News Bulletin of 31 January 2026, 11am

Two University of Pretoria postgraduate students have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships to pursue studies at the University of Oxford in the UK in 2026.

Ruth Kasanga and Ntando Dube will be heading to Oxford in October to join a global cohort of more than 100 Rhodes Scholars from around the world to undertake fully funded postgraduate studies and become part of a strong community of Scholars determined to make a positive difference in the world.

The Rhodes Scholarship, described as a “globally inclusive and thoughtful community of leaders”, is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903. Since inception, nearly 1 000 high-achieving graduates from universities across Southern Africa have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to further their studies at Oxford.

The Tourism Minister Patricia Delille says South Africa has secured 51 bids to host several global events, which were expected to boost the economy by over 800 million rand.

The Minister says the country has submitted 95 bids in total and emphasised that the events will not only be hosted in the country’s major centres.

Among the successful bids is the World Economic Forum’s special spring meeting, often referred to as the spring Davos, which the country will host in April next year.
This marks the first World Economic Forum meeting to be held in the African Continent in 7 years following the covid 19 hiatus.

The Minister says being nominated to host the meeting is an endorsement of South Africa’s capabilities and credibility following the country’s hosting of the G20 Summit in November.

Douglasdale Police Station and Little Steps Preschool joined forces to foster a sense of community among young citizens, in celebration of
National Police Day.

The collaboration allowed children to engage directly with local police officers while learning important lessons about safety, gratitude and respect for those who serve the community.

The Preschool principal Melissa Savage says the initiative aligned closely with the school’s values of community upliftment and engagement.

Savage says such initiatives play an important role in shaping socially aware citizens.
The principal reiterated that when children learn kindness, gratitude and community involvement from a young age, this helps build a stronger society that is rooted in Ubuntu.