News Bulletin of 16 July 2025, 6pm

A University of Johannesburg social work student is using storytelling to inspire children in under-resourced communities.
Wandile Bathe writes books that encourage young readers to dream big and believe in their potential, drawing from his grandmother’s folklores and his own life experiences.
His titles, including Mandla’s Mark and Why the Owl Never Sleeps, explore themes of resilience, accountability and family support.
Bathe also uses storytelling in his social work practice to help young people build empathy and confidence.
Despite limited access to books in many communities, he believes stories can offer comfort, connection and a sense of possibility for every child.

South Africa is deepening global partnerships in higher education, but not at the cost of transformation.
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane told Parliament this week that the country’s internationalisation strategy prioritises local interests, while boosting research, teaching, and innovation.
She reaffirmed support for African and BRICS partnerships and called for quality assurance in all joint degrees.
To tackle inequality, the department is reviewing staffing patterns and pushing universities to meet race, gender, and disability targets.
MPs welcomed the progress but urged faster transformation and stronger oversight.

Tembisa West Secondary School learners are seeing real results thanks to a maths support initiative by EduFeArn and Airports Company South Africa.
On June 26, the organisations donated maths dictionaries to learners in grades 9 to 12 as part of a broader drive to improve maths performance in the area.
The school’s matric pass rate jumped from 84.8% in 2023 to an impressive 99.4% in 2024.
Grateful learners say the extra support made a big difference in their understanding and marks.
EduFeArn now hopes to roll out the programme to more schools across Thembisa.