News Bulletin of 24 June 2025, 8am

The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, says the Tetra gas project in Virginia, in the Free State province, holds the potential to become the world’s largest helium production facility. The Minister made the remarks during a tour of the site, which forms part of the country’s first onshore natural gas exploration and helium liquefaction venture. Mantashe has described the initiative as a key milestone for SA’s energy and mineral development ambitions and emphasised the strategic importance of exploiting local gas and helium resources to stimulate economic growth. SOUND

An LLB graduate from The IIE’s Varsity College Sandton, has achieved remarkable academic success, earning 43 distinctions in 43 modules and maintaining a 91% average throughout his degree. Ulrich van Zy’s exceptional performance placed him at the top of his class, both on campus and nationally. In recognition of his academic excellence and ethical standards, he was awarded the prestigious Phatshoane Henney Honour Medal—given to South Africa’s top-performing law graduates. The IIE’s Varsity College Sandton, part of The Independent Institute of Education, celebrated his achievement as a major milestone. Campus head Kimberly McIntyre described Van Zyl as the embodiment of what happens when passion meets purpose, calling him brilliant, grounded, and determined to make a difference.

US rapper Nicki Minaj has expressed her love to her Mzansi fans after her recent remix climbed the charts in SA. The 42-year-old released a remix titled “Banned From No” on June 11 with her longtime friend and fellow rapper, Lil Wayne. The track has received great reception. In less than a week of it being released, the track secured the number one spot on the iTunes Top Songs chart, making it the top-selling song in the US. The hitmaker took to expressing her love for her solid fan base in Mzanzi.