Table of contents for 2025-04-15 in Mercury

Fears of a potential collapse of the Government of National Unity appear to abate The South African rand kicked off the week with notable momentum, rebounding and strengthening below the critical R19-mark against the US dollar on Monday. The enthusiastic market response came as fears of a potential collapse of the Government of National Unity (GNU) appeared to abate, notably complemented by a temporary suspension of US tariffs that has given the currency a much-needed boost. US President Donald Trump last week authorised a 90-day pause on steep Liberation Day import tariffs for about 75 countries that trade with the US, but raised them to 145% for China. Gold also eased 0.8% fell to around $3 200 per ounce on Monday, retreating from an all-time-high as trade tensions after an…

Eskom has moved swiftly to accelerate its drive to harness 2 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2026 as it announced signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Exxaro Resources on Monday. The partnership is focused on collaboration in carbon emissions reduction, air quality and just transition. This comes on the heels of Eskom issuing a tender to establish a dedicated renewable energy business unit last week, signalling a significant shift in the utility's operational strategy. The agreement between Eskom and Exxaro focuses on a comprehensive approach to measuring, managing, and ultimately reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Both entities plan to potentially invest in innovative technologies that will facilitate decarbonisation efforts. Furthermore, the MoU underscores the importance of inclusive and targeted transition initiatives such as skills development,…

In Uganda’s Buheesi village, a school that once lacked electricity or internet now downloads digital textbooks and files reports in real time. The transformation came when a pilot programme combined rural electrification with fibre deployment, bringing both power and connectivity to the heart of the community. Across much of the world, digital infrastructure isn’t just about streaming videos or accessing cloud storage. It’s about agency, access and advancement. Africa is home to 18% of the world’s population but holds less than 1% of global data centre capacity. That’s not just a stat – it’s a warning. As AI, fintech and digital public services reshape the global economy, nations without compute power will be nations without control. In this new era, “compute is the new sovereignty”. And shared digital infrastructure (SDI),…

R102.95 versus R360.00. That stark price difference - for essentially the same R50,000 funeral cover product - isn't merely an aggressive pricing strategy. It represents a fundamentally different understanding of South African market realities. A revealing LinkedIn post by Tim Treagus, the founder of WhatsApp-based market research platform Yazi, recently detailed how Capitec Bank has, in just six years, transformed its funeral cover business from scratch into a multi-billion rand powerhouse - now issuing one in every three new funeral policies in South Africa. The striking revelation wasn't Capitec's scale (2.7 million active policies covering over 12 million lives), but rather how dramatically its pricing diverges from industry stalwart Avbob, which holds roughly the same number of policies but generates three times higher premium income. Worth noting, of course, is…

Keren Energy has made significant progress in the development of its green hydrogen (GH2) production facility in the Western Cape, South Africa, near Vanrhynsdorp, the first project of its kind in South Africa, The project is designed to support South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy by focusing on small-scale, distributed hydrogen production — tailored for local industrial, manufacturing, mobility, and commercial sectors, said Keren's executive director, George van Rensburg. The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study has been completed for the project, as has the bankable financial model, along with the majority of the necessary permits for the project. “We are now at a critical juncture in securing strategic partnerships, finalising project funding, and engaging with off-takers,” said Van Rensburg. In the first phase of production, the facility will produce…

As the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) approaches, the anticipation is palpable for both seasoned fans and first-time visitors alike. Scheduled for Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, this world-class event will illuminate the iconic Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) with incredible performances from a stellar line-up of local and international artists. For those preparing to dive into the magic of jazz for the first time, we have compiled a list of essential tips to ensure you create lasting memories at this remarkable festival. Plan your schedule With an impressive 33 acts set to perform across multiple stages, planning your schedule is a must. Once the official CTIJF website releases the line-up and set times, review them thoroughly. Highlight your must-see performances while allowing ample time between…

South Africa seeks to mend ties with Washington President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as Special Envoy to the United States of America has been largely welcomed. Jonas is tasked with resetting the relationship between South Africa and the US, which has soured in recent times after US President Donald Trump cut aid funding and then accused the country of persecuting white farmers. The US last month expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, over remarks he had made about the Trump administration. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, yesterday clarified that Jonas would not be serving as an ambassador but as a special envoy, focused on advancing South Africa’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities. Magwenya also confirmed that Ramaphosa was still deciding who he should appoint as…

THE conviction and sentencing of Mohammed Ameen who was caught with more than half a million in undeclared US dollars has fuelled the African Transformation Movement’s (ATM) determination to ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa answers for the money that was concealed in a couch on his farm. Ameen aged 45, was recently found guilty after entering into a plea agreement with the State on charges of money laundering and contravention of Exchange Control Regulations – charges that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)refused to pursue against Ramaphosa for the Phala Phala incident. The charges against Ameen stem from October 11, 2017, when he was intercepted by South African Customs Services while seated in the international departures business lounge at Cape Town International Airport. A search of his luggage revealed undeclared cash…

