News Bulletin of 2 November 2026, 11am

Learners from a school in Mpumalanga will represent South Africa at the Junior Achievement Africa Company of the Year competition in Cape Town in December.
Their team WalkWise, from Mabande Comprehensive High School earned the opportunity after winning the Junior Achievement South Africa National Company of the Year competition, where they received R50,000 in prize money and the Innovation Award.
WalkWise developed an AI-powered smart cane that uses GPS, cameras, sensors and sonar to detect obstacles and help visually impaired people navigate, with voice directions delivered through wireless earbuds.
They will compete against young entrepreneurs from at least ten other African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, for cash prizes and other awards.

More than 17-thousand Rooibos seeds are being prepared for a South African experiment that will send them to the International Space Station.
The seeds will spend between four and six weeks in space, where they will be exposed to conditions such as low gravity and space radiation.
When they return to Earth, learners from schools in the Cederberg and Parklands College will plant them and compare their growth with seeds that stayed on Earth.
The project, led by the South African Rooibos Council and MaxIQ Space, aims to study how the plant responds to space conditions while giving learners practical experience in science.
The mission is expected to launch between December 2026 and January 2027.

Galerie NOKO provides local artists in Gqeberha with a platform to showcase their work, reach wider audiences and encourage conversations through art.
The gallery is now relocating from Richmond Hill to a new space in Walmer as it looks to expand its exhibitions and community activities.
Its exhibitions explore issues such as identity, culture and mental health.
Founder Usen Obot explains what the relocation means for local artists and what visitors can expect from the new space:
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