News Bulletin of 21 December 2025, 8am

Singer Thandiswa Mazwai has given fans another reason to celebrate after walking away with four South African Music Awards for her 2024 album, Sankofa. The wins underline her place as one of Africa’s most respected and influential artists. At the ceremony, Sankofa picked up Best Female Artist of the Year, Best Produced Album, Best African Adult Contemporary Album and Best Engineer. The album has been widely praised for blending heritage, memory and modern African sounds. Since its release, Sankofa has struck a chord with listeners and critics alike, standing out as one of the year’s most talked-about and impactful music projects.

The Hyde Park Precinct has officially launched, bringing coordinated cleaning, security and beautification to Jan Smuts Avenue. Rolled out in November 2025, the initiative has teams on the ground addressing daily challenges affecting the busy corridor. Dedicated cleaning and security services are now in place to improve safety and create a more welcoming environment for residents, businesses and commuters. Cleaning teams work from Monday to Friday, removing litter, weeds and illegal posters across the precinct. In partnership with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, the project has also helped maintain and beautify the median island along Jan Smuts Avenue with seasonal flowers, ensuring the area remains neat and visually appealing.

In a remarkable act of festive generosity, an anonymous Good Samaritan paid off 132 thousand 500 rand in outstanding lay-bys at a PEP store in Aberdeen, Eastern Cape. According to reports this person helped 260 families collect essential items just in time for the holiday season. Pep says the donor quietly approached the store to inquire about unpaid lay-by accounts. The total outstanding balance, linked to goods such as school supplies, baby clothing and other everyday necessities, was then settled in full.