Table of contents for 2025-03-25 in Mercury

Economists on Monday said they believed that motorists were in for some relief next month buoyed by a stronger rand and lower international oil prices, with a big cut in the petrol price predicted for April. This will bring some reprieve to financially-constrained consumers after the South African Reserve Bank decided to leave interest rates unchanged at 7.5% per annum on the back of steadily rising inflation. Old Mutual Group chief economist, Johann Els, on Monday forecast a petrol price cut of around 85 cents a litre for next week. “At the moment, the daily recovery is running at 58 cents a litre. The running average for the month thus far is 87 cents per litre, because the daily is slightly lower than the running average the average will ease…

Energy experts yesterday welcomed Eskom announcing the addition 800MW to the grid from Kusile Unit 6, saying this marked a crucial step toward dealing with load shedding, which was surprisingly implemented at Stage 2 last week. Experts were also of the view that Kusile Unit 6 meant the completion of one of the country's largest infrastructure projects and a key milestone in Eskom’s strategic objective of adding 2 500MW of new capacity to the grid by the end of this month. Kusile Power Station will contribute a total of 4 800MW to the national grid once all units are fully operational, making it South Africa’s largest infrastructure project. “Its sister project, Medupi, will see its Unit 4 return 800MW by the end of April 2025 from an extended outage following…

THERE’s something broken about the current state of automation. From automated calls to bots that are limited by answers that are fed in advance, consumers are often left hanging without getting the assistance they need. This is probably worse for consumers who are served by institutions that only exist online. This begs the question, are we ready to do without buildings and physical spaces in the pursuit of digital-only businesses? No one can deny that access to banks via apps has added more time for busy professionals and improved productivity for some. Many who are unable to move around have better access to services, thanks to online access. Businesses on the other hand have managed to save by avoiding rental costs and other overhead costs that are related to physical…

Raubex Group’s share price increased over 8% on the JSE Monday morning after it predicted a 15% to 25% increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS) and a stronger pipeline of new contracts, including the repair of the Parliament building. The group said included in its pipeline of new work was the recent award for the repair and upgrade of the Parliament buildings in Cape Town, valued at R1.98 billion. “This project will be a key project for our Commercial Building business in the new financial year,” Raubex directors said in a trading statement Monday. Earnings a share were expected to be between 590.1 cents and 637.3 cents, while HEPS was expected to be between 547.7 cents and 595.4 cents (2024: 476.3 cents) for the year to February 28, the…

Imagine being a child who has to prick their fingers multiple times a day, every day, to manage a life-threatening condition. Now imagine that child waking up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat because their blood sugar has dropped dangerously low or worse, being rushed to the hospital because their glucose levels have skyrocketed. For the thousands of children in South Africa living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), this is a daily reality. A new petition launched by SA Diabetes Advocacy, in partnership with several national diabetes organisations, is calling on the National Department of Health (NDoH) to step in. The campaign urges the government to prioritise access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for all children under the age of 18 living with T1D. The goal is…

As the global community recently observed Neurodiversity Celebration Week, South Africa finds itself at a crossroads of awareness and action. This annual initiative aims to honour the diverse ways neurodivergent individuals experience the world uniquely due to conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as they navigate their everyday lives. Neurodiversity encompasses a range of conditions, including: l Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) l Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) l Dyslexia l Dyspraxia l Dyscalculia l Tourette’s Syndrome Neurodivergent individuals are estimated to represent around 20% of the population. Yet, services tailored to meet their needs remain limited, often leaving them misunderstood and underserved. To gain deeper insights into this complex issue, Independent Media Lifestyle spoke to Wisdom Mkandawire, the CEO and founder of Invisible Diversity, whose personal journey reflects the broader struggles…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has left no stone unturned in his quest for success against Benin today. After a stand-out performance in the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on Friday, Broos said he is ready to make tough decisions regarding who will play against Benin. Under his guidance, the squad has blended youthful exuberance with seasoned experience. If necessary, he will make bold choices to harness the depth of talent within the team. “No player is guaranteed a regular starting place. We are a family of 23, not 11,” said Broos, as he fended off waves of euphoria following the impressive displays by rookies Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams. Their talents captivated both supporters and critics, who have recognised the potential these young players bring to the…

