News Bulletin of 1 October 2025, 3pm

Government leaders are meeting in Pretoria today for an extended Cabinet Lekgotla with a strong focus on driving economic growth.
The one-day gathering brings together Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, premiers and local government representatives at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House.
On the agenda are plans to boost the economy, strengthen local government and enhance security.
The Presidency says the session is about implementing existing strategies, with priority on quick wins as well as medium and long-term goals.
The Lekgotla is seen as an important step in ensuring that policies translate into real progress for South Africans.

The Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA) is encouraging women to use its free online risk assessment tool to estimate their lifetime breast cancer risk.
The tool considers personal and family medical history, helping women and healthcare providers plan appropriate screening strategies.
Early assessment is vital in South Africa, where 20% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40, often in more aggressive forms.
BISSA advises self-examinations from the 20s and annual mammograms from age 40, while also being aware of risk factors such as family history, hormonal influences, and lifestyle.
Using the free risk tool and screening early can detect tumours when they are smaller and localised, improving treatment success and survival rates.

Scientists have for the first time turned human skin cells into eggs and fertilised them with sperm in the lab.
The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, raises hope that one day people struggling with infertility could have children genetically related to them.
The scientists behind the breakthrough are based in the United States, working at Oregon Health & Science University.
Researchers created 82 developing eggs, some of which successfully developed into early embryos, although most showed abnormalities.
Experts say the study is an important step that could in future help older women and people without viable eggs.
Scientists stress that major challenges remain, including producing healthy eggs with the correct number of chromosomes.