Newspaper
The Mercury
Rethinking the sugar tax in the time of global uncertainty: focus should be on jobs and the economy
AS SOUTH Africa awaits Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's third budget framework this year, local industries are also coming to terms with the uncertainty that 2025 has brought to the international trade environment. Even though the US has suspended the proposed 30% tariff on South African goods for 90 days instead levying 10% for the time being the change to existing trade agreements and uncertainty is still harmful to local industries like South Africa's sugarcane growers.
3 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
French town breaks smurf number record
A SMALL town in western France has set a world record for the greatest number of smurf-costumed people gathered in the same place, according to organisers, who counted over 3 000 this weekend.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
'Dave' is still king
DAVE THE KING bounced back to his best at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday when winning the same 1500m event he had won last year on his way to winning the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and Gr 1 wfa World Pool Champions Cup, the two races that landed him the Equus Horse Of The Year Award.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Tiger Brands secures future for 3 000 farm workers with sale of Langeberg fruit business
TIGER Brands has firmed the future of 3 000 farm workers through its plan to sell its Langeberg & Ashton Foods (LAF) deciduous fruit business for R1 to a consortium of fruit growers, a community trust, and a development finance institution.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Minister under fire over SETA posts
Called to account before Higher Education committee
3 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Foxie versus lions
SOME amusing footage comes this way of a tiny fox terrier trying to chomp its food in what appears to be a rural backyard.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Durban – The beating heart of Africa's boundless future and economic ascent
AFRICA'S Travel Indaba (ATI) 2025 was more than just a tourism trade show – it was a celebration of collaboration, creativity and collective growth. Under the theme Unlimited Africa, the indaba encapsulated the essence of what Africa is and can offer the world from its rich heritage to its innovative travel and tourism experiences.
4 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Financial markets: The JSE ALSI is a silent warrior, with fuel prices heading for another cut
DESPITE all the attention on the US trade debate and the South African lack of budget consensus, the worrying unemployment data (32.9%) for Q1, the ALSI on the JSE continue its impressive performance.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
FEELING BLUE? Snack your way to happiness with these 5 mood-boosting foods
MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the many factors that influence our emotional well-being. While therapy, exercise and sleep are often in the spotlight, one significant factor is often overlooked: what we eat.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Experts weigh in as South Africa prepares for critical budget speech 3.0
AS SOUTH Africa braces for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's third budget speech on Wednesday, a wave of expert opinions reveals a landscape marked by both cautious optimism and pronounced concerns.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Storms, tornadoes rip through US
SEVERE storms that tore through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, levelling homes and businesses while knocking out power for tens of thousands, authorities say.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Durban City finish top, Spurs drop – but controversy looms
DURBAN City closed out the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship season on a high, defeating Cape Town Spurs 1-0 at Athlone Stadium yesterday.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Blue Label Telecom plans to list Cell C, share price rises by 11.18%
BLUE Label Telecom investors cheered news of plans to list subsidiary Cell C on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and the share price increased by 11.18% on Friday afternoon.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Trump’s warm welcome for Afrikaners while door closed on others
HOW could we have been so ignorant? Afrikaners were being persecuted right under our nose, in our own country.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Yusuf loves duking it out in County
PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad may have named five fast bowlers in his artillery for the World Test Championship final against Australia next month at Lord’s, but in the case of an emergency he will not need to look too far for backup if required.
3 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Gabriel confident as Rich Boyz secures top-flight safety
RICHARDS Bay will play Betway Premiership football next season - and coach Ronnie Gabriel says he never doubted it for a second.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Life sentence for father who raped his daughters
A 39-YEAR-OLD Limpopo father and his 36-yearold friend have been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his two daughters.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
No double grant payments or new rules for June - SASSA
THE South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has dismissed rumours circulating on social media platforms that beneficiaries will receive double grant payments in June and that new rules for pensioners are set to come into effect next month.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
WILL IT BE THIRD TIME LUCKY WITH BUDGET 3.0?
FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana and his National Treasury team will be hoping it’s third time lucky as the minister prepares to re-table the Budget on Wednesday.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Why appointing Tony Leon would be a slap in the face of the poor
South Africa's political elite's complacency and failure to address systemic inequalities
4 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Libya protesters want PM to resign
SOME 500 people protested in Libya's capital Tripoli at the weekend for a second day of demonstrations demanding that Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah resign, days after deadly clashes rocked the city.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Laird fires away at the Highveld Feature Season Awards
ALEC LAIRD has had a fine Highveld season and the cherry on the top happened on Saturday night when his three-year-old Fire Away colt Fire Attack walked away with three awards at the Highveld Feature Season Awards, including the coveted Horse Of The Season award.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
SHARKS 'HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN THAT' IN PLAYOFFS, SAYS PLUMTREE
SHARKS coach John Plumtree is the first to admit that, on current form, his side are unlikely to progress beyond the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
SA side on semi collusion course
FOR much of Saturday night, the Stormers looked as though they could secure their dream quarter-final in Durban, with the Sharks struggling against the Scarlets and Leinster unconvincing against the Warriors.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Building a better future: the need for national dialogue in South Africa
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa made a call for National Dialogue in his address to Parliament shortly after the 2024 elections. Judging by the volumes of fake news and hate speech and more importantly the painful levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality experienced by most South Africans, the President's call must be supported and expedited.
4 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Guilty verdict for drug smuggler
A 42-YEAR-OLD drug smuggler who tried to bribe a police officer at the Nakop border post which is between South Africa and Namibia has been convicted of drug trafficking and corruption following a detailed investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks.
1 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Systemic failures in gun control exposed
MASS SHOOTING
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Forgotten flood victims' long wait for homes
MORE than two years after the devastating April 2022 floods, some residents displaced in Verulam feel they have been forgotten by the government.
3 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Collins Property Group's financial performance: A mixed bag amid market challenges
COLLINS Property Group's share price plunged 12.9% on Friday despite raising distributable income for the year to end-February 2025 to 109 cents from 94 cents and maintaining its final dividend at 50 cents.
2 min |
May 19, 2025
The Mercury
Scopa demands clarity on municipal budgets
THE Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) in KwaZulu-Natal is demanding answers on how municipalities are spending their budgets following concerns that the spending does not align with service delivery.
3 min |