News Bulletin of 15 July 2026, 12pm

Headline 1
MiDesk Calls for School Desks
Story 1
MiDesk Global is calling for more investment in school desks after estimating that 2.4 million South African learners do not have access to proper desks.
The social enterprise says basic classroom infrastructure is needed to improve literacy and prepare young people for future employment.
The call was made during World Youth Skills Day, as MiDesk highlighted that more than 95 million children across Africa attend school without proper desks or chairs.
MiDesk is urging government, businesses and education stakeholders to support efforts to provide learning spaces for learners.
Story 1 category
Headline 2
Shoprite Trains ECD Practitioners
Story 2
Early Childhood Development practitioners from ten centres in the Western Cape have received training through Shoprite's Act for Change programme.
The training has equipped them with new skills in teaching, child development and classroom management, benefiting 580 children in Atlantis, Langa and Gugulethu.
Shoprite says it also supports 148 ECD centres across the country with meals and training to help improve early childhood development.
Story 2 category
Headline 3
Bindzu Youth Fund Opens Applications
Story 3
Applications for the second Bindzu Youth Fund are now open for young South African entrepreneurs, with entries closing on 17 July 2026.
The Mr Price Foundation programme provides business training, mentorship, coaching and funding to help young businesses grow.
Up to 1,000 entrepreneurs will take part in an online business academy, with the top 27 businesses sharing more than R3 million in funding.
Applicants must be between 18 and 34 years old, own at least 51% of a South African business that has been operating for at least 12 months, and have an annual turnover of less than R5 million.
Story 3 category
Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Financial indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.37 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,015.95 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 64,705.00.
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
Rassie Names Four New Springboks
Teaser / Tailpiece story
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named four new players in his starting team to face Wales in Durban on Saturday, giving them their first chance to play Test rugby as he builds squad depth.
The four newcomers will get their first chance to play Test rugby as South Africa builds for the future:
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