises to assemble by Tuesday, as the tournament' restart to complete its business end looms large.

1 min

Guardiola admits missed chance in draw

MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola said dropping points against bottom side Southampton in a 0-0 Premier League draw on Saturday will result in a nervy final two games of the season in his side's pursuit of a Champions League place for next season.

2 mins

Unique villa swimming pool 16th hole trips up SA's Williams

After a week where Robin Williams showed that he could go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the game, the young South African’s challenge ultimately faltered on the final round here at the DP World Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open.

2 mins

Sundowns roar into title challenge with a 3-0 rout

MAMELODI Sundowns defeated Stellenbosch FC 3-0 in a Betway Premiership clash at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium yesterday afternoon.

2 mins

CHIEFS' M PEOPLE PROVIDED THE SHEET ANCHOR FOR HISTORIC TRIUMPH

ON Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs claimed the Nedbank Cup title, thanks to the contributions from five key players whose names all carry the letter 'M.

2 mins

The oft-maligned Motaung brothers finally savour the sweet taste of success

THE oft-maligned Motaung brothers, Bobby and Kaizer Jr., because of Kaizer Chiefs' appalling lack of success and dismal Premiership record in recent seasons, have finally experienced the gratifying sensation of achievement.

2 mins

Tonali sinks 10-man Chelsea as Newcastle win top five showdown

NEWCASTLE took a huge step towards qualifying for the Champions League as Sandro Tonali inspired a vital 2-0 victory over top five rivals Chelsea yesterday.

2 mins

Riveiro left frustrated as Kaizer Chiefs end Pirates' Cup reign

JOSE Riveiro cut a calm but clearly disappointed figure as Kaizer Chiefs shattered Orlando Pirates' Nedbank Cup dominance with a 2-1 win at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

2 mins

Nabi breathes sigh of relief as Chiefs end decade-long drought

NASREDDINE Nabi says lifting the Nedbank Cup with Kaizer Chiefs may have bought him time to prove he's the right man to lead the club beyond this season.

2 mins

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