Tabla de contenidos para 2026-02-18 en Mercury

Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile said that pledges of over R300 billion from the 2025 Gauteng Investment Conference have moved from pledges to development. Maile was speaking on Tuesday at a launch event for the 2026 Gauteng Investment Conference at Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with the conference scheduled to take place later this year. Maile added that when they hosted the first Gauteng Investment Conference (GIC) on April 3, 2025, their goal was simple: to show that Gauteng is a serious, action-driven destination for investment. “The GIC 2025 had a significant impact as over 1,800 people participated and R312.5 billion in investment pledges were secured, which demonstrated Gauteng’s ability to attract investment and build trust with investors.” Maile said one of the biggest outcomes was the…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is making waves in the financial sector with a new proposal that could redefine loan pricing in the country. Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG South Africa, outlined how Sarb aims to drop the longstanding concept of the prime lending rate in favour of referencing loan pricing using the Sarb's policy rate, commonly known as the repo rate. Historically, the prime lending rate has been set at 350 basis points above the repo rate, with loans priced accordingly. This decoupling of lending rates from actual monetary policy has led to some confusion among consumers and borrowers trying to understand how rates are determined. By switching to a model that uses the repo rate as the primary reference point, the central bank seeks to enhance…

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa 's announcement in his state of the nation address last week that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) had been declared a National Disaster, the Department of Agriculture provided an update on the FMD outbreak detailing the spread across six provinces. The Department said that suspected clinical signs of FMD were reported in all districts of the Eastern Cape province. “Samples were collected and results confirmed outbreaks of FMD in 18 locations, while a number of results are still pending. The virus was identified as SAT1. Clinical signs of FMD were detected in April 2024 on a farm in Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape Province. Samples tested positive for FMD SAT3. A total of 39 farms were found FMD-positive. In addition, a further 36 farms were pre-emptively…

Recent statements from organised business, civil society and parts of government reflect a shared frustration: South Africa’s public institutions are not implementing reform or delivering infrastructure fast enough.The consequences are visible in stalled projects, constrained growth and declining public trust. In the 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear that the period of crisis management must give way to decisive execution. The message was direct. Policy reform is no longer enough. Delivery must follow. Energy reform sits at the centre of this test. Transmission capacity has become the main constraint on adding lower-cost electricity supply. Grid access remains uncertain. Connection timelines stretch. Governance arrangements still create doubt about neutrality and fairness. Investors read this uncertainty as risk. Developers price it into projects. Consumers ultimately pay…

JSE-listed Blu Label on Tuesday announced that its subsidiary, BluEnergy Trading, has been granted a multi-year energy trading licence by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). This is a significant regulatory milestone that empowers BluEnergy to deliver innovative renewable energy solutions across the energy value chain by connecting municipalities, Independent Power Producers and energy users, ensuring a more resilient and cost-effective energy supply for local communities. BluEnergy said its execution and delivery capability is underpinned by its partnership with Cigicell - the leading provider of prepaid electricity vending and revenue assurance systems embedded in more than 95 municipalities across 9 provinces. The approval positions BluEnergy to play a central role in South Africa’s power sector reform agenda, which aims to increase private sector participation, enhance energy security and…

THE proposal to establish a specialised court to urgently resolve business disputes has been hailed as a key step that will give certainty and confidence to investors whilst ensuring the speedy implementation of infrastructure projects. That is the view of the business community, which described the move announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa recently as the first step to addressing bottlenecks that delay investments. However, while the legal fraternity welcomed the announcement as a good idea, they said it fell short of what the country needs to maximise the delivery of justice. Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address that he intends to establish a court that will address commercial and business disputes to ensure that these disputes do not halt investments. “Disputes arising from the implementation of tenders…

