News Bulletin of 13 July 2025, 1pm

This Mandela Day, 18 July 2025, Soweto Night Out will host its annual night walking tour through Soweto, honoring Nelson Mandela’s legacy and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the 1976 Student Uprising. The immersive experience features stories of youth, struggle, music, and liberation. Grammy Award-winning artist Rapsody (Marlanna Evans) will join the tour, adding global star power to the evening. Founder Nomsa Mazwai says the event celebrates resilience and history through community, culture, and storytelling.

Wits University’s Centre for Deaf Studies will host the 25th International Congress on the Education of the Deaf in 2030—the first time the global event comes to Africa. Announced in Rome on 10 July 2025, the Congress brings educators and experts together to advance Deaf Education. Professor Claudine Storbeck called it a major milestone for South Africa. The Centre, a leader in Deaf Studies, aims to equip and uplift Deaf communities through research, training, and advocacy for inclusive education.

# Thonga Beach Lodge has been named South Africa’s Leading Beach Hotel at the 2025 World Travel Awards for the second year running. Located in KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the eco-luxury lodge blends sustainability, conservation, and community upliftment. Through the Isibindi Foundation, it supports local schools, employment, and marine conservation, including turtle protection and reef education. Marketing Manager Lucy Cooke says the award reflects the lodge’s commitment to purpose-driven hospitality, making it a standout example of impactful, environmentally conscious travel.