News Bulletin of 22 October 2026, 6pm

Education leaders and industry experts gathered in Hyde Park on October 1 to discuss how South African institutions can prepare students for a workplace increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
The panel agreed that students need practical experience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, alongside the ability to use AI responsibly. They also stressed the importance of education providers working with businesses to ensure qualifications meet changing industry needs.
The discussion formed part of Emeris’ 84th anniversary celebrations.

The University of the Free State has recognised its top athletes, teams and coaches at its 2026 Sport Awards in Bloemfontein.
400 metre athlete Mthi Mthimkhulu was named Sports Star of the Year, while Kovsie Tennis won Team of the Year and Kovsie Netball was named Club of the Year.
The university also honoured veteran coaches Berta de Kock, who led Kovsie Netball for more than 20 years, and Ans Botha, whose athletics coaching career spans five decades.
Olympic 400 metre champion Wayde van Niekerk also speaks about the importance of the university’s support in developing sporting talent.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced temporary fuel levy cuts from 4 November to help ease rising fuel costs.
The government will reduce the petrol levy by R1.50 per litre and the diesel levy by R3 per litre until 1 December. From then until 5 January 2027, the cuts will be smaller, at R1 per litre for petrol and R1.50 for diesel.
The cuts are expected to provide R10 billion in relief. However, petrol could still reach a new record high in November, while diesel prices are projected to decrease by around R1.76 per litre.