News Bulletin of 1 January 2026, 8am

The 14th edition of the Soweto In Colours Countdown Festival took place on the 31st of December at the iconic Soweto Theatre.

The annual event offers Sowetans a safe and family-friendly space to celebrate New Year’s Eve, with music, food, and entertainment on offer.

Highlights of the night included a live countdown broadcast, a fireworks display and lifestyle exhibitions.

Organiser Lelo Mnyaka says the festival aims to unite the community in welcoming the new year.

The 14th annual countdown celebration in Galeshewe Township, in the Northern Cape, brought the community together last night as residents gathered to usher in the New Year in a spirit of unity and celebration.

Organised by local DJs, the popular event has become a much-anticipated fixture on the township’s social calendar.

Attendees enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere filled with music, dance and entertainment, including a colourful fireworks display as the clock struck midnight.

The celebration not only provided a safe and festive space for residents to welcome the New Year together, but also highlighted local talent and community-driven initiatives that continue to strengthen social cohesion in the township.

A new underground gold mine in Johannesburg’s West Rand is expected to create 1 000 jobs and place community partnership at the centre of its operations.

Developed by West Wits Mining, Qala Shallows is a modern underground operation designed as a shallow mine, with planned mining activities from Level 2 to a maximum depth of approximately 850 metres.

The new mine was officially unveiled in the West of Johannesburg.