Table of contents for 2025-04-17 in Mercury

The Vision Group announced on Wednesday that it has received competition approvals for acquisition of all Tongaat Hulett’s assets in Zimbabwe. Under the transaction, Ball Foundry has been given the nod by the Competition and Tariff Commission of Zimbabwe to acquire Triangle Sugar Corporation, which holds Tongaat Hulett’s operations in Zimbabwe. Prosper Ziyadhuma, an official with the Zimbabwe CTC, confirmed this to Business Report on Wednesday. “We had given them an intended decision as indicated in the notice they provided,” Ziyadhuma said. Vision Group, whose principals include Mpumalanga businessman Robert Gumede and Zimbabwean business executive Rutenhuro Moyo, has beneficial ownership in Ball Foundry, which is incorporated in Mauritius. “The purchase consideration will be settled by way of a set-off against a portion of the lender group claims. Triangle Sugar is…

South Africa’s tourism and hospitality sectors are poised for a vibrant Easter weekend, with expectations high for a significant surge in both domestic and international visitors. The launch of the 2025 Easter Campaign, led by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille at the scenic Atlantis Dunes in Cape Town, marks a renewed push to showcase the country’s diverse attractions, from breathtaking landscapes to rich cultural experiences. “Affordability remains a priority. Travelers are looking for more budget-friendly accommodation and experiences, making initiatives like Sho’t Left vital in ensuring more South Africans can explore their own country” she said. De Lille added that lesser-known destinations are in demand. “More South Africans are seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures, opting for places with fewer crowds and deeper cultural experiences. “ Personalised travel experiences are key.…

Purchases of clothing helped push retail sales for the month of February to a year-on-year gain of 3.9%, an indication that such momentum should help drive some economic growth even if overall gross domestic product (GDP) is being let down by mining and manufacturing. Retail sales, overall, contribute 20% to the economy, with the wholesale and retail sectors, specifically, being estimated to be the fourth-largest contributors to the country's GDP. Although Shireen Darmalingam, Standard Bank economist, said in a note that sales on a yearly basis undershot expectations, coming in at 3.9% year-on-year, after having increased by 7% year-on-year in January stripping out the effects of inflation. However, January would have been boosted by back-to-school sales. Retailers in textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods gained 15.7%, which contributed 2.3 percentage…

The National Development Plan (NDP) envisions that by 2030, 90% of South Africa’s 11 million needed jobs will be created through small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Recently, the government launched a new Spaza Shop Support Fund, adding to the many funding options available in South Africa. However, according to a report by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), only 12% of South African SMEs have access to formal funding channels. This limited access to finance remains one of the country’s leading causes of business failure. Capable entrepreneurs with promising businesses are often held back simply because their credit profile doesn’t reflect their potential. Whether you're just starting or have been operating for years, here are six ways to strengthen your business credit profile and improve your chances of securing funding.…

Donald Trump believes it is up to China to come to the negotiating table on trade, the White House said Tuesday, after the US president accused Beijing of reneging on a major Boeing deal. "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them," said a statement from Trump read out by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. "There's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," she told a briefing. Leavitt's comments came after Trump said that China had "reneged" on a major deal with US aviation giant Boeing. This followed a Bloomberg news report that Beijing ordered airlines not to take further deliveries of the company's jets. China growth Trump has slapped…

A US District Court has given the go-ahead for an Anti-Terrorism Act lawsuit against Africa’s telecoms giant, MTN Group, just a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas as the country’s Special Envoy to the US in an effort to mend relations between the two countries. LegalBrief Africa said yesterday that the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has allowed a “high-stakes Anti-Terrorism Act lawsuit" against MTN Group, to advance to the discovery stage.” It stated: “MTN Group has wasted no time in submitting an appeal, setting the stage for a precedent-setting legal battle that could rattle court and boardrooms alike for years to come.” The court action comes as Jonas’ appointment has been slated by some commentators because he labelled US…

Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ronald Lamola says the relocation of the Taiwanese Liaison Office (TLO) from Pretoria to Johannesburg is to ensure that South Africa maintains its independent foreign policy position while reaffirming China's sovereignty over Taiwan. "It (the decision) reflects the long-standing commitment to the one China policy, aligning with most nations in recognising China's sovereignty over Taiwan as only 12 countries recognise Taiwan as separate from China," the minister stated in response to a parliamentary question from ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip, Lerato Ngobeni. Despite the March 31 deadline, the Taiwan embassy in Pretoria remains operational, more than two weeks after the deadline for its relocation from Pretoria to Johannesburg. According to the Taipei Times, the Taipei government is still awaiting a response from the South African…