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has rescinded a 1999 default judgment obtained by Nedbank Ltd after finding that the summons in the foreclosure proceedings had been served on a man who was already deceased. The court ruled that the default judgment granted in March 1999 against the late Lefu Stephen Moisi was erroneously sought and granted, as he had died nearly two years before the summons was purportedly served on him. The matter arose from a loan agreement concluded in July 1989 between Nedbank, then known as Nedcor Bank Limited, and the late Moisi. The bank advanced R37 196, secured by a mortgage bond over his property. After a breach of the loan agreement, the bank instituted foreclosure proceedings and obtained a default judgment declaring the property executable,…

Despite being suspended two weeks ago, both Impendle Local Municipality mayor Kho Dlamini and speaker Zibuse Dlamini are continuing with their work. The two officials were suspended, along with two other councillors, by the KwaZulu-Natal ANC provincial leadership for bringing the party into disrepute. On February 6, the council voted to elect a mayor and a speaker after a leadership vacuum since July last year. This was after KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi had ordered that the municipality appoint leadership as it faces a cash crunch among other challenges. It was expected that the ANC councillors would elect Nokulunga Ndlovu as mayor as she was the party's preferred candidate. However, to the embarrassment of the party's leadership watching from the gallery, the councillors elected…

In the traditional architecture of a Springboks’ pack, the No 5 lock is the man who runs “engine room”, the line- out general responsible for clinical tactical execution and the man who needs to get around the park to carry and clean. South Africa have always been blessed with world-class operators in the lock department, but some of the stalwarts playing overseas are coming towards the end of their illustrious careers. As the 2026 international season approaches, Rassie Erasmus faces a compelling dilemma: will he persist with the battle-hardened veterans playing in Japan or give more opportunities to those playing in the United Rugby Championship (URC)? In this instalment of Rassie’s Radar, we take a look at the options in the No 5 jersey. Ruan Nortje (Bulls) If there is…

During my time covering the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2015, the draw always seemed to send Bafana Bafana to the most rural of towns and cities. In those days, reaching your destination felt like an odyssey. A standard 200km bus trip could take up to seven hours, with Basic Instinct 1 and 2 apparently the only movies available on the flickering screen at the front. You generally had to make do with terrible accommodation that cost an arm and a leg, stoically enduring cold showers for two weeks straight before Bafana were inevitably knocked out and we could finally head home. Afcon is a much more refined tournament these days. Travel is easier, accommodation is comfortable, and you no longer need to hitch a ride on the…

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) has confirmed the immediate appointment of Jabu Mphambo as acting CEO following the resignation of CEO Themba Rikhotso. Last week, the bank announced Rikhotso's resignation after three years at the helm as he will be taking up a role at another South African banking institution. He will remain in the bank’s employ for the duration of his notice period, which runs until the end of April 2026. Further details regarding the permanent CEO appointment process are expected to be communicated in due course. The leadership change comes as the agricultural development financier continues to consolidate its recovery and growth trajectory following a period of restructuring and financial stabilisation. In a statement on Tuesday, the board said the appointment of…

The Hilton Durban closure in the city centre earlier this month was widely framed as an autopsy of the old world and a death knell to the KwaZulu-Natal property market. To the casual observer, the yank of that iconic global flag was a terminal diagnosis for a region strangled by the "Plagues of Eight”, which included five bad years that saw Covid, riots, floods and the provisional liquidation of its biggest land owner make the region the hardest sell of any in South Africa.. But for the heavy hitters of the South African property sector, it was merely the "push factor" in a radical, multi-billion-rand rebalancing of capital for the economic development in KwaZulu-Natal. The "pull factor" is now undeniable: a definitive migration towards managed, private-sector-led precincts. From the Outer…

Afrimat, the JSE-listed multi-commodity mining company from South Africa, reported considerable strides in its operations in its year to February 28, with some non-core assets sales, despite facing a challenging local economic landscape. The mid-tier mining company, known for its diverse offerings such as construction materials, iron ore, and industrial minerals, said in a pre-close operating update Tuesday that the second half of the financial year was marked by a strong focus on operational execution. There were turnover improvements in its aggregates business and asset sales, including non-core brick, block, readymix plants, and properties. The company's strategic divestiture efforts will enable debt reduction, with cash inflows expected in the new financial year. Among significant milestones, Afrimat directors said that the debt-to-equity ratio remained stable, with refinanced debt mirroring its longer-term…

