The Mercury - May 15, 2025

In this issue

May 15, 2025

KZN air quality monitoring stations not working

HEALTH CONCERNS

2 mins

City's 50% debt write-off plan

Ratepayers say systemic problems must be tackled

3 mins

Mbalula again accuses the DA of undermining the 'gains of freedom'

ANC SECRETARY-General Fikile Mbalula has again publicly criticised the DA, accusing the party of working to reverse the “gains of freedom\" by challenging various legislation in court.

2 mins

Pencil Club liquidators aim to generate R80 million

PROCESS UNDERWAY

2 mins

Government should not seek to regulate social media platforms

THE government is at risk of being hypocritical in trying to be the gatekeeper to protect us from exercising our freedom because of selective outrage.

2 mins

Common sense in energy debate wins

THE Business Report supplement to The Mercury of May 14 commendably exemplifies the adage 'hear the other side' by juxtaposing three articles on the issue of renewable energy from which it is obvious which ones purvey truth and reality.

1 min

Navigating intimacy: the need for space in love

IN AN intimate relationship, the suggestion of one person that he or she needs “space” gives a hint that there was too little space established at the outset.

1 min

South Africa is in the grip of a jobs crisis

THE Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is gravely concerned by the deteriorating state of the country’s labour market, as confirmed by the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2025.

3 mins

Drama in Ol' Kentucky

Department received several calls, one from the dangling driver.

1 min

Premier urges support for Ithala amid issues

KWAZULU-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called on all citizens, businesses, municipalities, and provincial departments to continue banking with Ithala SOC Limited amid ongoing legal and administrative challenges facing the financial institution.

3 mins

Gauteng police acts against bullying and gambling in schools

GAUTENG SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni handed over chessboards and marimba instruments to learners at Solomon Mahlangu Freedom School in a bid to combat bullying and gambling by engaging learners in positive activities.

1 min

Forensic pathologist critiques post-mortem findings on Luthuli's death

THE inquest into the death of Inkosi Albert Luthuli has heard the post-mortem done to uncover the cause of his death was hurried and substandard.

2 mins

Linguistic barriers perpetuate inequality

ON MAY 8, 1925, the writer CJ Langenhoven introduced a bill in the parliament of the then Union of South Africa that led to Afrikaans being recognised as one of the country's official languages, alongside English. It is this historic moment that marks the centenary being celebrated.

2 mins

Deal with unemployment urgently or else...

IN EXACTLY a month's time, the country will commemorate Youth Day on June 16, a day used to reflect on the strides made to advance the development of young people.

1 min

How DA attempts to weaponise the law against justice

Party is aligning itself with interests that benefit from the status quo

4 mins

SIU investigates National Skills Fund amid corruption concerns

THE Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane, has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the National Skills Fund (NSF), amid growing concerns over possible mismanagement and corruption.

1 min

ANC rejects MKP’s audit request on budget costs

THE ANC has dismissed the uMk-honto weSizwe Party's (MKP) request for a special forensic audit into the aborted 2025 national budget speech, calling it “frivolous” and motivated by “political posturing”.

2 mins

GNU ‘clueless’ on how to tackle unemployment

GRIM STATS

3 mins

Minister Mchunu defends SAPS VIP protection amid scrutiny

POLICE Minister Senzo Mchunu said SAPS has not received any complaints from the high-profile political figures who are protected by the police’s VIP protection services unit.

2 mins

SMMEs take over the KZNTAFA stand at ATI 2025

Magical. Zulu Kingdom.

3 mins

Trusting the algorithm: how Al partners are winning hearts

WHAT was once the realm of science fiction is now becoming a lived reality for a growing number of people who say they've found emotional and romantic fulfillment through AI partners.

2 mins

South Africa faces increased unemployment as youth joblessness reaches alarming levels

TRADE unions and other experts have raised concern about South Africa's unemployment rate rising to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025 from 31.9% in the final quarter of 2024.

2 mins

Urgent oversight visit to investigate Alexkor following corruption allegations

THE Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources has resolved to conduct an urgent oversight visit on Alexkor.

2 mins

JSE shatters records as markets celebrate US-China trade deal

Stocks on the JSE defy local employment figures and rally to a fresh record high

2 mins

Agricultural innovation takes centre stage at Nampo Harvest Day 2025

SOUTH Africa's agricultural industry has highlighted its resilience in the face of many challenges at the 2025 Nampo Harvest Day conference, which entered the second day on Wednesday in Bothaville in the Free State.

1 min

South Africa's real crisis: Mr President, it's time for a family meeting

SOUTH Africa is standing at a critical crossroads.

3 mins

The agricultural industry is still generating jobs, despite some concerns surrounding it

IN THE first quarter of 2025, there were 930 000 primary agriculture jobs in South Africa, an 11% yearly decrease and a 1% quarterly increase.

