Tabla de contenidos para 2026-04-22 en Mercury

With the ceasefire deadline between the United States (US) and Iran set to come to an end, global markets have been left on edge with the next steps in the conflict remaining unclear. Tensions escalated this week when reports suggested that Iran might decline a second round of talks with the United States. This uncertainty drove the S&P 500 down by 0.2%, reflecting a cautious sentiment among traders. However, the mood brightened slightly following emerging reports indicating Iran’s potential willingness to participate in discussions. “The market’s response has been somewhat bipolar, fluctuating between apprehension and optimism. This instability contributes to an atmosphere of unpredictability as global investors try to gauge the future landscape. Adding to the intrigue, this week also saw Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Federal…

South African Reserve Bank (sarb) Governor Lesetja Kganyago has stressed that policymakers have “learnt their lesson” from past crises and will remain firmly committed to the country’s 3% inflation target, even as a fresh global shock threatens to derail the outlook. Speaking at the release of the April 2026 Monetary Policy Review yesterday, Kganyago acknowledged that the year began on a more optimistic footing, with global inflation easing and economies adapting to earlier tariff shocks. However, that progress has been disrupted by the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, which has driven sharp increases in oil, gas and fertiliser prices and reignited uncertainty. “Today, we are in the midst of yet another shock,” Kganyago said, warning that rising commodity prices and heightened uncertainty are increasing both growth and inflation…

South African business confidence weakened in March, with economists warning that rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are beginning to filter through to the domestic economy. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI), released on Tuesday, declined by 3.3 index points to 131.3 in March, marking the second drop recorded this year. Despite the monthly decline, the index remained significantly higher than a year earlier. Sacci noted that the BCI stood 7.8 points above its March 2025 level, with the index averaging 132.4 in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 123.1 in the same period last year. The latest dip follows a mixed start to the year, with the index edging down by 1.8 points in January before rebounding to 134.6 in…

In a notable move towards enhancing sustainable energy practices, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has initiated high-level discussions with City Power, Johannesburg’s municipal power utility. Their collaboration aims to resolve the longstanding backlog in Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) registrations while laying the groundwork for a more stable and efficient distributed energy framework in the city. The discussions focused on addressing the technical and administrative challenges that have been impeding the growth of solar energy in Johannesburg. Presenting at the meeting was Justin Hendricks of the SAPVIA Residential PV Working Group, who shed light on the hurdles facing the industry and underscored the pressing need for a solution. Resolving a pressing registration backlog One of the primary issues discussed was the “legacy” SSEG applications that have been lodged between…

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has strengthened its push to accelerate infrastructure and industrial development across the continent after securing a $100 million, five-year loan facility from the Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank). The agreement, signed during AFC’s recent Investor Day in London, marks another milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two institutions and highlights growing financial cooperation between Africa and India. The facility will provide medium-term capital aimed at supporting critical infrastructure projects across sectors such as power, transport, telecommunications, and heavy industry. The transaction comes at a time of heightened global market volatility and shifting investor sentiment, conditions that have made access to affordable, long-term financing increasingly challenging for emerging markets. Against this backdrop, AFC’s ability to tap into alternative liquidity sources beyond traditional capital…

A report claiming the State Attorney is meeting transformation targets in the allocation of briefs has been met with sharp scepticism, with black legal practitioners instead launching a scathing critique of the Department of Justice, accusing it of entrenching barriers rather than dismantling them. In Tshwane on Monday, Solicitor-General Mlungiseleli Mbeki said that between April 2025 and March 2026, the country’s 13 State Attorney offices recorded a combined 96% success rate in meeting transformation targets for briefing allocations. The department has set a benchmark of allocating 83% of briefs to black legal practitioners. It also prioritises female practitioners and the fostering of skills transfer through collaboration between emerging and experienced counsel. During the period under review, the Durban State Attorney’s office allocated 1165 briefs, representing 100% of outsourced work, to…

There are growing calls for an immediate end to unregulated protests in the Durban CBD as businesses remain shuttered amid reports of violent altercations and incidents. This comes as the March and March movement, which has called for an end to illegal immigration, has been holding “clean-up campaigns” in the CBD in recent days. The movement's members have clashed with foreign nationals during the protests, with violence breaking out on Monday, which led to damage to property and people being injured. Due to the activities, stores in the Durban CBD have closed their doors in the past week. Political leaders and refugee organisations are demanding accountability for the week-long disruptions. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini has questioned the disruptions to business operations in the CBD, labelling them a direct…