The mother of American pastor Josh Sullivan posted a heartfelt message on Facebook after her kidnapped son was rescued. Sullivan was kidnapped during a church service in Motherwell in the Eastern Cape on April 10, 2025. Sullivan was held captive for five days and released on Tuesday following an intelligence-driven operation by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks). He was found at a house in Gqeberha. The Hawks said that when they pounced, the suspects who were seated in a vehicle opened fire on police. Police retaliated, and the three suspects were killed. Sullivan escaped unharmed. Taking to social media, Sullivan's mom posted: "He’s home, my baby is free! Joshua was released earlier today!! He is home with Meagan and the kids. Praise God for his…

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Derrick Spencer has thrown his weight behind Nasreddine Nabi for now, saying there’ll be no room for the coach to make excuses next season. Nabi was expected to be Chiefs’ messiah this season: end the team’s barren run and also rebuild a strong side for future generations. The Tunisia-born coach has been obsessed with the latter, though, saying “completing the process” is much more important than grinding out results. That didn’t go down well with some of the ‘Khosination’, as they believed that he’s not the right man for the job due to a failure in finding the balance between getting results and rebuilding. Nabi, for all his flaws since his arrival, might have the last laugh this season, though, as his side could end their…

In March South Africa's business environment reflected a sustained improvement in sentiment that began in June 2024, driven by stronger economic prospects. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI), released on Wednesday, climbed from a low of 107.8 in May 2024, during the national elections, to a high of 125.8 in February 2025, before slightly easing to 123.5 in March 2025. This March 2025 figure still marked an 8.8-point improvement over March 2024, with the first-quarter 2025 BCI averaging 123.1, compared to 113.9 in the same period of 2024. Sacci said, "The most positive short-term impacts on business sentiment in March were caused by increased tourism and exports, and lower inflation. Fewer imports, a weaker rand against the major trading and investment currencies, and…

Under a sky of uncertainty and volatility, platinum emerges as a key player in a global economic landscape marked by trade tensions and geopolitical challenges. This precious metal, essential in the automotive, chemical, and jewelry industries, has seen its prices fluctuate dramatically in recent years. The current situation—framed by shifts in international policies and the pressure from previous tariffs—calls for a detailed journalistic analysis that uncovers both the challenges and opportunities for publicly traded companies that depend on this strategic resource. The Impact of Tariffs and Trade Tensions During the Trump administration, tariffs and protectionist measures were imposed that, although initially targeted at other sectors, extended their consequences to the platinum market. These measures increased import costs and generated an atmosphere of uncertainty in international trade. The resulting tensions not…

Technology stocks sank as new US government restrictions on the export of Nvidia chips to China and a disappointing report from ASML Holding dimmed the outlook for the semiconductor sector, wiping out $155 billion (R2.9 trillion) in market value for the two companies alone. Nvidia fell as much as 7.1% in US premarket trading after the chipmaker warned it will report around $5.5bn in related charges during the fiscal first quarter, contributing to a 1.3% decline in Nasdaq 100 futures. Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML slid as much as 7.6%. The selloff in semiconductor stocks over the past three months has already wiped out about $2trl in market capitalisation. President Donald Trump’s administration has barred Nvidia from selling its H20 chip in China, an escalation of Washington’s tech battle with Beijing.…

race to raise awareness of male fertility decline To raise awareness about declining male fertility an innovative Los Angeles, American startup will host the world’s first sperm race on April 25 at the Hollywood Palladium, aiming to raise awareness through a microscopic competition billed as both sport and spectacle. Sperm Racing, the organisers behind the event, have raised $1.5 million (R28.28m) from venture firms including Karatage and Figment Capital to stage the race, which pits sperm samples from rival universities UCLA and USC against each other on a 200mm racetrack mimicking the human reproductive system. The event, expected to draw over 1 000 spectators, will feature live-streamed visuals via high-resolution cameras, play-by-play commentary, leaderboards, instant replays, and betting. Eric Zhu, the co-founder of Sperm Racing, in a statement. “Male fertility…

The Clicks Group plans to open up to 55 new chain stores and an equal number of pharmacies this year as it continues on an ambitious expansion plan. This move comes despite facing a challenging economic landscape marked by increased value-added tax (VAT) and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly related to the country's trade relations with the United States. Clicks said on Wednesday that it remained “committed to its medium-term target” of 1 200 new stores after it opened 29 new pharmacies to date in the current financial year. The chain opened its 950th store in February and extended its national pharmacy footprint to 740. The pharmaceuical group's positive outlook is despite the looming geopolitical risks that could affect South Africa’s economic performance weighed down by depressed consumer spending. “The trading…

