News Bulletin of 1 October 2026, 4pm

Wits Professor Helen Rees Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Wits Professor Helen Rees has received the National Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in HIV prevention, vaccines, maternal and child health, and major health crises.
She has spent more than 30 years turning research into better health care for communities.
Wits also received recognition in pharmaceutical science, physics and early career research.
(This is good news because Rees’s research has helped improve health care for communities.)
Sandton and Gauteng
Riversdale Becomes South Africa’s First Energy-Independent Town
Riversdale in the Western Cape has been officially inaugurated as South Africa’s first energy-independent town, following the launch of a R210 million solar power plant.
The 10 megawatt solar facility is paired with a 10 megawatt-hour battery storage system, allowing electricity generated during the day to be stored and used when demand is higher.
The project is designed to reduce the town’s reliance on Eskom and help lower electricity costs for consumers.
South Africa
Krugersdorp Karateka Wins African Silver
Hoërskool Noordheuwel learner Brendan Engelbrecht has won silver at the African Karate Championships in Algeria.
The Krugersdorp karateka won four fights in the junior Under 61 kilogram Kumite division before finishing second.
More than 500 athletes from 31 countries competed at the championships, with South Africa represented by 49 athletes.
Engelbrecht is now preparing for the World Goju Ryu Championships in India from 5 to 10 October.
Sandton and Gauteng
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.56 to the US Dollar, 21.91to the British Pound, and 18.70 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,178.43 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at 98.03 per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 83,541.00.
Live Art Festival Brings Free Art To Cape Town
The Live Art Festival will bring four days of free performances and installations to Cape Town from 14 to 17 October.
Presented by the University of Cape Town’s Institute for Creative Arts, the festival will feature around 30 works spanning dance, theatre, music and visual art.
Events will take place across UCT campuses and public spaces including the Cape Town Station forecourt, Thibault Square and St Georges Mall.
For the first time, the festival will also include Langa, with collaborations involving Gallery 16 on Lerotholi and the Guga S’thebe Theatre.
Local: 131 words (65%), National: 72 words (35%), International: 0 words (0%)