News Bulletin of 28 June 2026, 11am

Students from Nelson Mandela University have won first prize at the 2026 Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest in Belgrade, Serbia.The South African team impressed judges with an innovative design that reimagined Belgrade's Sava River riverfront as a vibrant, accessible and sustainable public space.Their prize-winning concept featured walkways, cycling paths, public gathering areas and an athletics centre, creating a welcoming civic hub. The project outperformed 33 finalist teams from around the world, with Portugal finishing second and France third.

The Glen Shopping Centre has completed one of the largest commercial solar energy installations in the region.The five-month project will reduce the centre's reliance on the national electricity grid, lower operating costs and support its long-term sustainability goals. The new solar system also strengthens the shopping centre's commitment to environmental responsibility and reliable energy use.The solar installation has a maximum AC capacity of approximately 2.8 megawatts and is expected to generate around 5 300 megawatt-hours of clean electricity each year.

South Africa has been ranked the fifth-best country in the world for retirement in the 2026 Retirement Abroad Index by The Expatriate Group.The ranking recognises the country's quality healthcare, affordable cost of living, welcoming communities, natural beauty and ease of settling in for retirees.The annual index compares countries using key retirement factors, including healthcare, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, living costs and quality of life.