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The Mercury - April 17, 2026

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In this issue

April 17, 2026

MKP slams decision to appoint Roelf Meyer as Ambassador to the US

THE MK Party has become the latest party to reject the appointment of veteran politician Roelf Meyer, who served as a key National Party minister during the apartheid era, as South Africa's new ambassador to the US.

3 mins

eThekwini Municipality's electricity unit faces financial crisis amid declining sales

LOW economic growth, vandalism of infrastructure, and the rise of alternative energy sources, are eroding the revenue of eThekwini Municipality's electricity unit, putting its ability to deliver essential services at risk.

2 mins

Malema alleges political bias in five-year prison sentence

Julius vows to appeal against what he calls a politically motivated ruling

3 mins

Lab-grown meat or globalist plot? Motives behind cultivated food

THE Mzansi Meat Company in SA, better known as Newform Foods, is the first to produce lab-grown cultivated meat, in conjunction with biotech startup Immobazyme.

2 mins

eThekwini Extended Public Works Programme scandal has cheated the poor

THE recent revelations around eThekwini Municipality's handling of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) are deeply disturbing.

1 mins

TRANSFORMATION Maradona’s birthplace repurposed as soup kitchen for Argentina’s hungry

DIEGO Maradona would be happy, his fans say.

2 mins

The impact of conflict on children’s development

YESTERDAY I asked readers to imagine an ideal setting and context for the birth of a child and to reflect on their own contexts and circumstances of birth, childhood and growing up years.

1 mins

SACP's stance on ANC campaigning: No punishment for members

THE SACP’s national leadership says it would not punish any member that campaigns for the ANC in the coming local government elections despite itself contesting the same elections.

2 mins

Tongaat Hulett's future uncertain as liquidation case postponed amid IDC funding issues

THE Durban High Court has postponed the liquidation case against Tongaat Hulett.

2 mins

Julius Mkhwanazi accused of fabricating joint operation to cover up robbery of precious stones

SUSPENDED Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi is accused of dispatching two metro officers to commit an armed robbery involving precious stones worth R14.9 million.

3 mins

CHIEFS FIND THEIR FORM, BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

YOU have got to love South Africa's relationship with Kaizer Chiefs; it is often said that when the Mighty Amakhosi are in a slump - which has been the official state of affairs in recent seasons - the country’s football following takes a knock.

1 mins

Phala Phala theft raises key questions about institutional integrity in SA

The IPID investigation into the Phala Phala farm incident reveals critical insights into the alleged misconduct of police officers and the implications for President Cyril Ramaphosa

6 mins

Gabon opposition leader arrested

Gabon authorities have arrested main opposition leader and vocal government critic Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, his political party said yesterday.

1 mins

POPE TO VISIT CAMEROON CONFLICT ZONE

POPE Leo XIV was expected to pray for peace yesterday in Cameroon's troubled north-west region, plagued by a near decade-long separatist insurgency.

1 mins

India wants more female lawmakers

India’s government was seeking to expand the size of parliament by two-fifths to increase representation of women lawmakers, but opposition parties have cried foul, saying it would benefit the ruling party.

1 mins

EX-MARINE LOSES COURT APPEAL IN CHINA PILOTS CASE

A FORMER US Marines pilot lost an appeal yesterday in an Australian court against his extradition to the US, which has accused him of illegally training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers.

1 mins

AI demand drives chipmaker TSMC’s net profit to record

TAIWANESE chip maker TSMC said yesterday its net profit surged to a fresh record in the first quarter, fuelled by the global artificial intelligence race despite the war in the Middle East.

1 mins

‘Democracy kills’ but what is killing Burkina Faso?

On April 3, Ibrahim Traoré stood before state television cameras and told the people of Burkina Faso and by extension, a watching continent, that democracy “kills” that it is “not for us, and that it must simply be forgotten.

3 mins

Thai farmers pin hopes on microbes

RICE farmers Siriporn and Amnat Taidee used to burn their paddy fields between plantings - a common method of clearing crop residue partly blamed for toxic smog that blankets much of Thailand every spring.

3 mins

DA leadership nominations start in KwaZulu-Natal

THE DA's deputy provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema and current member of the provincial legislature Mzamo Billy, have emerged as contenders for leadership of the party in KwaZulu-Natal.

