News Bulletin of 3 April 2026, 12pm

South African students and educators are set to gain a major boost in digital skills, thanks to a new partnership between the Department of Higher Education and Training and Google South Africa.The 2-year programme will provide 10,000 scholarships, offering Google Career Certificates, Generative AI training for teachers, and a train-the-trainer model.It also supports colleges with curriculum guidance, devices, and AI policy advice, helping institutions integrate AI into learning.This marks DHET’s fourth public-private initiative aimed at equipping youth with the skills needed for the digital economy.

DA’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille, has taken her campaign to a new, l level, by swimming in a pothole. The stunt, which quickly went viral, was aimed at highlighting the city’s ongoing service delivery failures. Dressed in a wetsuit, swimming hat, and snorkel, Zille braved the murky waters of a long-neglected pothole in Douglasdale, calling it a “snorkel pool.” She used humour to underline the lack of maintenance and government action, pointing out that the pothole has been around for three years despite resident complaints. The video has sparked widespread attention ahead of the local government elections.

Disability sport in South Africa has received a major lift after SASCOC increased funding for the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled. This includes R60 million to R100 million over the next four years. The announcement came as the 2026 Disability Championships concluded in Stellenbosch.The extra funding is expected to strengthen athlete preparation and improve support ahead of global events, while also helping grow inclusive sport across the country.