The Mercury - May 13, 2025

In this issue

May 13, 2025

Some victims 'excluded' from listeriosis settlement deal

WHILE the lawyers who represented more than 200 claimants in a class action related to the 2017/18 listeriosis outbreak have welcomed the recent commitment made by Tiger Brands to settle claims brought by victims, some victims claim they have been excluded from the settlement offer.

1 min

Ramaphosa plans meeting with Trump over Afrikaner 'refugees'

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is planning a meeting with United States President Donald Trump regarding the refugee status granted to a group of Afrikaners.

2 mins

Blacklisting warning for contractors

MEC takes aim at shoddy, incomplete work

3 mins

Tensions escalate between ANC and Minister Malatsi over future of SITA

A GROWING rift has emerged between the African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament and Minister of Communications Solly Malatsi regarding the future of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

2 mins

Rugby ecstasy and dismay

able to play in the next match against Scarlets? Will he be fit enough in time to lead the Boks?

2 mins

Truth behind Albert Luthuli's death will come to the fore

NEW evidence on Albert Luthuli's death will probably unearth the truth about his alleged train incident.

2 mins

Call for action after deadly road accidents in KZN

THE Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal extends its deepest condolences to the families and communities affected by several heartbreaking road accidents, which claimed multiple lives in our province this past weekend. What should have been a time to honour and celebrate mothers ended in devastating tragedy for several families.

1 min

Complexities of caring for an elderly parent

QUESTION: \"My ex-sister-in-law of 24 years, married to my brother, has taken over the care of our mother (89) in her (our mother's) old age.

1 min

Opening statements start in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial

OPENING statements started yesterday, in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul accused of committing years of abuse.

1 min

Former ranger caught hunting illegally

TWO suspects, including a former field ranger, are facing criminal charges after being arrested in the Skukuza section of the Kruger National Park on Sunday for illegal hunting and trespassing.

1 min

More than half of South African employees face a mental health crisis - study

A STUDY by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has painted a grim picture, revealing that more than half of South African employees are struggling with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and burnout due to work stress and insecurity.

1 min

Saftu and Cosatu warn of job losses amid declining production output

THE SOUTH African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have raised concerns about job losses amidst a decline in the country’s manufacturing sector.

3 mins

Two eThekwini Municipality employees nabbed for diesel theft

TWO eThekwini Municipality employees have been arrested after they were caught stealing diesel meant for municipal operations.

1 min

Clover plant's water consumption under scrutiny

SUPPLY DISRUPTION

3 mins

For the first time in 80 years, nuclear war is a real possibility

The urgent need for dialogue and the moral imperative to prevent nuclear conflict

3 mins

India's role in shaping digital futures

DR NERESHNEE GOVENDER

3 mins

RISING THREAT TO DATA, SYSTEMS SECURITY

THE recent cyberattack on South African Airways has brought into sharp focus the urgent need for public and private organisations to take all steps necessary to safeguard their data and systems.

1 min

Congolese filmmaker makes Cannes jury

CONGOLESE director Dieudo Hamadi, pictured, sees his selection on the 2025 Cannes Film Festival jury as “recognition for a career” spent chronicling the traumas of his native DR Congo.

1 min

Trump to accept lavish Qatar jet gift

DONALD Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One and then continue flying in it after his tenure, despite strict rules on US presidential gifts, media reported at the weekend.

1 min

Markets rally after China, US slash levies

STOCKS rallied yesterday after Chinese and US officials held “substantial” trade talks and slashed their tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, fuelling hopes the two sides will pull back from a standoff that has rattled global markets.

2 mins

Ivory Coast leader resigns, vows to fight

IVORY Coast's main opposition leader, who has been barred from standing in an October presidential vote, said that he was resigning as party leader but would still lead the fight to win the election.

1 min

India heat sees boom in AC market

AARTI Verma is about to join the growing ranks of Indians installing air conditioning, scraping together savings to secure relief from sometimes deadly temperatures that can reach nearly 50°C.

3 mins

Residents angered over water supply disruption

SOSHANGUVE township residents were left frustrated after taps ran dry over the weekend, with no clear timeline for when water will be restored.

2 mins

KZN tops illegal liquor arrests in SAPS crackdown

KWAZULU-NATAL recorded _ the highest number of arrests for illegal liquor dealing during the South African Police Service's (SAPS) nationwide Operation Shanela, which saw 16 956 suspects arrested for various offences between May 5 and 11.

1 min

Naturalised citizens can now apply for Smart ID cards

MINISTER of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber has announced that, for the first time in South Africa's history, naturalised citizens and lawful permanent residents will be able to apply for Smart ID cards.

1 min

'Pedestrian road safety a priority' says Transport Deputy Minister Hlengwa

THE NATIONAL Department of Transport launched the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week campaign at one of Durban's busiest taxi ranks this Sunday as part of a concerted effort to push road safety.

2 mins

Supreme Court of Appeal slashes rapist's life sentence for assault of girl to 10 years in prison

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) discounted a convicted rapist's life sentence to ten years imprisonment for the rape of an eight-year-old girl at a tavern toilet during 2010 or 2011.

3 mins

Malema condemns UK visa denial as an ‘act of cowardice’

JULIUS Malema has slammed the United Kingdom's decision to deny him a visa, calling it an “act of cowardice’.

3 mins

Understanding lighthouse parenting: a guiding light in modern child-rearing

PARENTING is a journey filled with choices, and the decisions we make about how to raise our children can profoundly shape their lives.

3 mins

Beat the flu before it beats you: handwashing your first line of defence

AS THE winter chill arrives, so too does the annual rise in sniffles, sneezes, and serious illnesses like influenza and respiratory infections.