2 mins

Public Works wants to fight EPWP abuse through digital systems

THE Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) faces an integrity crisis due to widespread abuse, which the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) admits is rife with nontransparent recruitment, inadequate verification, and administrative weaknesses.

2 mins

Durban, prepare to question reality: The Museum of Illusions opens at Gateway

PREPARE to rub your eyes in disbelief.

2 mins

Dr Pandor condemns Israel's apartheid-linked death penalty law

Former Minister of International Relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, has issued a scathing critique of recent legislative movements within the Israeli Knesset, drawing direct parallels between a proposed death penalty for Palestinians and the judicial mechanisms of South Africa's colonial and apartheid past.

3 mins

A bold new contender

IT WAS a brave person who walked into a Kia global executive meeting and suggested that they should build a double-cab bakkie, and when asked to provide a sketch, showed them the Tasman.

4 mins

SA’s fuel taxes could come back to bite sooner than you think

JUST two months ago, South Africans were enjoying the lowest fuel prices in four years.

2 mins

Bringing upmarket swagger to a core value brand

THE Chery Group is no stranger to the “value luxury” space with brands such as Omoda and Lepas, which led me to question whether the core brand should have a large and luxurious flagship like the Tiggo 9 in its portfolio.

3 mins

Groundbreaking R1.5bn investment in Biovac boosts vaccine production

The “quasi-equity” €75 million investment will also enable an additional $20m senior loan

3 mins

IMF flags mounting risks as Africa's 'hard-won gains' come under pressure

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that sub-Saharan Africa's recent economic progress is under increasing strain, as global shocks, rising debt, and declining external support threaten to derail growth and development across the region.

2 mins

Tongaat Hulett's future hangs in the balance as liquidation case is postponed with IDC funding

THE Durban High Court has postponed the liquidation case against Tongaat Hulett.

2 mins

The global talent map is being redrawn — South Africa must decide where it stands

THE world is witnessing more than a geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

3 mins

Vaal region set for industrial revival, economic boost with proposed Special Economic Zone

THE government has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive the once-thriving industrial economy of the Vaal region, with the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) expected to reignite manufacturing, attract investment, and create thousands of jobs.

2 mins

Steenhuisen announces positive results from Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination strategy

SOUTH Africa's efforts to contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (EMD) are showing encouraging early signs, with no new outbreaks reported among vaccinated herds, according to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

2 mins

South African SMEs face cash flow crisis as unpaid invoices soar

SOUTH Africa's small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are currently grappling with a severe cash flow crisis, compounded by a staggering R12.4 billion in government invoices that remain unpaid after 30 days.

2 mins

Tongaat Hulett liquidation case poses critical test for SA's sugar industry: SA Canegrowers

THE looming KwaZulu-Natal High Court hearing on the potential liquidation of Tongaat Hulett is being described as a defining moment for South Africa’s sugar cane industry, with thousands of livelihoods hanging in the balance.

2 mins

Heraeus, Sibanye partner to cut glass fibre costs with platinum-palladium innovation

A NEW international partnership between Heraeus Precious Metals and Sibanye-Stillwater is set to reshape the economics of glass fibre manufacturing, with a strong focus on reducing costs while unlocking new demand for palladium.

3 mins

PSG Financial Services sees strong growth through volatile markets as dividends rise 25%

PSG Financial Services' headline earnings per share increased by a strong 33% in the year to end-February after it benefited from positive markets, improved investment income, and a rise in performance fees.

2 mins

Standard Bank secures record sustainability-linked loan of over R13bn

STANDARD Bank of South Africa, the largest bank in Africa by assets, has closed a well oversubscribed $800 million (about R13.1 billion) sustainability-linked syndicated loan, the largest sustainability-linked loan by an African borrower in 2023 to date.

2 mins

Why ETFs are the key to financial literacy and smart investing

APRIL is Financial Literacy Month, a dedicated time to build essential skills in budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.

2 mins

How ride-hailing is transforming income generation in our country

ABOUT 70% of South African gig workers are using ride-hailing as a secondary source of income, underlining its growing importance as a dependable side hustle in a constrained economic environment.