The Indian Premier League season reaches its halfway point this week, as ten teams battle for supremacy in the Twenty20 tournament. AFP Sport highlights five talking points from the opening weeks of the 2025 IPL: Chennai Slump Mahendra Singh Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles in the past, but the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman is struggling to inspire the bottom-placed side this season. The 43-year-old former India World Cup-winning captain has contributed with the bat lower down the order, but age seems to have diminished his finishing powers, and Chennai have won only one of their six matches. When captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured before their last game, Dhoni found himself leading Chennai once more. However, they collapsed to 103 all out against Kolkata, who romped to an…

McLaren made another huge statement early in the 2025 season with a dominant win from Oscar Piastri. The Australian driver broke the team’s duck at the Bahrain International Circuit after 22 visits, cruising to victory and handing them a valuable 58-point lead at the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings. Mercedes’ George Russell continued his fine start to the season, once again making the most of his Silver Arrow to finish in second place ahead of title contender Lando Norris, who settled for third after a scrappy day at the office for the 25-year-old Brit. The Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships are beginning to take shape as early as the fourth race of the season. With every team struggling to keep up with the pacey Macca, here are the three key…

Gold Fields’ share price fell 6.3% on the JSE Monday after it said that the Ghanaian government had instructed it to cease operations and vacate the Damang Mine lease area by April 18, 2025, on expiry of the lease. The share price was trading at R444.81 on the JSE late Monday. The decline was in spite of a strong 4.11% rise in the gold price to $3 208.71 per ounce, at the same time. A year before, Gold Fields traded at R342.47. Gold Fields said it had, in December 2023, through an indirect subsidiary, Abosso Goldfields, applied for an extension of the Damang Main Mining Lease, but the company was notified by the Minerals Commission of Ghana that the application was rejected. Gold Fields said it had engaged extensively…

Nvidia, the dominant player in chips for AI models, said it will produce as much as half a trillion dollars’ worth of AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years through manufacturing partnerships. Production of Nvidia’s latest generation AI chip, known as Blackwell, has begun at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s new plant in Phoenix. Santa-Clara, California-based Nvidia is also building supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas with Foxconn and Wistron, and partnering with Amkor Technology and Siliconware Precision Industries for packaging and testing operations in Arizona, the company said in a statement on Monday. “Mass production” is expected to ramp up in the next 12 to 15 months. “Adding American manufacturing helps us better meet the incredible and growing demand for AI chips and supercomputers, strengthens our supply chain and…

One of Africa's largest telecommunications service provider, the MTN Group said on Monday that it is has partnered with the global social networking company, Meta, to enhance the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets. MTN said by optimising application-aware networks and network-aware applications, the initiative aims to deliver a more seamless, stable, and high-quality user experience. The collaboration aims to improve real-time calling experiences across 12 markets by pinpointing areas for enhancement and executing specific interventions. Since MWC 2024, MTN and Meta teams have been collaborating to identify key areas for improvement and implement targeted network optimisations that enhance the interaction between mobile networks and real-time calling applications while maintaining efficient traffic delivery. By harnessing data analytics…

Matthews Phosa has been appointed new chairman of Jubilee Metals, which has copper and platinum group metals (PGM) operations in Zambia and South Africa, respectively. His appointment follows the resignation of Ollie Pliveira as a director of the company and from the post of board chairman with effect from 30 April 2025. “Oliveira has notified the company of his intention to retire from his position as chairperson and non-executive director. Oliveira will be succeeded by Dr Mathews Phosa, currently vice-chairperson of the board,” said the company on Monday. Phosa, will also assume Oliveira’s role as member of the audit and risk committee in addition to sitting on the remuneration committee of the board of Jubilee. In the first interim period to December 2024, Jubilee’s chrome operations in South Africa raised…

American Grammy award-winning rapper Doechii has teamed with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) for a global anti-anxiety campaign. The partnership aims to “amplify Mental Health awareness as part of a global initiative” inspired by Doechii’s new single, Anxiety. “Anxiety and panic affect millions worldwide, and through this collaboration, we’re making critical resources more accessible. SADAG, alongside other international organisations, are featured as support resources on the webpage, www.anxietyiswatchingyou.com,” it said in a statement. Additionally, the organisation shared that the website aims to connect people globally to anxiety-related information, helplines, and self-help strategies. One of the key resources available on the website is a platform where individuals can share their strategies for managing anxiety. In addition to sharing personal strategies, the website offers a space for individuals to…