2 mins

CUTTING OUT COMPARISON: HOW TO TAME CHILDHOOD JEALOUSY BEFORE IT BLOOMS

KHLOÉ Kardashian recently appeared on the On Purpose podcast, hosted by Jay Shetty, and opened up about an important conversation around comparison, jealousy, and the emotional patterns that begin forming in childhood.

3 mins

Spread of foot and mouth disease outbreak threatens South Africa's red meat exports

FARMING associations on Monday expressed concern about the impact of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) outbreak on the red meat export industry.

1 min

PIC seeks stability for Daybreak Foods as board faces crisis

THE Public Investment Corporation (PIC) said on Monday that it was considering various options to bring stability to the embattled State-funded poultry producer, Daybreak Foods.

2 mins

Boxer Retail creates 3 000 jobs amid store expansion network in South Africa

JSE-listed Boxer Retail added nearly 3 000 new jobs in the 53 weeks to March 2 after it opened more than 40 new stores and met the financial forecasts it had made to its investors on the JSE months ago.

2 mins

Tiger Brands offers settlement to victims of listeriosis

More than 1 000 people fell ill due to the listeriosis outbreak that killed around 200 others

3 mins

Calgro M3 addresses South Africa's housing shortage through robust development pipeline

CALGRO M3’s robust development pipeline is helping to address South Africa’s serious housing shortage, but more needs to be done to lower the barriers to entry in the affordable housing sector, said the group CEO Ben Pierre Malherbe.

2 mins

Balwin Properties reports significant uptick in apartment sales as interest rates decline

BALWIN Properties, a prominent developer known for its environmentally efficient and affordable apartment estates, has announced a remarkable rebound in property sales during the latter half of its financial year.

2 mins

Redefine Properties reports modest dividend increase amid steady organic growth

REDEFINE Properties lifted its interim dividend per share 0.7% to 20.42 cents a share in the six months to February 28, even though its core operating segments delivered solid growth.

2 mins

South32 appoints Matt Daley as new CEO amid operational changes

SOUTH32, which operates in South Africa, Mozambique and Australia, has picked Anglo American technical and operations director Matt Daley as new CEO with effect from next year when incumbent Graham Kerr steps down.

2 mins

CLUB MED SA at a glance

Premium Comfort Meets Authenticity

2 mins

Tourism is back

Can Local Tourism Maintain Its Growth Momentum?

4 mins

How SABC can win the streaming wars with SABC PLUS

LAST week, the 1 million subscribers for the SABC Plus app was celebrated in Parliament, I could not help but wonder if it was a milestone worth celebrating.

2 mins

Opportunities for India and South Africa in the wake of Trump's trade war

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’ trade war with China has put the global economy into a tailspin but amid the instability and uncertainties, there are windows of opportunity for countries like India and South Africa, especially in the semiconductor, IT, and AI sectors.

3 mins

Strategic partnerships are the new secret to scaling on African innovation

AS JAPANESE investment in Africa quietly doubles from 520 companies in 2010 to 972 by 2022, profound questions emerge about which African innovations successfully transcend borders and why others, equally promising, remain stubbornly local.

5 mins

Stormers coach Dobson would have preferred Durban

STORMERS coach John Dobson seems to have painted himself into an interesting corner because of the form of a Durban prop that is likely to make way for another Durban prop.

2 mins

Kohli bids adieu to Test cricket

LOVE him, or loathe him, Virat Kohli was undeniably one of cricket's brightest entertainers.

2 mins

Two big scratchings from the HDJ

THERE were two big scratchings from the Hollywoodbets Durban July at first declaration stage, the Alec Laird-trained Gr 1 Premier's Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gr 2 Gold Bracelet winner and twice Gr 1 runner up Red Palace.

3 mins

Electromagnetism may be stable elect

APE RACING stages a 9-race programme on the Summer course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this afternoon and, dare I say it, punters may enjoy the better of exchanges throughout the day but particularly during the first half of the race meeting.

1 min

Nienaber reflects on his performance

SOUTH Africa's Wilco Nienaber feels that his putting game has improved, despite falling away over the week-end at the Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya Club in Antalya, Türkiye.

1 min

Golden Arrows seek rare win as wounded Bucs bid Riveiro farewell

GOLDEN Arrows will hope to take advantage of Orlando Pirates’ turbulent run and bid farewell to departing coach Jose Riveiro with an upset when the two sides meet in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night.

2 mins

Sundowns can win No 8in Buffalo City

BUFFALO City Stadium in East London is set to come alive this Wednesday as the venue gears up to host Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership match against the local side, Chippa United.

2 mins

Has the rise of the false nine made quality strikers rare?

HAS the rise of the false nine made quality strikers a rare commodity in the English Premier League?

2 mins

Embarrassed Amorim questions United's future

AN “embarrassed” Rúben Amorim raised doubts about his Manchester United future after another poor performance from his team in a 2-0 home loss to West Ham on Sunday.

2 mins

Simbine has the magic bullet, but planning is key, says coach

SOUTH African sprint sensation Akani Simbine has set himself up as the early man to beat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year, after powering TeamSA to gold at the Athletics World Relays in Guangzhou, China, in the 4X100m relay at the weekend.

2 mins

Postecoglou believes Uefa win could redefine Tottenham's legacy

ANGE Postecoglou says Uefa Europa League glory for Tottenham could be a “turning point” in the way the club is perceived as he prepares for a blockbuster final against Manchester United.

2 mins

Bruised Etzebeth set to miss Scarlets in Durban this week

A THIGH injury is likely to keep Springbok bruiser Eben Etzebeth out of the Sharks' final United Rugby Championship (URC) league game this weekend, against the Scarlets in Durban on Saturday, but coach John Plumtree thinks he will be good to go for the quarter-finals.

1 min

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