News Bulletin of 12 June 2025, 3pm

Standard Bank has opened the Standard Bank Art Lab at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City.
The space aims to foster collaboration, experimentation, and creativity, adding a dynamic new element to the bank’s longstanding support of the arts.
The inaugural exhibition, Follow the Blue Thread: It’s Woven Into Who We Are, celebrates the transformative power of African art through tapestry.
Featuring works by artists such as Penny Siopis, Judith Mason, Sam Nhlengethwa, William Kentridge, and Miriam Ndebele, the exhibition reimagines the corporate collection as a living resource.
The Art Lab is open to the public with free admission. It is located at Shop 33-34, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, and is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm, and on Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 1pm

The Vaal Dam is performing exceptionally well this winter, reaching 107.69% capacity — its highest level in over 11 years.
This impressive water level bucks the usual winter trend of declines, thanks to sustained inflows and careful management.
The steady supply brings much-needed relief to communities and supports water security in the region.
Earlier in the year, the dam even reached 120%, highlighting the strong recovery after years of drought challenges.
With controlled outflows, the dam is helping to stabilise the water supply and reduce flood risks.

The UK government plans to expand its free school lunch program, making meals available to an additional 500,000 children.
Previously, the program only covered students from the lowest income households, but the expansion will extend eligibility to many low- and middle-income families.
This move is expected to lift 100,000 students out of poverty by saving families around £500 per month (about R11,750).
Last year, approximately 2.1 million students received free meals under the program, which has an annual eligibility limit of £7,400.
The new plan allows any student from households receiving the UK’s universal credit—a welfare system for families with a net worth under $20,000—to qualify for one free meal daily.
The expansion, set to begin in 2026, will be fully funded to ensure timely implementation.
UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, “Background shouldn’t mean destiny,” highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting all children equally.