News Bulletin of 1 August 2025, 8am

Headline 1
Gauteng E-Hailing Services Partners With Key Stakeholders To Enhance Safety In e-Hailing Industry
Story 1
The Gauteng E-Hailing Services has partnered with key stakeholders, including SAPS, metro police, private security, and platform companies, to enhance safety in the e-hailing industry.
The partnership introduces a robust safety plan featuring panic buttons linked to rapid response teams, centralized incident reporting, vetting and registration of operators, vehicle tracking, and roadside assistance.
Gauteng E-Hailing Services chairperson, Thato Ramaila has stressed that the unification of operators can help the industry move forward and become a safe and compliant sector:
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Story 1 category
Headline 2
32nd edition of the Hilton Arts Festival Set For August 8 to 10
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The 32nd edition of the Hilton Arts Festival is set to captivate audiences from August 8 to 10 at Hilton College in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.
This year's event promises an unforgettable celebration of South Africa's finest arts, culture, and creativity, showcasing top talents in music, theatre, art, dance, and comedy.
Thousands are expected to attend the festival, with organizers predicting record-breaking numbers drawn by South Africa's top talents in various art forms.
The organising team's Julia Clarence credits the Hilton Arts Festival's success to the support of South Africa's arts communities, corporate sponsors, and the public who buy tickets and spread the word.
Story 2 category
Headline 3
WeThinkCode To Expand Its AI Training Programs Across South Africa and Kenya
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South African tech academy WeThinkCode has received a R36 million grant from Google.org to expand its artificial intelligence training programs across Mzansi and Kenya.
The funding will support 12,000 learners from low-income and peri-urban communities.
The grant will fund a free 40-80 hour AI course for the learners, including 6,000 aspiring software engineers and 6,000 students and professionals in law, education, and healthcare.
The program will run through 2026, with progress tracked via employer showcases and outcome evaluations.
Story 3 category
Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Financial indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 18.20 to the US Dollar, 24.04 to the British Pound, and 20.79 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 3,294.86 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at 71.71 per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 115,394.00.
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
Zambia Signs Agreement To Build $1.1 billion Crude Oil Refinery
Teaser / Tailpiece story
Zambia has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to build a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery, aiming to cut fuel imports and transform the country into a regional hub for refined petroleum products.
The facility, to be located in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province, will have a daily processing capacity of 60 000 barrels and is set to meet Zambia’s entire domestic fuel demand upon completion.
The project, spearheaded by the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia, is scheduled to break ground in Q3 2025, with commercial operations expected by 2026.
Split analysis
Local: 80 words (31%), National: 100 words (39%), International: 75 words (29%)