THE two surviving men convicted of the 1981 murder of anti-apartheid lawyer Griffiths Mxenge have asked the SAPS to fund their legal defence. The request was revealed on Monday during the reopening of the inquest into Mxenge’s death at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg. Mxenge, who was a prominent human rights lawyer and ANC member, was murdered in Umlazi, Durban, in 1981. He was stabbed 45 times by three apartheid-era police officers. Butana Nofemela, David Tshikalange, and Dirk Coetzee were found guilty of Mxenge’s killing 28 years ago. However, they were later granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The court heard yesterday that Coetzee has since died, while Nofemela and Tshikalange are retired. Both men have now requested the SAPS to cover their legal costs because…

Rory McIlroy’s dramatic win at the Masters early yesterday put an end to the questions that have hounded him every time he set foot on Augusta National over the past 10 years as he finally turned the page on years of frustration. McIlroy’s roller-coaster round ended with him beating Justin Rose in a one-hole play-off 11 years after his first attempt to achieve the rare feat of capturing all four of golf’s majors. “I’d like to start this press conference with a question myself,” McIlroy said, as he entered the interview room donning his new Green Jacket. “What are we all going to talk about next year?” he said with a laugh. “I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember.” That dream threatened to turn…

Unai Emery says his players can feed off the energy of their fans as Aston Villa seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The newly crowned French champions came from a goal down at the Parc des Princes last week, with a stoppage-time Nuno Mendes strike changing the complexion of the tie. “Our expectation is to get a good result in the second leg,” Villa manager Emery told reporters on Monday. “Of course, the fact that they won 3-1 is changing something. But a lot? No. “Why? Because we have to win. We had to win with 2-1 and with 3-1 now. But now, we have to win with one more goal.” PSG have won 17 of their past 18 games…

While Liverpool stumble to the Premier League title, the news of Mohamed Salah’s contract extension has surely put a spring in their step. It has also dispelled some of the gloom around the potential departure of stalwart right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. False alarm The potential exit of Salah, Trent and skipper Virgil van Dijk must have been a cause of great anxiety among Reds fans. With Van Dijk also likely to extend his stay at Anfield, talk has inevitably turned to next season. It seems strange to tie the destiny of next year’s EPL trophy to two 30-something veterans. But such has been the performance of the duo that it is hard to imagine the Reds defending their title without them. Salah the boogieman Salah has already broken the record for…

There are wounds that time hasn’t quite healed – and for AmaZulu, one such scar leads straight back to January, when Stellenbosch FC humiliated them with a ruthless 5-0 thrashing in Umlazi. Tonight, at the Danie Craven Stadium, Usuthu are expected to have one thing on their mind: Payback. The fixture, set for a 7.30pm kick-off, has layers beyond revenge. For Arthur Zwane’s charges, this is also about momentum and salvaging pride as the Betway Premiership season nears its close. That first-round embarrassment wasn't just a heavy defeat – it marked one of the lowest points in AmaZulu’s campaign, a stark reminder of their inconsistencies and fragility under pressure. But since that painful night, there have been signs of renewal. AmaZulu edged Richards Bay 1-0 in their last league outing,…

A United States foreign policy expert has warned that Mcebisi Jonas could face the same treatment that former South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rassol, was subjected to as a result of his previous comments on US President Donald Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the appointment of Jonas as his Special Envoy to the US, serving as the official representative of the President and the Government of South Africa. Jonas served as one of four Presidential Investment Envoys that Ramaphosa appointed in 2018 to facilitate investment into South Africa. Ramaphosa said in this capacity, Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa's diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote…

Earlier this month, US Congressman Rodney Jackson introduced a bill that would not only demand a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa. It would require the US government to identify South African government officials and ANC leaders who are eligible for the imposition of economic sanctions. Within 120 days of enactment, the new bill stipulates that US President Donald Trump, in consultation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, "shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a classified report that includes a list of senior South African government officials and ANC leaders that the President determines have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses that would be sufficient, based on credible evidence, to meet the criteria…

Once upon a time there was a view that technology leaders were better leaders. The current group of technology leaders are poking holes into that view. One writer indicated that Steve Jobs was probably the last beloved tech leader the world has ever seen. I would add that Jobs is probably the last great leader to be produced by the tech world. At some point some thought Elon Musk could replace Jobs as a great tech leader. Currently, Musk is at the top of leaders that have disappointed many who thought tech leaders could make great leaders. He started by contributing towards developing great products. He committed an error by taking matters too far by getting involved in politics. This move and his conduct has tarnished his brand and illustrated…

