News Bulletin of 25 April 2025, 7am

Ferndale’s own Ncazelo Ncube-Mlilo is receiving global recognition for her work in mental health. The director of Phola, a psycho-social non-profit, recently won three Women Changing the World Awards in London. She took home the People’s Choice Award for Non-Profit and Social Enterprise, the Women in Therapy and Counselling Services Award, and the prestigious Golden Heart Award. With over 25 years of experience, she continues to make a difference in the lives of children, women, and communities affected by trauma, violence, poverty, and HIV.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa has opened a six-month public consultation process on the possible use of electronic voting.The commission is inviting submissions from electoral experts, political parties, voters and members of the public to comment on whether they are in support of the move. During a media briefing, the commission said it was unlikely to utilise any form of e-voting for the upcoming local government elections.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi. SOUND

A new blood test that uses AI to detect signs of a dozen cancers long before symptoms develop is to be tested on patients in the UK.The trial on 8,000 patients will analyse blood samples for tiny fragments of genetic material released by tumours. Tests so far on 20,000 patients show the miONCO-Dx test is 99% accurate in detecting cancer and pinpointing where it is located, allowing a diagnosis to be made when the disease is at a far earlier, treatable stage.