BHP's shift to copper production over four years saw the metal make up more than 50% of its core earnings in the half year to December 31, 2023. "BHP is the world's largest copper producer and with strong performance at Escondida mine (northern Chile), and solid contributions from our other operations in Chile and South Australia, we have increased FY26 group copper guidance to 1.9 – 2.0 MT," said CEO Mike Henry at the release of the group's interim results Tuesday. The group produced over 2.0 MT in the 2025 financial year. It guidance compared with Rio Tinto forecasting its copper production at 650 000 tons to 710 000 tons for their 2026 financial year, while Glencore has guided copper production at 950 000 tons. Copper has become a key…

Medical imaging plays a crucial role in modern healthcare, helping doctors see what is happening inside the body without surgery. Whether it is an X-ray after an injury or an MRI to investigate ongoing pain, radiology helps detect problems early, guide treatment, and monitor recovery. Yet for many patients, the process can feel confusing. You may be referred for a scan but not know why you need a referral, who reads the images, or when you will get answers. According to Dr Jean de Villiers, a radiologist and the director at SCP Radiology, understanding how radiology works can help patients feel more confident and informed about their care. Why you need a referral for imaging In most cases, you cannot simply book a scan without a referral from your doctor.…

There have been several infrastructure projects that have been stalled by legal challenges, leading to them being delayed for years. At least four projects in recent years were hamstrung by lawsuits in Durban, putting the projects in jeopardy. The Durban Film Studio was delayed for years following a legal dispute. The 21-hectare site was purchased in 2003 through a deal that was challenged in court for nearly a decade. The Constitutional Court eventually ruled in favour of filmmaker Anant Singh. Further complications arose when the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) attempted to reclaim the land in 2017. The High Court dismissed a case by AP Moller-Maersk to halt the award of the Durban Container Terminal project to ICTSI. AP Moller-Maersk failed in its bid to halt the award of…

Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe has warned that individuals receiving grants illegally from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will face legal consequences, with some already appearing in court. During her visit to eMbekweni in the Drakenstein Municipality, Western Cape, Tolashe highlighted the department’s efforts to engage communities through the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (iCROP), a SASSA initiative that allows on-site grant processing. She said the programme aims to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive grants. “For the longest time, we had a situation where people were benefiting from our grants illegally, and now we have started a process that is extremely effective in making sure that we clean our system and get rid of those who are not supposed to be in our system,” Tolashe said.…

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi and national Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, presented a humanitarian award to Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu during his 50th birthday celebration at the weekend. The KZN Cogta department said in a statement that the event was held in Richards Bay on Saturday and was attended by senior members of the Zulu Royal Household alongside Amakhosi, government officials, and business leaders. A formal congratulatory message from Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, was delivered by Buthelezi. “In the message, the king commended Prince Mabheka Zulu for his consistent efforts in fostering social cohesion and bridging the relationship between the Indian and Zulu communities within the province,” the department said. Prince Mabheka Zulu was also presented with a humanitarian award for…

Marco Jansen has endured a love-hate relationship with playing in India over the course of his fledgling international career. The lanky left-arm seamer was enjoying a solid maiden ODI World Cup in 2023 until he ran straight into the hosts at Eden Gardens in a group encounter. Jansen, still only 23 years old at the time, was confronted by India’s much-vaunted batting line-up and he immediately felt the pressure by conceding 17 runs off the very first over. It was all downhill from there with Jansen returning his worst-ever ODI figures of 1/94 from his 9.4 overs. This shock to the system followed him through to the World Cup semifinal against Australia at the same venue with Jansen bowling just 4.2 overs and leaking 35 runs again. It was not…

LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has voiced his disappointment at seeing KwaZulu-Natal rivals eliminating each other in the Round of 16 of the Nedbank Cup, even as he acknowledged the broader progress being made by football in the province. While Golden Arrows prepare for a tough assignment against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, the cup draw has thrown up two all-KZN encounters elsewhere. AmaZulu FC will face Richards Bay FC, while Motsepe Foundation Championship side Milford FC lock horns with ABC Motsepe League outfit Mkhambathi FC. For Mngqithi, the frustration lies not in rivalry, but in lost opportunity. “I think it’s everyone’s wish for the province to do well,” he said. “I even hoped that we didn’t have any provincial derbies in this competition until the latter stages because…

Arthur Zwane is relatively pleased with AmaZulu’s response to the demands in this current stretch of the season, insisting that the KwaZulu-Natal club are on course to achieve their respective targets at the end of the campaign. Usuthu have grown in leaps and bounds this season. They are fifth in the Betway Premiership and en route to achieving president Sandile Zungu’s ambition of finishing in the Top 4 – something that has occurred only once during his reign. AmaZulu could aid that Top 4 finish by adding a trophy to their cabinet, the Nedbank Cup, which would be the first silverware in more than three decades. Despite the positivity surrounding the club, Zwane has asked for cool heads. While he’s pleased with the team’s continued growth, he has argued that…

New Zealand sealed their qualification to the next phase of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup with an eight-wicket thumping of Canada in Chennai yesterday. Chasing 174 to win, the Black Caps were never in trouble and reached 176/2 with almost five overs to spare. Glenn Phillips was on 76 not out at the end, with Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on 59. “We did get on a bit of a run at the end there, which was fantastic,” said Phillips. “But honestly, Rach and I were just trying to stick to our processes and take it one ball at a time.” The result eliminates 2024 semi-finalists Afghanistan, as New Zealand joined South Africa as the two qualifiers for the Super 8 from Group D. Canada’s Yuvraj Samra earlier became the youngest…

Latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey says that employment increased by 44 000 in the final quarter South Africa’s labour market showed further signs of stabilisation in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the official unemployment rate easing to 31.4% and broader measures of labour underutilisation also trending lower. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, indicates that employment increased by 44,000 in the final quarter of the year, while the number of unemployed persons declined by 172,000 to 7.8 million. As a result, the official jobless rate fell by 0.5 of a percentage point to 31.4%, down from 31.9% in the third quarter and 33.2% in the second quarter. The reading marks a second consecutive quarterly decline and is the lowest unemployment rate…

The global logistics industry, from forklift fleets to transport refrigeration units, treats electrification as a sustainability project, but that mistake is costing it money, resilience, and competitive advantage. This is particularly important in markets like South Africa, where energy volatility and cost pressure are already baked into operations. Emissions reduction is important, but when electrification is framed primarily as an ESG exercise, its operational and commercial value is consistently underestimated. The real shift is not from diesel to batteries, but from blind energy consumption to intelligent, data-driven energy management. In reality, modern Lithium-Ion (li-ion) systems deliver far more than an affirming ESG line. They improve uptime, charging is cheaper than running diesel, vehicles are quieter and, crucially, built-in telematics deliver data that can transform how operations are managed across the…

BHP has entered into a long-term silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals International in a significant stride towards enhancing the global miner's financial flexibility and capital management, The transaction, the most lucrative streaming deal to date based on upfront payment, will see BHP receive an upfront payment of $4.3 billion. In exchange, BHP will deliver silver calculated from its share of production at the Antamina mine in Peru. The agreement reflects BHP's focus on maximising shareholder value, while capitalising on buoyant silver market conditions. The transaction allows the mining giant to unlock capital from a non-core commodity. Significantly, the proceeds from this deal can be reallocated to high-return growth projects, and further shareholder returns, aligned with BHP's established capital allocation framework, JSE, London, Australia and New York listed group…

