News Bulletin of 26 August 2025, 5pm

The University of Johannesburg marked its 20th anniversary and the 100-year legacy of its Mining School with the Future of Mining Summit 2025 on Friday, 22 August.
Policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and community representatives discussed key challenges in South Africa’s mining sector, including sustainability, community engagement, and economic diversification.
Speakers highlighted ethical mining, green technologies, and the importance of including communities in decision-making.
Panel discussions explored critical minerals, sustainable practices, and strategies to empower communities affected by mining.
The event included a symbolic “passing of the torch” connecting the oldest alumnus with the youngest mining student, reflecting UJ’s role in shaping the future of mining in South Africa and Africa.

Education leaders from across South Africa met in Cape Town on Monday, 25 August, for the G20 National Education Indaba to discuss ways to improve early childhood education, literacy and numeracy.
Officials from all nine provinces shared lessons from their local indabas and mapped strategies to address challenges in schools.
Gauteng highlighted training for Grade R practitioners, the Free State outlined plans to turn 150 primary schools into functional “schools that work,” and Mpumalanga detailed targets to boost rural Grade R enrolment and home language reading by 2027.
Other provinces reported initiatives around teacher development, digital learning, infrastructure upgrades and partnerships to support under-resourced communities.
While progress was noted, leaders stressed that sustained improvements would require continued collaboration and translating plans into classroom results.

In Australia, a postal worker has been praised for an act of kindness caught on camera.
Gurpreet Singh, delivering a package in Logan, south of Brisbane, noticed a homeowner’s laundry left out in the rain. He took a moment to pull it down and place it safely next to the door.
Homeowner Verrity Wandel returned to find her parcel and almost-dry laundry. She shared the story on Instagram and it quickly went viral.
Singh said he simply thought for a moment about helping and then acted.
The story drew attention across Australian and Indian media, with the Indian Tribune calling him a “laundry hero” and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra describing him as a “real-life hero.”