News Bulletin of 1 March 2026, 8am

Parkview Artist’s Whimsical Animals Win Hearts Worldwide
Joanne McLaughlin, is capturing hearts globally with her playful, character-driven animal illustrations. The artist creates from her Parkview studio and is celebrated as far away as Japan. Known online as MojoSouthAfrica, her work transforms animals into expressive, human-like figures—dancing dogs, upright-walking pangolins, and wandering bears—each designed to spark joy and connection. After retiring from a long career as an art teacher in 2021, McLaughlin devoted herself full-time to her art, developing a distinctive, story-driven style that resonates across cultures.
Sandton and Gauteng
Lunchtime Classics at Theatre on the Square
For more than 20 years, Theatre on the Square has offered Sandton audiences a weekly Friday lunchtime escape with live classical music, now a long-standing cultural tradition. Led by director Daphne Kuhn, the 13:00 concerts have become a defining feature of the venue, alongside its evening productions. The series showcases a range of instrumentalists, including musicians from the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and emerging performers .Kuhn says the concerts provide rare, regular performance opportunities for classical musicians and may be unique in South Africa for their longevity.
Sandton and Gauteng
Khoi-San Names Finally Recognised on Official IDs
For the first time, the Department of Home Affairs has officially recognised Khoi-San traditional names on Smart IDs, birth certificates and passports, following critical upgrades to its IT systems. Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber handed over the first Smart ID reflecting a Khoi-San first name, produced in partnership with the Government Printing Works.

South Africa
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 15.92 to the US Dollar, 21.47 to the British Pound, and 18.81 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 0.00 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 67,416.00.
Tyla’s “Water” Joins Spotify’s All-Time Pop Greats
Tyla’s hit “Water” has made it to No. 50 on Spotify’s “100 Greatest Pop Songs of the Streaming Era,”. The track resonated across continents, turning the song into a worldwide hit. Since its release, “Water” has continued to reach new milestones. The song earned Tyla her first Grammy for Best African Music Performance, making her the first South African solo artist to win in the category. The song’s success also made history on the "Billboard Hot 100", where Tyla became the first South African solo act to appear on the chart in over 50 years. These achievements helped cement “Water” as more than a viral hit.

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