Remgro believes its three biggest non-performing unlisted investments, CVIH, Hirslanden and Heineken South Africa are largely to blame for the continuing discount to intrinsic net asset value that the investment group trades at on the JSE, CEO Jannie Durand said Monday. Speaking in a presentation to capital market investors, Durand said these three investments, which comprise 20% of Remgro’s total portfolio by value and contributed no earnings or dividends to Remgro in the last financial year, would be turned around. CIVH, or Community Investment Ventures Holdings focuses on building and managing fibre-optic networks through its subsidiaries, such as Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel. Hirslanden operates hospitals, clinics, and specialised medical institutes in Switzerland. Heineken Beverages, part of the global Heineken company, produces beer, cider, and other drinks in South Africa.…

Britain's government on Monday raced to secure raw materials to keep the country's last steelmaking blast furnaces running, as Beijing warned the UK against politicising the takeover of Chinese-owned British Steel. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government swooped in on Saturday to prevent the closure of British Steel's main plant in northern Scunthorpe after its Chinese owners Jingye halted orders of raw materials such as coking coal and iron ore. The Labour-run government must now secure the materials to keep the two blast furnaces at the plant -- the last in the UK which makes steel from scratch -- running. Government minister James Murray said officials were at the site on Monday. "Their role is to make sure we do everything we can to ... get those raw materials to the…

DURBAN Mayor Cyril Xaba has reiterated the city's commitment to addressing water challenges, adding that in two weeks’ time, they will table a detailed plan of action aimed at resolving this problem. Xaba said the municipality has developed and tabled a water turnaround strategy, and in about two weeks, they will present an implementation plan. He explained that the city is grappling with water challenges due to a string of problems, including intense migration to the city and the deterioration of infrastructure. He spoke to The Mercury on the sidelines of the launch of the Easter Holiday safety plan at Westown yesterday. The City took members of the media to the outer-west area to showcase tourist attractions for those visiting Durban this Easter. Among the tourism gems were places…

South African consumers are feeling the impact of the rising costs of living with a notable shift in their financial behaviour. This is according to the findings of the SpendTrend25 report released by Discovery Bank and Visa which provides insight on South African consumers’ spending habits based on an in-depth analysis of credit card spending data. Visa and Discovery Bank said this year they also commissioned an independent public survey among a group of South Africans to capture more detailed perspectives on the use of cash and digital payments, use of subscription services, banking security perceptions and the influence of AI on financial behaviour. Some of the key findings in the report are that card spending has slowed despite inflation being lower and groceries, retail, travel, eating out and fuel…

THE ANC says it remains committed to fostering “inclusive and principled dialogue” as part of efforts to ensure effective governance in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and safeguard South Africa’s democratic gains. This follows a meeting between the ANC negotiating team, led by secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, and a delegation from the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), headed by Corné Mulder. According to the ANC, the engagement was constructive. It was previously reported that the FF Plus and the DA were among the parties that voted against the passing of the national Budget in Parliament. Their opposition was largely due to concerns over the 0.5% value-added tax (VAT) increase, which is expected to come into effect in May. The DA has also filed papers in the Western Cape High Court…

Kaizer Chiefs are seemingly heading back to the continental stage, and they’ve done it with the kind of drama only football can script. In a seismic Nedbank Cup semi-final clash at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, Amakhosi rose from the ashes of recent disappointments, to stun Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 and could secure a long-overdue return to African football via the CAF Confederation Cup, if the Betway Premiership standings remain as is. Ashley du Preez emerged as the hero on Sunday night, slotting home a dramatic 89th-minute winner that turned Pretoria into a cauldron of disbelief and euphoria – depending on which colours you wore. Sundowns came into the encounter as the firm favourites. They had beaten Chiefs three times this season, are cruising in the Premiership, and looked untouchable after hard-fought…

Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi is hoping teenagers Seshnie Naidu and Karabo Meso bring their “fearless type of mindset” with them on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. Naidu (19) and Meso (17) starred for the SA U19 team at the recent ICC U19 Women’s World Cup where the Junior Proteas finished runners-up to India in Malaysia. Both have played T20I’s for the Proteas before, with leg-spinner Naidu also part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad in the United Arab Emirates last year. However, they have now both been called up, along with uncapped allrounder Miane Smit (20), for the first time to the ODI squad. The Proteas Women will face hosts Sri Lanka and India in an ODI Tri-Nations Series starting at the end of the month. “Freshness…

Trailing 4-0 going into tonight’s Uefa Champions League quarter-final return home leg against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said his side can draw inspiration from Liverpool’s 2018-19 comeback against the same opponents. In that season, eventual winners Liverpool scored four at Anfield in the return leg to reach the Champions League final, after a 3-0 loss in Catalonia. Kovac said Barcelona were a better team now than six years ago, but told reporters “miracles happen all the time”. “We can remember the (Liverpool) game – I can remember it. But that was then and now we’re in 2024-25. We know the situation – we didn’t play well in the first leg,” Kovac said. “We want to show a different face tomorrow and we want to win. By how much,…