As the world marked World TB Day yesterday, a significant breakthrough has emerged in the battle against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that claims approximately 3 500 lives daily, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Experts are heralding the potential of a new vaccine, M72/AS01E, which is currently undergoing a phase 3 clinical trial, aimed at determining its efficacy in preventing TB disease. This critical trial is being conducted across five countries: South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, and Indonesia, with South Africa housing most of the trial sites. Professor Willem Hanekom, a TB vaccine specialist and executive director of the Africa Health Research Institute, said TB takes a grave socio-economic toll on communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. “The world’s highest incidence rate is here, where hundreds of thousands fall…

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) national teams director, Enoch Nkwe, has confirmed Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj will be out of action for the remainder of the season. Playing for the Dolphins over the weekend in a CSA 4-Day Championship clash against the North West Dragons, Maharaj bowled 27.3 overs in the first innings, before being taken out of the attack at Kingsmead. Dolphins skipper Prenalyn Subrayen completed the over, although Maharaj came out to bat facing 85 balls for his 39. Maharaj, though, did not bowl at all in the Dragons’ second innings. The 35-year-old has been struggling with a “left adductor strain” forcing him to miss two ODIs against Pakistan. Maharaj was doubtful for the Test series against Pakistan too but recovered in time to take his place for the…

As tough as it is for the Lions and their supporters to hear this, maybe a move away from Ellis Park is what speedster Edwill van der Merwe needs to propel him to greater Springbok heights. The flight-footed winger has been linked with a move for a while now and it looks like the Sharks in Durban won the arm wrestle for his signature ahead of next season. Looking at his World Cup ambitions as a 28-year-old, slotting in with a star-studded team and a backline littered with Springboks just seems like the right decision. I am not saying that the Lions do not possess a backline with plenty of skills, a couple of young Boks, and potential future stars, but what Van der Merwe needs now is to break…

Naspers’ Europe-based and Amsterdam-listed subsidiary Prosus, and Just Eat Takeaway.com said Monday they are making good progress on preparations, including regulatory approvals, for the deal to buy Just Eat for €4.1 billion (R80.6bn). “Today, Prosus submitted a request for review and approval of the Offer Memorandum to the AFM” (Autoriteit Financiële Markten), the Dutch financial markets regulatory body, the internet group's said in an update. The offer is expected to commence in the second half of 2025, and it was expected that settlement would take place by year-end, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals. The offer has been pitched at €20.30 in cash per share. Just Eat's share price was 0.13% lower at €19.46 on the Amsterdam stock exchange on Monday afternoon. Naspers’ share price was 0.39% lower at…

Ulrik Bengtsson has big shoes to fill as he steps into the CEO role at Sun International, succeeding Anthony Leeming effective July 1, or earlier pending his work permit. Leeming, 55, will retire early on December 31 after 26 years with the hospitality and gambling group, including eight as CEO. Leeming will step down on July 1 but remain until year-end to ensure a smooth transition with Bengtsson, supporting the board as needed. In an interview with Business Report, Leeming gave more details on his retirement plans, saying, “There’s a big world out there I’d love to see - more golf, maybe some adventures.” Sun International said, “Anthony has provided formal notice to the board that he intends taking early retirement from Sun International on December 31, 2025 to…

A technological revolution is sweeping global finance, and it’s shaking up traditional monetary policy. The US is championing stablecoins, China is pressing ahead with its digital yuan, and our BRICS partners - India, Russia, Brazil - are zoning in on the new wave of digital innovation. This shift isn’t merely reshaping legacy currencies - it’s stamping a digital footprint on money itself, upending decades of tradition. But in South Africa, SA Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago is taking a cautious stance on central bank reserves as he champions gold’s enduring appeal. His prudence is not misplaced, yet it prompts a pressing question: can he afford to delay rethinking our reserves? With debt tied to the dollar, our BRICS partners being innovative, and peers racing ahead, shouldn't South Africa embrace…

LAST week, Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across the world's seven continents. The current record of 64 hours is held by Johnny Cruz Buckingham of the US, set in February 2025. Asinobi's journey began on March 20th from Antarctica, taking her through Chile, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Egypt, and Dubai. Her record-breaking ambitions were ultimately dashed by the obstacles that come with travelling while Nigerian - including being denied boarding a flight to Perth, which delayed her arrival in Sydney. Total travel time: 71 hours and 35 minutes. Although she failed to break Buckingham's record, Asinobi's journey has ignited fresh conversations about passport inequality and travel restrictions faced by citizens of developing nations. It's a reality even Africa's…

When NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth a few days ago after spending 288 dadys in space , her transformation was striking. The 59-year-old, who had set off on what was meant to be an eight-day mission, looked noticeably older and frailer upon her return. Her dark hair had turned completely white – and this wasn’t just a cosmetic change – her body had undergone a level of strain equivalent to years of ageing. Spending nearly nine months in orbit takes an extreme toll on both the body and brain. Astronauts face physical and physiological changes that mimic accelerated ageing, and Williams’ unexpected extended stay serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of space travel. One of the most noticeable changes was her hair. While missing nine…

CONSUMERS are in for a tough time. They face the combined impact of a VAT increase, income tax bracket creep, and the absence of a strong, growth-stimulating fiscal spend in the recent Budget Speech. Some argue, however, that these pressures could have been eased by a reduction in the interest rate – a move that might also have helped revive the sluggish property market. It is getting harder, say the experts, for the average South African to keep up with costs. In fact, says Tanya Tosen, a tax and remuneration specialist at Tax Consulting South Africa, employees need a salary increase of at least 5% just to maintain their current spending power. She said this is because Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has not adjusted personal income tax brackets for inflation…

Prudence Sekgodiso left footprints where no other South African-born athlete had walked before, securing a gold medal in the women's 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, on Sunday. Her triumph was not only the first for a South African female athlete at the championship but also marked a significant milestone in her career, as she secured her first major gold medal following several victories in junior and senior championships across the African continent. The 23-year-old looked stronger with every stride from the heats forward and went on to defeat tough competition from Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew and Portugal’s Patrícia Silva, setting a world-leading time of 1:58.40 in the final. Sekgodiso had missed out on the final of the women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics last year after finishing…

Spain may have already won the Uefa European Championship last year and secured a place in the Uefa Nations League semi-finals on Sunday, but the young side is determined to chase more glory, manager Luis de la Fuente said. Spain edged The Netherlands 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 5-5 on aggregate at the Mestalla Stadium, setting up a blockbuster clash with France in the German city of Stuttgart on June 5. De la Fuente said his team would battle until the end, regardless of the opposition, having beaten England 2-1 to clinch the Euro 2024 trophy in July. Germany and Portugal will play in the other semi-final of the Nations League. "I think this national team is very young, it has a very long way to go, and…

Three victories from four clashes are not something to scoff at for the South African sides in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Although they were all heart-in-mouth stuff at the death, some brilliant teamwork secured the wins for the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks. The Lions were their own worst enemies in a clash they should’ve won, looking at how they dominated. Easily the most entertaining match of the four SA sides, the Stormers put up a dazzling backline display with fullback Warrick Gelant at the helm and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu playing a brilliant supporting role. The return of Damian Willemse also added another edge to the side against the Scarlets. Gelant was magical and had a direct hand in two of their four tries with a host of dummies and…

The AfCFTA is expected to raise Africa’s GDP by 1.2% and welfare by 0.9% in 2o45 The United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has encouraged African governments to capitalise on the prevailing global economic tensions and fragmentation by fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA aims to create a single market for goods, services, facilitated by movement of persons in order to deepen the economic integration of the African continent, and thus enhance the competitiveness of the economies of State Parties within the continent and the global market. The AfCFTA is expected to raise Africa's GDP by 1.2% and welfare by 0.9% in 2045. The ECA’s Economic Report on Africa 2025, released on Monday, examined the AfCFTA and its transformative opportunity to accelerate trade-led…

Alexforbes, a JSE-listed financial services group, announced a boost to its investment team on Monday, appointing specialised chief investment officers to strengthen its institutional, retail, and private markets offerings. It said in a statement the move is aimed at delivering superior outcomes for clients across various regions as well as to maintain its position as a leading investment destination Senzo Langa, a 14-year veteran of the firm, has been promoted to Institutional Chief Investment Officer, leveraging his extensive experience to drive institutional investment strategies. Gyongyi King, who has served as Chief Investment Officer for eight years during her 15-year tenure, will transition to Retail Chief Investment Officer while also taking on the role of Private Markets Chief Investment Officer. King’s dual appointment reflects her integral role in the company’s private…

A user's messaging app account might be of interest not only to jealous spouses and nosy coworkers, but also to cybercriminals. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are used for various types of criminal activity, ranging from spam distribution to sophisticated scam schemes. Cybercriminals constantly look for WhatsApp accounts and use various methods to gain access to them. There are two ways cybercriminals can gain control of a WhatsApp account: they can add another device to an existing account using the "Linked devices" feature, or they can re-register the account on their own device as if the user had bought a new phone. In the first case, the user continues to use WhatsApp as usual, but the criminals also have access to all recent conversations. In the second case, the user loses access…