SOUTH AFRICA’s newly appointed Special Envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas has explained that his previous remarks against US President Donald Trump should be understood in the context that he was speaking in 2020 as an activist. Jonas's 2020 remarks have resurfaced, bringing the former finance deputy minister under scrutiny for calling Trump "a racist, homophobic and a narcissistic right-winger". IOL reported on Monday that a US foreign policy expert has warned that Jonas could face the same treatment that former South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rassol, was subjected to as a result of his comments on Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the appointment of Jonas as the Special Envoy to the US, serving as the official representative of the President and the Government of South…

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has said the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will appoint a service provider to conduct a full scale investigation into vulnerabilities for all types of social grants. This comes after an audit found the threat level for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant was medium, “meaning that while the system is not highly vulnerable, it is still susceptible to certain types of attacks that could compromise security if left unaddressed”. The audit was sparked by a survey by two Stellenbosch University computer science students, Veer Gosai and Joel Cedras, who identified weaknesses in the SRD grant application system late last year. “The service provider that will be selected to conduct the investigation will be appointed through the competitive bidding processes. Members will be…

Nolusindiso Booi’s name will be etched into the Springboks’ history books this weekend as she becomes the first South African woman to reach 50 Test caps, when the national senior women’s team face Spain. Captain Booi made her debut for the Bok Women 15 years ago against Kazakhstan and will receive her 50th cap on Saturday, when she leads the team onto the Campo de Rugby Amorós Palao in Elche, southern Spain. By contrast, the Springboks’ most-capped player, Eben Etzebeth, began his career in 2012 and has thus far played 131 Tests for the country. Booi’s 50th appearance in national colours is a significant milestone for the Springbok Women and their ongoing development, reaffirming SA Rugby’s commitment to growing and nurturing the women’s game. “(Booi’s) humility, how she serves the…

Mamelodi Sundowns shift their focus to the CAF Champions League encounter against Al Ahly, with a place in the coveted final up for grabs when the two sides clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off). The Brazilians brushed aside Esperance de Tunis in the quarter-finals, beating the Tunisian side 1-0 on aggregate following two intense legs over the past fortnight. Sundowns are chasing their first final appearance since 2016. Having fallen agonisingly short in the past two seasons under current Wydad Athletic Club coach Rulani Mokwena, the hope is that it will be third time lucky for the Chloorkop-based outfit. The Brazilians are unbeaten against the Red Devils in their last seven meetings. As they continue to lick their wounds following a surprise 2-1 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs…

Amanzimtoti Bowling Club was the heartbeat of local bowls action last weekend, as the club hosted the knockout rounds of the 2025 PNB Mixed Pairs competition on Saturday and Sunday. With four rounds of fiercely contested play before the semi-finals, the tournament showcased top-tier talent on greens that earned high praise from players and officials. Prepared to perfection by Terry Morgan and his dedicated team, brothers Innocent and William Sithole, Amanzimtoti’s greens – already rated the district’s best by the PNB Greens Standing Committee – proved their worth. Visiting players lauded the conditions as outstanding. Sunday saw tight competition as teams battled through the final knockout rounds. After intense play, the four teams semi-finalists emerged. The 2024 champions, Amanzimtoti’s Greg McLeod and Hilary Lindsay, squared off against Umhlanga’s Greg Scott…

Outlook for global trade has deteriorated due to a surge in tariffs, trade policy uncertainty, says WTO The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has warned that the volume of world merchandise trade could shrink as much as 1.5% this year, shaving off billions from the global economic growth as a result of the United States’ trade war with China. In its April Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report published on Wednesday, the WTO Secretariat said the outlook for global trade has deteriorated sharply due to a surge in tariffs and trade policy uncertainty (TPU). This comes after US President Donald Trump on 2 April announced a two-tier tariff structure: a baseline 10% tariff applied universally to imports from all countries with the exception of Canada and Mexico, and additional country-specific "reciprocal"…

With President Donald Trump more unpredictable than ever and transatlantic ties reaching new lows, calls are growing louder for Europe to declare independence from US tech. From Microsoft to Meta, Apple to Uber, cloud computing to AI, much of the day-to-day technology used by Europeans is American. The risks that brings were hotly debated before Trump returned to power, but now Europe is getting serious -- pushing to favour European firms in public contracts and backing European versions of well-known US services. As Europe faces Trump's tariffs, and threatens to tax US tech unless the two sides clinch a deal averting all-out trade war, there is a growing sense of urgency. Tech sovereignty has been front and centre for weeks: the European Union unveiled its strategy to compete in the…