Oswin Appollis is not surprised by his impressive start to life at Orlando Pirates, but insists that prioritising the team’s objectives is more important than chasing personal glory. Appollis has been one of Pirates’ standout signings this season, fitting seamlessly into both the club’s system and coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s philosophy, thanks to his work rate in front of goal. His contributions have paid dividends, helping the team secure a cup double – the MTN8 and Carling Knockout – while also remaining in contention for the Betway Premiership title. He has registered 11 goals and nine assists in 38 matches across all competitions. His form has also translated to the South Africa national soccer team, where he has played a key role in their Fifa World Cup qualification campaign. Given that…

Mamelodi Sundowns may be overwhelming favourites heading into the all-important Betway Premiership clash against Stellenbosch FC at Loftus Versveld today, but defender Kegan Johannes is not taking anything for granted. Sundowns are in exceptional form with the league champions unbeaten in 10 straight matches, whilst also fresh off progressing to the CAF Champions League final for the second consecutive season. Equally, Stellenbosch have yet to overcome Sundowns in 15 league encounters. However, Miguel Cardoso’s team cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal with Orlando Pirates having overtaken the Brazilians at the summit of the Premiership table whilst they were on continental duty. Sundowns now trail Pirates by two points, but they do have two games in hand, and have the opportunity to reclaim top spot with a victory…

The final whistle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday should have triggered a debate about tactics and the volatility of a Premier League relegation scrap, after Spurs’ 2-2 draw against Brighton left them in the bottom three. Instead, it served as another grim indictment of sport in the digital age. Austrian centre-back Kevin Danso, who has been a rare shining light in a difficult season for the North London club, found himself at the centre of a storm that had nothing to do with football and everything to do with the unchecked toxicity of social media. For a player at the elite level, the smartphone is a double-edged sword. It is the primary tool for brand building and fan engagement, yet in the wake of a mistake, in this…

This weekend against the Scarlets, Marcell Coetzee moves into fifth place on the Bulls’ all-time list of captains, something of an irony because early in his career, the Pretoria union did not want him. Growing up on the KZN south coast, Coetzee was a massive Bulls fan, but after school at Port Natal, he was turned away by the Bulls and taken in by the Sharks, where he quickly excelled. He was accelerated through the Sharks Academy into the senior team by coach John Plumtree. He debuted for the Sharks in 2011 and was a Springbok a year later. Saturday’s vital URC game in Llanelli will be Coetzee’s 73rd match as captain, overtaking Anton Leonard. “I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown,” said Coetzee, who joined the Bulls…

Parliamentary committee hears that R155 million profit for the year was due to routes being sold South African Airways (SAA) may have reported a profit in 2024/25, but the Auditor-General (AG) has left no doubt that the airline is out of control financially and is crashing, that its financial figures cannot be trusted, and that its staff are operating without consequence. Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport members, clearly amazed at the severity of the details that lay behind the AG’s disclaimer on the airline’s financial statements, responded to the AG presentation yesterday with words such as: “This was difficult to listen to” and “it is clear the AG does not believe most aspects of the financial statements to be true,” and “people are clearly doing as they wish at SAA,…

The ongoing conflict in Iran has cast a long shadow over the global economy, igniting significant fluctuations in oil prices and raising alarm bells for consumers across the globe. Following a recent surge that saw Brent crude oil prices reach as high as $107 in early April, experts predict a troubling landscape ahead, with projections indicating prices may linger above $95 per barrel in the near future. As fuel prices climb, the ramifications ripple through the economy, impacting individuals and businesses alike. The pressing inflation crisis is exacerbated not only by higher petrol costs but also through indirect channels, as fuel constitutes a crucial input across various sectors. With inflation currently eroding disposable income, consumers are likely to find it increasingly difficult to maintain their living standards, particularly as real…

Volatile currency markets are emerging as a major threat to the profitability of fruit importers and exporters, with a new report by Verto warning that foreign exchange (FX) fluctuations are increasingly undermining already thin margins in global agricultural trade. According to the report, the traditional risks associated with fruit trading—such as weather, logistics and harvest cycles—are now being overshadowed by financial pressures linked to currency movements and outdated payment systems. “Harvest cycles are short, logistics are complex and margins are thin. But increasingly, the greatest risks facing importers and exporters are not in orchards or shipping routes, they are in currency markets and financial infrastructure,” stated the report. The report added that fresh produce shipments can take 30 to 60 days to move from orchard to retailer. “During that period,…

