News Bulletin of 29 August 2025, 3pm

The University of Pretoria has been recognised as five of its academics received top honours at the 2025 South African Women in Science Awards.
Dr Maurine Musie won the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher Award in Human and Social Sciences for her work in maternal and neonatal health. Professor Nombulelo Sepeng was honoured for public engagement with research, while Professor Lucy Moleleki was named runner up in the Natural and Engineering Sciences category for her studies on food security.
Emerging researchers Nadine Du Piesanie and Jacqueline Maphutha were also celebrated for their innovative contributions.
The recognition reflects the impact of University of Pretoria researchers across health, agriculture and innovation, while showcasing the growing role of South African women in science.

Trevor Noah has signed a new deal with Paramount Pictures. The studio has picked up The Island, a comedy film based on an idea he developed during the pandemic.
The movie will follow the unlikely pairing of a successful businesswoman and a devoted teacher who must work together after surviving a plane crash on a deserted island.
Noah will produce the project through his company Day Zero Productions alongside Paramount. The screenplay will be written by Andrew Jay Cohen, best known for films like Neighbours and Bros.
This marks another big step for Noah as he continues to make his mark in Hollywood.

Nonhlanhla Joye, also known as Ma Joye, has turned her personal battle with cancer into a mission to fight hunger. She founded the Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute near Pietermaritzburg to teach small-scale farmers how to grow food, process produce, and run sustainable agricultural businesses.
Since receiving accreditation in 2018, the institute has trained more than 600 farmers, focusing on school and community gardens, crop diversification, and grain banks. Programmes are aimed at supporting previously disadvantaged communities and promoting self-sufficiency.
Joye says the goal is to equip learners with both farming and business skills, enabling them to build independent, economically viable enterprises while improving food security in the region.