News Bulletin of 24 March 2026, 5pm

Headline 1
Electronics repair programme empowers youth and women
Story 1
A skills development programme in Mabopane is equipping young people and women with practical training to improve their job prospects.
The initiative, led by the Tshwane University of Technology through its Technology Station in Electronics, has trained 89 participants in smartphone repair and entrepreneurship.
The programme combined hands-on technical training with business skills, enabling participants to diagnose and repair devices while learning how to start and manage small enterprises.
With support from the Technology Innovation Agency, the initiative aims to help participants create sustainable income opportunities within their communities.
Story 1 category
Headline 2
UCT involved in major African biodiversity project
Story 2
The University of Cape Town is playing a key role in the African BioGenome Project, a large Pan African initiative focused on protecting biodiversity using modern genetic science.
The project aims to collect and use genetic information to help conserve plants and animals across Africa, while also making sure the data is used in a fair and responsible way.
Researchers say the work will improve scientific cooperation between African countries and strengthen systems used to study and protect the environment.
UCT says the project links science and conservation to help protect ecosystems and support long term environmental sustainability.
Story 2 category
Headline 3
Community Cleaners transform local parks and boost safety
Story 3
A grassroots volunteer group in Fairland is helping reclaim public spaces and improve safety through ongoing clean-up efforts.
Founded by André Swanepoel in 2021, Community Cleaners began with just 20 volunteers tackling waste on the Fairland Koppie, once a crime hotspot. Within two months, they had removed four metric tons of litter.
Four years later, the non-profit now maintains 14 parks, including King & Wilson Park, which has been restored from an overgrown, polluted area into a thriving green space with a rehabilitated wetland.
Beyond the environmental impact, Swanepoel says the initiative has brought together residents from different backgrounds, building a stronger sense of community and shared responsibility.
Story 3 category
Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Financial indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.77 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,352.11 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 69,842.00.
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
Former hospital cleaner returns as doctor
Teaser / Tailpiece story
A woman who spent a decade working as a cleaner at a major US hospital is now set to return to the same facility as a doctor.
Shay Taylor worked as a janitor at Yale New Haven Hospital for 10 years before pursuing her medical studies. Her journey has come full circle after she matched into a residency programme at the same hospital.
An emotional video capturing the moment she received confirmation has gone viral, with many praising her determination and perseverance.
Split analysis
Local: 192 words (66%), National: 98 words (34%), International: 0 words (0%)