News Bulletin of 1 March 2026, 12pm

Code4Mzansi is calling on South African students, start-ups, and tech entrepreneurs to develop cloud and AI solutions that tackle real-world problems. Participants complete online training, receive mentorship and development tools, and spend three months building their projects. The competition, led by Huawei in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development and several universities, has drawn 353 teams of over 1,000 participants. Winners will share nearly R1 million in prizes and gain valuable industry exposure to grow their digital businesses.

The Gauteng provincial government has announced it will resume plans to expand the Gautrain rapid rail network, extending services to Soweto, Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, Fourways and parts of the West Rand.Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the project will eventually reach Sedibeng in the Vaal, growing the current 80-kilometre system by up to 300 kilometres. The expansion aims to connect underserved communities to major economic hubs, improve mobility and promote sustainable development across the province.

The Uitenhage SPCA has received an extraordinary 500,000 rand donation. This comes from an anonymous benefactor, boosting its campaign for a new permanent home. The generous gift has inspired the community, with students, businesses, and individuals rallying through fundraisers, raffles, and events to support the animals and secure a safe, permanent space for the organisation. The SPCA has been navigating an incredibly difficult season. Ordered to vacate the premises it has called home for more than 50 years, the team has been working tirelessly to raise the funds needed to buy a new property.