News Bulletin of 20 January 2026, 3pm

Highveld Gardens Retirement Lodge in Midrand held a celebration for two residents who turned 100 and 105.
Cathy Ellis marked her 100th birthday and Sybil Pearson reached 105. Family, staff, and friends attended the gathering at the lodge.
The celebration included cake and a small party, allowing residents and guests to share the occasion together.
Highveld Gardens provides care for people of all ages and needs, including residents with health conditions or disabilities. The lodge has been part of the Midrand community for over 30 years.
Staff members shared birthday wishes with Ellis and Pearson, wishing them many more years of good health.

Six young South African sailors from the RCYC Sailing Academy have secured a landmark victory in the 2025 Cape to Rio Race aboard Alexforbes Angel Wings.
The youth led crew completed the 3,300 nautical mile crossing from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro in just 19 days and won the race on handicap, meaning their time was adjusted to account for the yacht’s size and speed, placing their overall performance ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Their victory came despite a mid ocean boom failure that forced the crew to re rig their sail and adapt under pressure, while staying competitive to the finish.
The result reflects resilience, teamwork, and the growing strength of youth sailing in South Africa. Crew member Sibusiso talks about some of the challenges they encountered:

The European Union has announced a contribution of around R95.7 million to a national programme aimed at preventing and responding to bullying and gender-based violence in South African schools.
The announcement was made during the Back-to-School Campaign at Eldorado Secondary School in Johannesburg.
The funding will strengthen prevention, education, psychosocial support, referral pathways, and school-based interventions to protect learners.
Education leaders said schools must be safe spaces where learners are respected, protected, and able to focus on their studies, and called for teachers, parents, communities, and authorities to work together in this effort.