Global volatility has created gaps in the supply of oil to the world, which is a massive opportunity for Africa to step forward. Several countries on the continent have notable reserves of oil and gas, but up until now, there have been significant delays in leveraging them. The current crisis is providing the impetus needed to accelerate production, and many ventures are ramping up their operations. The oil crisis is also increasing demand for minerals essential in the global energy transition, such as cobalt, nickel, copper and lithium, as well as for renewable energy solutions. With its abundant natural resources, advantageous geographic position and emerging infrastructure corridors, Africa is well positioned to respond to this demand and become a central player on the global stage. The question is whether it…

Farmers are being urged to prioritise regular maintenance and early risk detection to avoid costly damage and insurance claims, as even minor oversights can quickly escalate into major incidents. Thabo Twalo, chief underwriting officer at Santam, on Tuesday said small issues on farms often spiral into significant problems if left unattended. “A cracked irrigation pipe, a seized bearing, or a build-up of debris on machinery can quickly escalate into a major loss event,” he said. “For local farmers operating under tight margins and demanding seasonal conditions, recognising and acting on early warning signs can be the difference between routine maintenance and a significant insurance claim.” He highlighted harvester fires as one of the most common and costly risks during harvesting season, often caused not by a complete lack of maintenance…

It’s never been easier to tweak your face. A few taps on an AI-powered app and suddenly your jaw is sharper, your nose slimmer, your skin glassy smooth. In a world where editing your appearance is instant and effortless, it’s no surprise that more people are starting to wonder what could be done in real life, too. At the same time, the conversation around cosmetic procedures has shifted. What used to be whispered about is now openly discussed. Subtle tweaks, small refinements and “maintenance” procedures are becoming the norm rather than the exception. But according to one leading South African surgeon, there’s a growing gap between what people see on their screens and what’s actually possible in theatre. Professor Chrysis Sofianos, a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and academic head of…

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has ordered its members to disregard the instruction issued by the ANC for members with dual membership to state in writing which party they will campaign for in the upcoming local government elections. The party said it took exception to the instruction and viewed it as an attempt by the ANC to disenfranchise members regarding their right to dual membership. Other SACP leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have already stated that the rank-and-file membership is unlikely to comply with the ANC's instruction. It was reported that the ANC instructed those with dual membership to submit in writing which party they will be campaigning for within the next ten days. The issue has come to the fore as the SACP has taken a resolution that it will…

Benin's special prosecutor said he is preparing an extradition request for prominent pan-African and anti-Western activist Kemi Seba, who was arrested last week by South African police in Pretoria. Seba, born in France to parents from Benin, is wanted in Benin on charges of inciting rebellion after backing a foiled coup in December. He will remain in custody until a bail hearing set for April 29. The 45-year-old appeared briefly in a Pretoria court on Monday alongside his 18-year-old son and a South African national. A source close to Seba told AFP that the activist had been living in South Africa for about five months and had overstayed his visa by roughly two months. The special prosecutor at Benin’s court for economic crime and terrorism cases, Elonmario Metonou, said in…

The eThekwini Municipality is looking towards a science-led strategy to manage urban wildlife interactions between humans and Vervet monkeys. The municipality intends to collaborate with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus (UKZN-PMB), to devise a more informed and scientifically supported approach to managing the challenges residents have with monkeys. The municipality intends to partner with the UKZN-PMB to protect, conserve, and educate the public about the city’s unique biodiversity, plants, animals, and habitats. The municipality will undertake the proposed initiative through the eThekwini Natural Resources Division (NRD), the Durban Natural Science Museum and Biodiversity Management. The proposed approach adopts a solution-based citizen involving the collection of accurate, ground truth data using a newly developed application. Zama Sokhabase, chairperson of the municipality's Community Services Committee, said the proposed project aims to…