The legacy of influence and growth through branding has been a cornerstone of business identity, evolving over time to resonate with loyal customers while attracting new audiences. This dynamic process enables businesses to reflect growth and transformation, with entrepreneurs who understand the shifting tides of markets and consumer preferences gaining a competitive edge in scaling and positioning their brands. In South Africa’s vibrant business landscape, branding has emerged as a powerful strategy to revitalise growth, reconnect with customers, and maintain relevance in a competitive marketplace. A prime example is Checkers, valued at $1.358 billion (R25.6bn), which surged to the top brand in South Africa in 2025 due to strong domestic perception, accessibility, convenience through innovations like Checkers60, and consistent competitive pricing. Similarly platforms, like Zulzi, are reshaping township delivery dynamics,…

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) will temporarily halt the production of the popular Polo and Polo Vivo models for one month as Plant Kariega in the Eastern Cape as the plant will instal and upgrade facilities throughout its production areas. The global auto manufacturer on Wednesday said vehicle production of the VW Polo and VW Polo Vivo was halted from 14 April to 12 May to allow teams to perform the required work on the line in areas such as Body Shop, Paint Shop and Final Assembly, in preparation for the third model that will be manufactured from 2027. The upcoming upgrades are a continuation of prior installations completed during the annual shutdown in December 2024, where approximately 60% of the necessary changes were implemented. This included the installation of 38…

PwC shut operations in nine Sub-Saharan African countries last month following a strategic review, the Big Four accounting firm said, in response to a media report that said the company exited over a dozen countries to avoid scandals. PwC, which operates as a global network of locally owned partnerships, has shut operations in the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo Republic, Republic of Guinea and Equatorial Guinea, it said in a statement, published on its website on March 31. The accounting firm directed Reuters to the statement in response to queries on a Financial Times article published earlier in the day that said PwC had exited multiple countries that were deemed too small, risky or unprofitable. The decision came due to mounting differences…

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has broken its silence on the charges brought by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) against party members, Advocate Dali Mpofu and Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. In a statement, the party condemned the LPC's actions as "political persecution masked as professional oversight". Mpofu is facing seven charges of alleged misconduct, six of which were lodged by the Centre for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). These charges relate to Mpofu's conduct during Parliament's inquiry into Mkhwebane's fitness to hold office, including his cross-examination of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. Mkhwebane is facing a court application to have her removed from the roll of advocates. Although the LPC could not divulge further details on the matter involving Mpofu, the council said that on March 1, 2025,…

A group of residents in eThekwini Municipality is gearing up for a rates boycott amid complaints of poor service delivery. Community leaders in the Isipingo area have indicated that they could stop paying rates by next month due to collapsed city infrastructure and extremely poor service delivery. They stated that about 22 000 people could be part of this action. This emerged at a meeting between different sectors of civil society and ANC leaders yesterday, where the ANC was meeting with civil society to hear their concerns. The party has been meeting with different stakeholders as it is pushing to regain its credibility with communities following catastrophic general election results last year. During the meeting, residents pleaded with the ANC to block the eThekwini Municipality from imposing proposed double digit…

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has bemoaned his team’s failure to take their opportunities against Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium. Usuthu’s Top 8 chances were dealt a heavy blow with the 1-0 defeat to Stellies on Tuesday night. Zwane felt that Stellenbosch were ripe for the picking as the home side’s thoughts were already focusing on their upcoming CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against Simba FC in Tanzania on Sunday. Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker rested a host of stalwarts, including captain and goalkeeper Sage Stephens, while only introducing Devin Titus and Andre de Jong in the final quarter of the match. “For me, you'll never get Stellenbosch coming to you like this. You know, we should have capitalised,” Zwane said. “You're playing against Stellenbosch that are thinking about playing in…

ORLANDO Pirates are riding a high wave at the moment, and with the Royal AM shenanigans opening a shot at a rare quadruple, their supporters are rubbing their hands in anticipation of their greatest season. Chasing a quadruple, though, comes with challenges, and the biggest one is player-load management, as that means they will chase every cup down to the final whistle. As things stand, Pirates have so far this season played more games than any other team in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), and on top of that, they are facing the toughest end to the season as well. As of their last outing, the Nedbank Cup semi-final win over Marumo Gallants on Sunday, Pirates have played 41 games – 20 in the Premiership, 12 in the CAF Champions…