News Bulletin of 23 October 2026, 3pm

Centurion Business Treats Tshwane SPCA Dogs To Free Grooming
Irene Doggy Parlour in Centurion has treated dogs from the Tshwane SPCA to a free pampering day, giving them baths and grooming at no cost.
The visit gave the dogs a chance to be cleaned up and cared for, while helping the shelter prepare them for life in their future homes.
The SPCA thanked the parlour for its team’s gentle handling and the extra attention given to the animals.
Sandton and Gauteng
Australian Government And NSRI Bring Water Safety Lessons To Children
The Australian Government and the National Sea Rescue Institute have partnered to teach water safety to 30,000 children and provide survival swimming lessons to another 1,000 across Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Funded through Australia’s Direct Aid Program, the initiative helps children build confidence around water and learn practical skills such as floating, controlling their breathing and moving safely through water.
The programme also teaches children how to recognise water hazards and seek help when needed.
South Africa
Alexandra Automotive Hub Opens Doors For Township Businesses
The City of Johannesburg has launched an automotive hub in Marlboro, providing 17 workshops for local businesses looking to grow in the motor industry.
The Automotive Industry Development Centre, known as the AIDC, will anchor the facility by providing technical training, business support and connections to industry opportunities.
Developed by the Johannesburg Development Agency, the hub aims to help township entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, develop their skills and create employment.
Sandton and Gauteng
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.57 to the US Dollar, 22.17 to the British Pound, and 18.53 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,024.44 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at 113.17 per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 81,586.00.
French And Japanese Authors Take On 24 Hour Novel Challenge
Sixteen French and Japanese authors took on the challenge of writing a 200 page novel together during a one day train journey through Japan.
The writers travelled aboard the luxury Mizukaze train from Kyoto to Matsue, combining their characters and ideas into a single story, with interpreters helping them work across languages.
Organised by French association Writing in Motion, the project aims to promote literary exchange and explore how writers from different cultures can create a shared work. The novel is expected to be published in French and Japanese in 2027.
Local: 139 words (64%), National: 77 words (36%), International: 0 words (0%)