The Sharks’ colourful defence coach, Joey Mongalo, has likened his team’s chances of surviving in the United Rugby Championship to a dying patient in hospital with a faint pulse, but a pulse nonetheless. Most folk had pulled the white sheet over the corpse after the Sharks lost a “must-win” match against the Ospreys at the weekend, plunging them to 11th spot on the URC points ladder and 11 points behind the eighth-placed Bulls. Just three rounds remain in the URC before the top eight finishers contest the quarter-finals. This week, the Sharks visit Edinburgh before completing their URC schedule with home matches against Italian teams Benetton and Zebre. “After losing that game (21-17), we thought we were dead and out of the URC. But if you look at it now,…

One of the most interesting social media comments last week, as far as Mzansi football is concerned, came from none other than a Kaizer Chiefs supporter. It read: “Sundowns think we’ll beat Pirates for them so they can win the league. Pirates think we’ll beat Sundowns for them so they can win the league. But the reality is, we’ll beat them both and win the league.” Ah, the mighty Amakhosi! Someone in that thread, though, retaliated with some serious shots – the kind that would make even Donald Trump shake in his cowboy boots, thinking, ‘Iran now has new and overly militant allies’. It read: “I have never seen a team win five games in a row and still not be able to catch the teams above them.” Lol! The…

Transnet Group CEO Michelle Phillips has painted a stark picture of the State-owned logistics company’s challenges, telling Parliament that years of infrastructure decline, rising debt, and governance failures have combined to undermine both operational performance and South Africa’s broader economic growth. This comes after a report on the audit outcomes of Transnet tabled before Parliament last month revealed that the group was facing mounting financial and operational pressures, with rising debt, missed volume targets and a growing maintenance backlog casting doubt over the sustainability of its turnaround efforts. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts yesterday, Phillips said Transnet’s difficulties were the result of “a convergence of factors” that have created a self-reinforcing cycle of operational and financial decline across rail and port operations. “We’ve seen a convergence of…

The latest Debt Rescue consumer survey has revealed that South African consumers are on the brink of a financial crisis. The survey was conducted amidst the April 2026 fuel and electricity price hikes, which revealed the impact of the latest price surges and how it has added financial pressure to consumers in the country. 9 out of 10 respondents polled in the survey reported that they are under serious financial strain. People are cutting back on essential goods and services to make ends meet, with 52% of those polled saying they are facing severe financial pressure and don’t know how they will cope, while 32% will now struggle to afford the basics. According to Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, South Africans have valiantly attempted to weather the storm…

Hot off the heels of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference, followed the Gauteng Province and last week the Northern Cape Province also hosted its first ever Investment and Jobs Conference in Kimberley as a flagship investment mobilisation platform designed to unlock job-intensive industrial development aligned with South Africa’s green economic transition. Through these investment drives, South Africa once again opened its doors to global investors, policymakers, and business leaders at the annual Investment Conference. Billions were pledged, promises were made, optimism filled the room but outside the conference halls and the networking booths, people in places like Tembisa, eMalahleni, Komani, Galeshewe and rural villages across Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Kgalagadi the question remains, what does this mean for us? Because for the majority…

An Alabama-born engineer seen as a supply-chain savant, Tim Cook took on the daunting challenge of succeeding Apple’s iconic boss Steve Jobs 15 years ago. While Cook is not known for the culture-changing “one more thing” gadget reveals that Jobs fans came to expect, he guided the company to a stunning valuation of some $4 trillion based on its share price. Cook built up Apple’s lucrative business selling digital content and services to lovers of its devices, and his legacy is marked by the success of Apple Watch and Airpods, as well as strong ties with China as a manufacturing hub and a major market. Apple had a market valuation of $350 billion when Cook succeeded Jobs, who died in October 2011. While Jobs launched the iPhone in 2007, it…

Afrimat, which supplies construction materials and bulk commodities, saw its share price fall by over 12% on Tuesday, even though it forecast annual headline earnings per share (HEPS) to increase by between 27% and 37,1%. The JSE-listed mid-tier mining and materials company said in a trading statement on Tuesday that its directors anticipate HEPS to be between 91,8 cents and 99,1 cents, compared to HEPS of 72,3 cents reported for the previous year. However, the share price traded lower at R31,79 on Tuesday morning on the JSE after the release of the earnings forecast. The price has fallen steadily by 41,4% from R54,28 a year ago, and it has fallen very sharply from R54,28 in July 2024. The company said earnings per share (EPS) is expected to be between 76,9…

