News Bulletin of 12 December 2025, 2pm

The City of Johannesburg has opened 37 municipal swimming pools for the festive season, giving residents across all regions more places to cool off during summer.
Heated pools in Linden, Ellis Park, Pimville, Pioneer Park and Coronationville are already operating, and seven more facilities are expected to reopen before March.
The city says teams have been preparing the pools for the holiday period, with several sites newly refurbished and ready for visitors.
Officials say they expect strong turnout as residents return to their local swimming spots for the summer break.

The National Lotteries Commission is providing wellness, educational, and career development programmes to whistleblowers who faced challenges after reporting wrongdoing.
The initiative targets employees employed between 2017 and 2023, helping them rebuild their careers and skills.
Communities impacted by past corruption will also benefit through rehabilitated or completed infrastructure projects.
Officials say the programme promotes fairness, transparency, and trust in public institutions while protecting privacy.

Two engineers in Bengaluru, India, have developed technology to verify the authenticity of traditional handwoven Kadwa sarees, helping artisans earn fair value for their work.
Their devices, WeaveSENSE and FibreSENSE, use near infrared spectroscopy and artificial intelligence to analyse fabrics at the molecular level, creating a tamper proof digital record of how a garment was made.
Customers can scan a QR code to see real time clips of their saree being woven, while recyclers use the technology to identify exact fibre compositions, reducing waste.
The initiative has empowered more than a thousand weavers and saved over twenty two thousand pounds of textile from landfill, supporting traditional craftsmanship and sustainability.