News Bulletin of 1 November 2025, 12pm

Gautrain-led partnership brings essential eye care services to local communities
The Gautrain Management Agency, along with the Department of Health and the African Eye Institute, partnered to provide vital eye care services to the communities of Marlboro and Alexandra.

The initiative, which closed its doors on Sunday the 26th of October, provided free comprehensive eye tests and prescription eyewear to over 1 200 residents.

The project, which was held at the Marlboro Gautrain Station, operated over weekends in celebration of World Sight and Transport Month.
Sandton and Gauteng
KZN's Oyster Box Hotel awarded prestigious 5-Star Premium status
KwaZulu-Natal’s Oyster Box Hotel has become the province’s first resort to earn the esteemed 5-Star Premium status by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

The hotel is now among 23 properties across South Africa, that have been honoured with the prestigious rating.

TGCSA’s Bronwen Auret says the Oyster Box is a symbol of heritage, luxury and service excellence.
South Africa
Western Cape invests in modern road maintenance fleet
The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure has modernised its road maintenance “yellow fleet,” reducing the average age of vehicles by over 20 years and increasing the fleet’s replacement value to two-point-eight-billion-rand.

MEC of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers says investments include remote monitoring, solar-powered radio networks, and new machinery for graders and water trucks.
South Africa
Financial Indicators
UKZN’s Dr Simo Mthethwa awarded prestigious Uppsala University fellowship
The University of KwaZulu-Natal's senior lecturer, doctor Simo Mthethwa, is one of only seven researchers who have been awarded a prestigious fellowship at Uppsala University in Sweden, through the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Mathematics.

The programme seeks to strengthen research capacity and postgraduate training in African institutions, while promoting high-impact collaboration between Africa and Europe in key academic fields.

The UKZN says Mthethwa’s selection stands as testament to the quality of research emerging from African institutions.
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