News Bulletin of 24 September 2026, 11am

The fifth annual Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards took place at Summer Place in Hyde Park earlier this month.

The evening celebrated youth-owned businesses, and the achievements behind some of the country’s most successful brands.

Founder and CEO Pat Mahlangu says the awards aim to recognise young people who are turning their ideas into businesses, creating opportunities, despite the challenges faced by entrepreneurs.
Mahlangu says the platform was created to challenge the negative narrative that is often associated with South Africa's youth.

An organisation in Nelson Mandela Bay, in Gqeberha, is turning gaming into a tool for change and community empowerment.
The Gaming for Youth Empowerment initiative is equipping young people with life skills, through the use of Esports, while promoting social inclusion, encouraging positive engagement through gaming.

The initiative aims to demonstrate how gaming can be used as a platform for youth development and empowerment.

The Deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, will lead a nationwide campaign to plant ten million trees today, in celebration of Heritage Day.
The drive forms part of the Presidetial One Billion Trees Programme, which aims to mobilise South African citizens, including government, business and the private sector, to mitigate climate change.

Swarts will lead the main event at Freedom Park in Pretoria, with additional programs scheduled to take place in Soweto.
Trees will be planted in safe spaces across all nine provinces, including schools, hospitals, colleges, police stations, churches, parks and residential areas.