The pockmarked earth on Johannesburg’s eastern fringe, until last week a humble cattle kraal ringed with barbed wire, now stands as the unlikely centre of South Africa’s latest gold fever. Dozens of fortune-seekers have flocked to the township of Springs, some 50 kilometres east of the city, scouring the dirt for gold. The scene echoes the rush that built Johannesburg, the country’s financial capital, at the turn of the 20th century. The diggers, armed with pickaxes, arrived almost overnight. “They spread like a virus,” security guard Princess Thoko Mlangeni, 33, told AFP outside her tin‑shack home overlooking the field, recalling how they first appeared on February 8. The sudden invasion of Springs reflects a wider frenzy, as gold prices have surged past $5 000 an ounce this year, more than…

A four-year reign of terror in the area of KwaMbonambi, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, has ended with the accused being handed seven life terms and an additional 155 years behind bars. The Mtunzini High Court sentenced 33-year-old Muzikhona Khehla Khumbulani Mthethwa after he pleaded guilty to a string of brutal crimes committed between June 2017 and June 2021. His convictions include nine counts of rape, five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and housebreaking with intent to rape. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), “in committing these crimes, Mthethwa would accost the complainants when they were alone or, in some instances, together. He used violence to subdue them before raping and/or robbing them of their belongings.” In…

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has announced that South Africa will receive a shipment of 1 million foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines from global biotechnology company, Biogenesis Bago on Saturday. He said this would be the largest single import of vaccines to date and would bring much-needed relief to the provinces and regions hardest hit by the outbreak. Steenhuisen made the announcement during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces yesterday afternoon, where MPs debated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). The debate continues today at 2pm, with the president expected to reply on Thursday at 2pm. Steenhuisen, who is also leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the largest partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), said Ramaphosa’s…

The Sharks head into this weekend’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Lions with a renewed sense of purpose and refreshed minds following a timely two-week break. After a gruelling block of fixtures that culminated in two magnificent back-to-back victories over the Stormers, the Durban-based franchise is now eyeing a climb up the log to secure a crucial playoff spot. Springbok prop Vincent Koch believes the hiatus came at the perfect time for a squad that had been mentally and physically drained by the two brutal South African derbies against the Stormers, which saw them finally break their hoodoo against their coastal rivals. “After the Stormers game, we had a two-week break in which we got a few days off,” Koch noted. “Mentally, I think the players definitely needed a…

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi believes the winner of tonight’s Betway Premiership blockbuster between the Buccaneers and the Brazilians could carry the momentum all the way to lifting the league title in May. The two sides meet at FNB Stadium in a 7.30pm kick-off. Sundowns head into the clash buoyed by a positive turn in their CAF Champions League campaign after a 2-0 victory over MC Alger moved them a step closer to an elusive second continental crown. However, their domestic title defence has stumbled in recent months, leaving the defending champions in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous position. Should they fail to avoid defeat against Pirates, Sundowns could find themselves nine points adrift at the top of the table – a gap that may prove…

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal and England are reaping the rewards of a friendly rivalry between Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, as the duo battle for starts for both club and country. Madueke has capitalised on two injury spells for Saka this season to make a strong impression during his debut campaign with the Gunners and in England’s World Cup qualifying run. While Saka had previously nailed down the right-wing berth, Madueke’s form – alongside injuries to Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz – saw Arteta deploy Saka in a central role during Sunday’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Wigan. Arteta revealed the pair have taken their competitive spirit into the gym, though they remain close friends. “We were in the gym and they were testing ... those two were hilarious as…

Proteas Women’s batting coach Baakier Abrahams believes they are putting together “the building blocks” for another successful T20 Women’s World Cup campaign. Laura Wolvaardt’s side went down in a dead-rubber contest in Benoni on Monday evening, but had already secured the T20I series against Pakistan. The undoubted find of the series was debutant Kayla Reyneke with the Western Province allrounder and former SA Women’s U19 captain delivering a clutch performance in the first match of the series in Potchefstroom. With the next T20 World Cup coming up in England later this year, Abrahams believes many positives were gained. “I think winning is a good habit to get into,” Abrahams said. “To be able to win a series at home and almost had to play two different styles of cricket, one…