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is making extensive preparations for the 2026 local government elections, with the electoral body’s chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, describing the preparations as being in “earnest”. Briefing the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee yesterday, Moepya said they received a report on the survey commissioned concerning the possible participation by voters and challenges. “This requires of us to put (an) extraordinary amount of work to ensure we reach the voters (and) get the voters to look forward to registering and voting. Work is underway earnestly in relation to the upcoming elections,” Moepya said. IEC CFO Dawn Mbatha said the commission received R3.1 billion, including the R1bn provided during the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement for the upcoming elections. Mbatha said R1bn will be spent on administration, R1.4bn on electoral…

Statistics from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health reveal alarming figures for the 2025/26 financial year, with 421 pregnancies reported among children aged 10 to 14 and 28,108 among those aged 15 to 19. Thabisile Hlatshwayo from the uThukela Health District Office shared the numbers of child and teenage pregnancies in the current financial year. Hlatshwayo said 421 children aged 10 to 14 became pregnant in the province in the 2025/26 financial year. She said eThekwini had 130 cases of child pregnancy, followed by uMkhanyakude with 65, King Cetshwayo with 52 and then uMgungundlovu with 50. She said all 11 districts in the province had cases that had been reported. Hlatshwayo said 28 108 children became pregnant in the 15 to 19-year age group. “EThekwini has the most with 7…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has explained that a decision not to prosecute a suspect involved in the fatal road rage shooting that left a husband dead and a wife injured in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, is due to unsatisfactory evidence. The NPA announced yesterday that it had decided not to proceed with the prosecution of the 58-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the shooting. The suspect faces charges of murder and attempted murder following the death of a motorist, Faisal ul Rehman, 48, and the wounding of his wife, Tehseen. The incident happened on Barry Hertzog Avenue following a minor fender-bender that escalated into a physical altercation. Tehseen was taken to the hospital following the shooting. The suspect was scheduled to appear in Johannesburg Magistrate's Court yesterday but the…

French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz insisted Monday he would rather miss defending the Roland Garros title in May rather than rush treatment on a “serious” wrist injury. The 22-year-old pulled out of the Barcelona clay-court tournament last week when he felt his wrist “give out on a return” and then revealed the injury to be “a more serious injury than any of us expected”. He then pulled out of the Madrid Open on Friday, casting doubt on his participation in Paris as of May 18. On Monday that doubt deepened when he told the press at an award ceremony he was taking a long term view. “I’d rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell. “God willing, I have a…

The Proteas Women’s have left behind the sun-lit skies of Durban and the calming sounds of the Indian Ocean for the bustling city noise of Johannesburg where they will hope to seal a morale-boosting T20I series win over India at the Wanderers. Although conditions have been fairly balmy over the past couple of days on the Highveld, the temperature is set to drop to an alarming 14 degrees and even lower when the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 6pm this evening. Considering there is also a 70% chance of thunderstorms, it would be fair to suggest that a truncated game may be on the cards. This could prove problematic on many levels, especially with the Proteas Women’s team having only ever played two previous T20Is at the…

The selection headache facing coach John Dobson this week ahead of the Stormers’ crunch United Rugby Championship clash with the Glasgow Warriors, is where to utilise Springbok star Damian Willemse. As the Cape side prepares to host the Scottish giants in a top-of-the-table clash, the question reverberating around Cape Town is whether it is time to shift the versatile back to the No 15 jersey or closer to the action at inside centre. Willemse has played on the wing over the last few matches because of his aerial ability and the amount of contestable kicks being put up in this year’s URC competition. If he moves to fullback, it will potentially be at the expense of the mercurial, yet increasingly erratic, Warrick Gelant. Gelant’s ability to conjure magic from nothing…

With nearly a decade of service to the Lions in his repertoire, one of the teams’ most underrated servants will reach a major milestone if selected to play against Connacht this weekend. PJ Botha does not receive nearly as many plaudits as he arguably deserves, but on Saturday against the visitors at Ellis Park (4pm kick-off), the 28-year-old will more than likely run out to earn his 100th cap at franchise level. With the focus squarely on teammates Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Morne van den Berg, Henco van Wyk and Quan Horn, it is often easy to overlook the workmanlike and consistent impact that Botha has had on the teams over the years. This season, once again, Botha has been solid – never in the limelight – but…