News Bulletin of 29 May 2026, 7am

Operation Smile South Africa will screen children aged six months to 12 years with cleft lip or cleft palate at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg.
The organisation will assess patients for free corrective surgery and follow-up care.
From today until Sunday, Operation Smile and NMCH, with support from Life Healthcare, will operate on up to 40 children.
Patients will receive pre-operative assessments to confirm surgical eligibility.
After surgery, children will recover at the Operation Smile Patient Village before discharge.
The programme aims to reduce the backlog of cleft surgeries in Gauteng and strengthen local cleft care services.

The South African Mint has launched its first high-relief coin collection, turning the power and movement of Africa’s wildlife into detailed 3D artwork.
The new African Range, released yesterday, features designs inspired by South African artist Dylan Lewis’s wildlife sculptures.
The first collection focuses on the cheetah and traces the animal’s hunt from watchful stalking to rest after the chase.
The reverse side shows the cheetah scanning its surroundings, while the front carries a close-up of the animal’s face.

South Africa’s national wheelchair rugby team has begun competing at the WWR European Division B Championships in Spain after months of preparation.
The tournament opened this week with teams from several countries taking part in the opening ceremony before the start of competition.
Wheelchair rugby continues to grow in South Africa, with about 150 players participating nationwide. Athletes use the sport to build independence, train competitively and connect with others living with similar injuries.
The team travelled to Spain to represent South Africa in a week of international competition.