News Bulletin of 31 January 2026, 8am

Headline 1
FIFA World Cup Trophy tour launches in South Africa
Story 1
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially welcomed the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy to South Africa, marking a historic moment for the country’s football fraternity.

The arrival of the iconic trophy at the Union Buildings in Pretoria officially launched its three-day tour in South Africa.

The FIFA World Cup Original Trophy is traditionally presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the tournament before being returned to the FIFA Museum in Switzerland.

The trophy will be displayed at the State Theatre and the Nasrec Expo Centre today, before completing the final leg of the tour in Cape Town.
Story 1 category
Headline 2
New AI system to help Teachers focus more on teaching and learning
Story 2
A team of engineers has developed an innovative artificial intelligence platform that uses technology to ease the administrative workload that is traditionally handled by teachers.

The Pivot System is an AI-driven educational platform that uses artificial intelligence to manage grading and routine paperwork, particularly in overcrowded classrooms.

By using Artificial Intelligence to grade assignments, educators can significantly reduce the time spent on marking, allowing them to focus more on teaching and direct student interaction.
Story 2 category
Headline 3
Eskom rolls out mobile customer hubs to Improve service delivery
Story 3
Eskom is enhancing customer support through a new hybrid service model that combines mobile customer hubs with pop-up service points.
The initiative aims to improve service efficiency, reduce waiting times, and create more opportunities for direct customer engagement.

Limpopo and the North West will be the first provinces to benefit from the Hub-on-Wheels and pop-up engagements this month, with rollout schedules for other provinces to be shared through Eskom’s official communication channels.

Eskom Distribution acting group executive, Agnes Mlambo, says the initiative reflects Eskom’s commitment to meeting customers where they are, moving away from a static service model to a dynamic, customer-centred approach.
Story 3 category
Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
South African project wins AI sustainability award in Davos
Teaser / Tailpiece story
A South African project has been awarded the Startup Innovation Award for Top AI Sustainability Project during the Davos Innovation Week at the World Economic Forum 2026.

Founder Douglas Eriksen says the project is built around the fact that AI is increasingly used to guide decisions about land use, infrastructure, finance, and development, yet it often doesn’t include reliable environmental information.

Eriksen says initiative recognises the urgent need to align technological advancement with environmental responsibility.

Project ZOA aims to convert real-world observations of wildlife and ecosystems into usable data for AI systems, helping ensure that decisions that shape the future of land, finance and infrastructure also protect biodiversity.
Split analysis
Local: 99 words (36%), National: 179 words (64%), International: 0 words (0%)