News Bulletin of 2 May 2026, 9am

Multiple South African middle-distance champion Prudence Sekgodiso won gold at the inaugural Akani Simbine Classic that was held at Pilditch Stadium on Tuesday.

Sekgodiso clocked a personal best of 4:08.93 to win the women’s 1500m walking away with the R50 000 cash prize.

South Africa's 100m record holder Akani Simbine successfully hosted the Classic event, which has made history as the first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting to be held in South Africa and featured over 120 elite international and local athletes.

Organisers says the Simbine Classic aims to rewrite the economic landscape for athletes on the continent.

Universities South Africa in partnership with the Services Sector Education and Training Authority has launched a new bursary scheme valued at R520 million.

The initiative will support more than 5,000 students across the country, offering funding of up to R100,000 a year.

The programme is open to first, second and final-year students at public universities, providing support throughout their studies, provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet their field-of-study requirements.

24 of South Africa’s 26 public universities have each received R20 million to date, enabling at least 200 students per institution to benefit.

The programme is expected to ease financial pressures, allowing students to focus on their academic and personal development.

South Africa’s iconic Garden Route has been named the world’s best road trip in a global study by AutoTrader.

The ranking evaluated routes based on scenery, road quality, weather and overall driving experience.

SANParks spokesperson JP Louw says the route includes the Wilderness, Knysna and Tsitsikamma sections of the Garden Route National Park, where visitors can explore forests, rivers, coastlines and wildlife while enjoying activities such as hiking, canoeing and coastal walks.