News Bulletin of 10 February 2026, 2pm

Gauteng’s Department of Roads and Transport and the Gautrain Management Agency have opened a new early childhood development centre at the Klipspruit West Family Centre. The upgraded facility will provide safe learning spaces for more than 40 children and create jobs in the community.
The 1.7 million rand project includes classrooms, amenities, and a play area, and will now allow younger children to access ECD services for the first time. The centre honours the vision of its late founder, Pretty Barrenton, who started the facility more than 30 years ago.
Parents and community members praised the cooperation that made the project possible, noting that the centre will give children a strong foundation before starting formal schooling.

The Department of Health has launched its 2026 school-based HPV vaccination programme, targeting girls aged nine and older to help prevent cervical cancer later in life.
Trained teams will visit public and private schools nationwide, and parents or caregivers are urged to return signed consent forms so eligible girls can receive the vaccine.
Since the programme began, more than 3.6 million girls in South Africa have been vaccinated, with over 7.2 million doses administered.
Child Health Specialist Dr Lesley Bamford says the vaccine is very safe.

Engineering students at Wits University and the University of Johannesburg recently took part in a Soft Robotics course, learning how to design and build robots using flexible materials.
The course included hands-on projects, such as creating biomedical devices, assembling circuits, and using 3D printers to make working robot parts. Students worked in teams and presented their prototypes at the end of the course.
The programme, supported by Wits’ Perinatal HIV Research Unit and AMOLF, is a pilot project to build skills and grow soft robotics in South Africa.