News Bulletin of 12 April 2026, 1pm

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the South African Guide Dog Association is highlighting its autism support dog programme.The organisation has trained and placed 49 dogs with children across South Africa to help them manage daily routines and move more safely in public.The dogs assist children by reducing anxiety, improving focus, and supporting independence at home, at school, and in public spaces.To mark the month, it produced a T-shirt featuring 49 paw and handprints created by the children and their dogs, documenting each match.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo in partnership with Joburg Theatre, will host its annual Mother’s Day Concert on 10 May at the Johannesburg Zoo.The expanded 2026 event will feature live local music, guided zoo and Big 5 tours, a children’s play area, food and craft stalls, and special hospitality for senior citizens.Expected to attract around 10,000 visitors, the celebration aims to offer families a fun, relaxing day out honouring mothers and caregivers. Tickets are available via Webtickets at R150 for adults, R80 for children three to 12 years old, and R80 for senior citizens, with tickets also available at the gate.

Retired teacher,Steve Murphy, walked 300 km along the Garden Route to raise funds for South African students who cannot afford school or tertiary education.74-year-old's efforts, supported by a BackaBuddy campaign and a R1 million bursary pledge, have already helped ten students and raised R1.2 million.Murphy says helping others brings more reward than receiving, and his walk showed how much good a small effort can achieve.