News Bulletin of 25 October 2026, 9am

The Africa Choice Awards will return to Pretoria on 1 November, bringing together African entertainers and creatives for the seventh edition of the ceremony at the South African State Theatre.
This year’s theme, The Culture Reigns, celebrates African creativity across music, film, television, fashion and media, with South African actress Connie Ferguson among the personalities associated with the event.
Organisers also aim to use the awards to connect creatives, entrepreneurs and investors, creating opportunities for collaboration across African countries.

The musical Hairspray has returned to South Africa after almost 20 years, opening at Die Centurion Teater on Thursday.
The production features music and dance alongside a story about challenging racial segregation in 1960s America.
Carley Janse van Vuuren makes her professional musical theatre debut as lead character Tracy Turnblad, a teenager who fights for equality.
The production runs until 7 November, with Janse van Vuuren also speaking about the importance of representation on stage.

University of South Africa students have won the university’s 2026 Hackathon by developing an artificial intelligence system designed to identify students who may be struggling with their studies and connect them with support.
The system, developed by Team Solulu Elevate, detects warning signs such as missed assignments and reduced activity on online learning platforms, allowing lecturers to intervene earlier.
Unisa has committed R100,000 towards further development and potential commercialisation of the prototype, with additional testing and assessment needed before it can be implemented.