2 mins

SA's small business resilience shown as 80% of small firms grow despite challenges

STATE OF SA SMALL BUSINESSES 2025

2 mins

enX Group shares rise 10% as it reaffirms growth strategy

enX Group, the JSE-listed manufacturer and distributor of power equipment and chemicals, saw its share price shoot up over 10% on Wednesday after it confirmed a strategy to grow its businesses and dispose of them if opportunities become available.

2 mins

Tongaat Hulett's business rescue: Vision Consortium secures funding for lenders

TONGAAT Hulett’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) said they had received confirmation from the lenders, most South African banks, that they had received the balance of the funds owed to them by the Vision Consortium, the company that is taking over the struggling Southern African sugar group.

1 min

Dipula announces strategic shift towards retail and industrial sectors

DIPULA Properties is on the hunt for additional retail properties, ideally convenience, rural or township shopping centres north of the Orange River, CEO Izak Pieterse said Wednesday.

2 mins

Building a winning brand: How small businesses can stand out in a crowded market

IN A COUNTRY like South Africa, where approximately 2.6 million small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) are competing for the attention of the same pool of cash-strapped customers, building a memorable brand is critical for success.

3 mins

Searching for VAT survivors after a bumpy ride for small businesses

SOUTH Africa's “VAT desert storm” may have ended, at least for now, after witnessing political theatrics and policy paralysis, that attempted to bring snow to a desert while bidding to solve the dry revenue generation period.

3 mins

Call for Presidency and DFIs to focus on 'high-growth' startups to move GDP needle

THE International Monetary Fund's (IMF) economic growth revisions of South Africa to a meagre 1,5% in 2025 and just 1,8% by the end of the decade should be, and is, cause for alarm.

4 mins

Proteas also stuck in the middle as IPL and national teams on collision course

THE IPL resumes on Saturday after its suspension because of the India-Pakistan conflict, but there are doubts over foreign players, and the extended schedule has sparked a showdown with international cricket.

2 mins

DeChambeau 'moving in right direction' for PGA

BRYSON DeChambeau credits the confidence boost he took from last year’s 72nd-hole PGA Championship loss for helping him win last year’s US Open and making him a better major threat.

2 mins

Prom Queen wears the crown

ONE of my abiding memories is of Frikkie Greyling leading around the mighty Horse Chestnut at Turffontein after his facile win in the Gri SA Derby, to seal the third leg of his Triple Crown success.

2 mins

I Am Regal will be on her mark

THE highest rated race at the Vaal Classic meeting today is the eighth, a MR 85 handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m, and it could be won by I Am Regal.

4 mins

Nabi eyes MTN8 spot as Chiefs chase strong finish amid exit talk

AMID suggestions and speculation that he will be sacked at the end of the season, Nasreddine Nabi will strive to ensure that Kaizer Chiefs finish the season on a high by qualifying for next season’s MTN8 competition.

2 mins

Drama unfolds in thrilling PNB Singles Championships

THE greens at sponsoring clubs were ablaze with talent and tension this past weekend as the 2025 PNB Men’s Open, Veterans and Under-25 Singles Championships drew to a dramatic close on Sunday.

2 mins

Tryon shares her journey with Proteas Women as they prepare for World Cup

PROTEAS Women all-rounder Chloe Tryon said the recent Tri-Series tournament in Sri Lanka, which they were knocked out of, was one of her hardest tours to date.

3 mins

Must-win Richards Bay KZN derby as Golden Arrows hit new low

GOLDEN Arrows have found themselves slipping into troubled waters following a poor run of form in the closing stages of the Premiership season.

2 mins

The life of a professional golfer is no laughing matter, ask Robin Williams

THE late Robin Williams delivered an excellent set on the comedic absurdities of golf in his Grammy award-winning one-man show back in 2002.

2 mins

Venter aims to end Sharks tenure with a bang in URC title quest

HAVING made the top four of the United Rugby Championships the Sharks are confident ahead of their quarter final match against Scarlets at home on Saturday (7.30pm kick-off), said flanker James Venter.

2 mins

Nkwe on Rabada's ban: Important to respect the process

ONGAMA GCWABE

2 mins

Riveiro: Thanks for the memories, Pirates

JOSE Riveiro is leaving Orlando Pirates having earned himself legendary status, but he admits that if it wasn’t for hard work, he wouldn’t have made that lasting impression.

3 mins

Proteas coach bullish about putting Aussies 'under the pump' in Lord's final

SHUKRI Conrad admits the Proteas will be “underdogs” when they face Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next month, but believes his team can put the defending champions “under the pump”.

3 mins

Waiting game almost over for Bedingham

A LITTLE over a month ago, Proteas batter David Bedingham suffered a broken toe in his first fixture of the season back with Durham in the County Championship, keeping him out of action.

2 mins

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