Higher education and recruitment group ADvTech expanded in their home market and across Africa and reported a 16% increase in earnings for the year to December 31. The owner of the Varsity Colleges in South Africa that enrolled over 100 000 students last year reported moderate fee increases, better margins, and further investment in technology a statement said Monday. “We are also pleased to report double-digit enrolment growth in both our schools and tertiary divisions and that our education business has broken through 100,000 students for the first time,” CEO Geoff Whyte said. A final dividend of 63 cents (2023: 57) a share brought the full-year dividend to 101.0 (87) cents per share. Revenue was up 8% to R8.52 billion after increasing 8% in the education division and slipping 8%…

Although the JSE’s All Share was, as of this morning, up more than 100% since the year that Covid-19 killed millions and hit global economies hard, and the rand has lost incredible ground against the dollar in recent history, South Africa won’t hit enough economic growth to fulfill the business and government partnership of a million jobs this year. This, says Dr Azar Jammine, director and chief economist at Econometrix, is because there are simply too many physical and structural impediments. Citing issues such as logjams at ports, inadequate education, high levels of crime, and continuing spatial inequalities, he says the growth target is “not happening,” and South Africa is also not currently a good investment destination, despite the local currency looking attractive from a dollar perspective. Jammine explains that…

How many times have you been chatting with someone, only to have them pick up their phone and start scrolling? Or perhaps you’ve been the person who checks your phone while your partner is talking to you. If this sounds familiar, which I’m sure it does, then you’re either a phubber or you’ve been phubbed. Phubbing, which is a mash-up of “phone” and “snubbing”, is when you ignore someone to pay more attention to your phone. Don’t feel bad because at some point you’ve done it yourself without even realising it. We’ve become so attached to our phones that it’s almost become normal to constantly be checking it. While phubbing might seem harmless, it does in fact have an impact on relationships. Here’s how phubbing can mess with your relationship.…

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) president Andrew Chirwa has demanded an end to the country’s appalling levels of inequality which continue to divide the country along racial lines, more than 30 years since the advent of democracy. Chirwa said the country’s economy cannot continue to favour white monopoly capital while it reduces the poor working class, most of them black South Africans, to a life of poverty. Chirwa, speaking yesterday at the union’s three-day National Bargaining Conference, said the recent poor electoral showing of the ANC has allowed AfriForum, the DA as well as Donald Trump’s administration and other forces to become emboldened in their supremacist agenda against South Africa. “The sector is changing very fast and a union that uses 1990 strategy will be surpassed. The…

As thousands of South Africans prepare to travel for the Easter weekend, national and provincial transport authorities have launched intensified road safety campaigns aimed at curbing fatalities on the country’s roads. Speaking at the national launch of the March to May Road Safety campaign in Pretoria recently Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said the campaign would run until May 2 under the theme “It Begins with Me”, placing responsibility for road safety on both drivers and pedestrians. The minister said law enforcement efforts had already seen results, with a 10% decline in road accidents in January 2025 compared to January 2024, and a 25% drop in February year-on-year. She said driver and pedestrian behaviour is responsible for 87% of road accidents and fatalities. “Reducing road fatalities and accidents is the…

With only the Lions falling short of a victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC), all eyes will be on them this weekend as they bid to close out their overseas journey in the tournament with a win. The Johannesburg side are the only local team outside of the tournament’s Top 8 and will be desperate to claw their way back. For the three other South African teams – the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks – they’ll hope to continue their winning ways to cement their knockout spots. In the eighth spot: The Stormers P13 W6 L7 Pts33 They replaced the Lions in the final qualifying spot after a last-gasp bonus point win over the Scarlets this past Saturday. A victory will suffice when they take on Ulster on Friday (9.35pm…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Benin tonight (kick-off 6pm) could be a defining moment in their campaign, with the potential to either make or break their hopes of qualification. Bafana are currently on a high, sitting at the top of Group C in the qualifiers with 10 points after three wins, one draw, and one loss in five games. Their impressive run of form has seen supporters rally behind them at home, hopeful that they could return to the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years. A packed New Peter Mokaba Stadium was in full voice on Friday as Bafana comfortably dispatched neighbours Lesotho, taking a major confidence boost into their clash against Benin. Broos' men will face…