3 mins

NFO warns of increasing mule accounts and fraudulent credit applications

WHAT may start out as a seemingly harmless “side hustle” can quickly spiral into serious financial consequences, including frozen bank accounts, fraud listings, and long-term damage to one’s financial standing.

3 mins

Bulls target crucial victory over Dragons

BULLS coach Johan Ackermann says his team is chasing a win at all costs against the Dragons in Newport tonight, and if they have a bonus point at the end, it will be exactly that — a bonus.

2 mins

Lions can do Stormers a big favour by beating Glasgow as Capetonians chase URC top spot

THE Stormers enter the United Rugby Championship's last block of four games before the playoffs, knowing that they have an excellent chance of finishing top of the table.

2 mins

Little room for error as Richards Bay push for Top 8 finish

RICHARDS Bay FC are staring down the final stretch of the PSL season with one thing on the line that still matters to them, and that is to finish in the Top 8.

2 mins

CONTINENTAL TITLE Ndamane embracing Champions League

KHULUMANI Ndamane is living the dream by competing in the CAF Champions League, which is why he has embraced the challenges that come with the competition as he looks to help Mamelodi Sundowns succeed.

2 mins

ANGLING Absolute madness on the coastline

ROCK and surf anglers have been going full tilt all week, with steady action and zero mercy from the fish.

2 mins

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP Little room for error as Richards Bay push for Top 8 finish

RICHARDS Bay FC are staring down the final stretch of the PSL season with one thing on the line that still matters to them, and that is to finish in the Top 8.

2 mins

Durban City face defining stretch as Top 8 ambitions hang in the balance

EVEN though they have, so far, played one heck of a first season in the Bet-way Premiership, Durban City’s campaign could still turn to ashes in their mouth.

2 mins

The ghost of Super Rugby: Reflecting on the end of the Pacific experiment and the shift North

THRICE before did the Lions come close to lifting the Super Rugby title, and on all three occasions, \"The Pride\" suffered heartbreak and anguish.

2 mins

AmaZulu face tightening race for Top 3 as Chiefs surge into CAF spot

THE late resurgence by Kaizer Chiefs stands as the greatest threat to AmaZulu's Top 3 finish in the Betway Premiership and their ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup.

2 mins

Real face ‘honourable exit’ and coaching uncertainty

SERIAL Uefa Champions League winners Real Madrid bared their fangs but left Munich staring down the barrel of a second consecutive season without a major trophy, leaving coach Alvaro Arbeloa's tenure looking tenuous.

2 mins

How midfield discipline and structural order revived Chiefs' season

KAIZER Chiefs’ chances of finishing in the Top 3 have gathered momentum after winning five games in a row this week.

3 mins

Proteas Women’s captain Wolvaardt excited for ‘rematch’ with great rivals India

SO much has happened since the halcyon days of the ICC Women’s World Cup final when the Proteas and India met at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai last November.

3 mins

Pietersen backs teen fullback

SHARKS coach JP Pietersen says he has had no qualms about picking teenager Zekhethelo Siyaya at fullback for what amounts to a door-die United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys tomorrow.

2 mins

Kotzen should be a man to follow

PUNTERS face a competitive card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening where a close eye on the betting market could prove to be your best guide with a number of lowly handicap races on a programme that sees Glen Kotzen loaded for bear.

3 mins

Pressonregardless can mow them down

A Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m is the headliner at Turffontein Standside on Sunday and the classy Pressonregardless looks the one to side with.

3 mins

Spirit Of Levana can work wonders

NOTHING gets the pulses flowing more than opening a card and expecting exotic bets to pay handsomely.

3 mins

Read all Stories from The Mercury

The Mercury Description:

Publisher: Independent-Media-Newspapers

Category: Newspaper

Language: English

Frequency: Daily

The Mercury is positioned to appeal to achievers with a high disposable income, and the upwardly mobile. This includes professionals, business people, opinion makers, political leaders, public servants, and academics as well as sports and arts enthusiasts. Its readers recognise that they should be plugged into their city, province and country and indeed the world to inform their decision-making and achieve success. The newspaper’s crisp and credible reporting ensures that readers get a “head start” every morning. KwaZulu-Natal's leading daily newspaper & media partners of The Sharks, published since 1852