News Bulletin of 23 January 2026, 1pm

Headline 1
Prasa moves to restore train services south of Johannesburg
Story 1
After more than five years, trains on the Vereeniging line south of Johannesburg are set to return. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, or Prasa, has begun repairing tracks, overhead cables, and electricity substations, including work on a sinkhole between Midway and Lenasia stations that started earlier this month.
The restored service will reconnect communities in Sebokeng, Evaton, Lenasia, Lawley, Ennerdale, and Orange Farm, providing a reliable and affordable transport option for commuters into Johannesburg.
Residents say they are looking forward to the return of trains, which will make daily travel easier and reduce the costs of commuting.
Story 1 category
Headline 2
Cape Town honours Taliep Petersen with Freedom of the City
Story 2
Cape Town has posthumously awarded composer and producer Taliep Petersen the Freedom of the City, in recognition of his contribution to the city’s musical theatre heritage.
Petersen, best known for District Six: The Musical, used his work to document the lives and experiences of displaced communities, with productions that reflected Cape Town’s history, humour and resilience.
The City of Cape Town says the recognition highlights the enduring role of culture in shaping identity and belonging.
The honour was conferred during a Special Council sitting at City Hall, where his daughter, Jawaahier Petersen, accepted the award on behalf of the family.
Story 2 category
Headline 3
New sports facility opens at Heidedal Primary School
Story 3
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has officially handed over a new multipurpose sports facility at Heidedal Primary School in George, Western Cape.
The facility includes sports equipment and new kits, aimed at boosting grassroots sport and youth development in the community.
Learners showcased their talents through song and poetry during the ceremony, stepping onto the new court with excitement and pride.
McKenzie said the facility demonstrates how “champions start” and reflects the impact of community collaboration on young people.
Story 3 category
Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Financial indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.14 to the US Dollar, 21.80 to the British Pound, and 18.96 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,921.05 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at 64.06 per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 88,981.00.
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
Paris region opens first urban cable car to connect suburbs
Teaser / Tailpiece story
Officials in the Île-de-France region have inaugurated the first urban cable car in the Paris metropolitan area.
The C1 line,links Créteil to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges villa , passing through Limeil- and Valenton.
The 4.5-kilometre route features 105 gondolas, each seating ten passengers, and is expected to carry around 11,000 passengers a day.
The journey takes 18 minutes, compared with roughly 40 minutes by bus or car, improving connections to metro line 8 for residents of previously isolated suburbs.
Regional authorities said the 138-million-euro (about R2.84 billion) project was a more affordable alternative to a subway and follows a trend of using cable cars to link urban areas.
Split analysis
Local: 98 words (35%), National: 184 words (65%), International: 0 words (0%)