News Bulletin of 31 May 2026, 12pm

Bafana Bafana Gets World Cup Send-Off
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted a FIFA World Cup 2026 send-off dinner for Bafana Bafana in Pretoria ahead of the tournament in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 after qualifying with a 3–nil win over Rwanda. The final 26-man squad was also announced. SAFA says the moment reflects national unity and pride as the country rallies behind the team on the global stage.

Sandton and Gauteng
Zoe Ramushu Earns Cannes Nomination for Film Tech Innovation
A South African filmmaker and tech founder, Zoe Ramushu, has been shortlisted for the Impact Leadership Award at the Global Production Awards 2026. This will be held during the Cannes Film Festival in France. Ramushu, based in Cape Town, was recognised for creating *Wrapped*, a production technology platform designed to make hiring in the film and television industry more inclusive and efficient. The system allows crew members to showcase their experience and availability, while helping productions manage recruitment and onboarding more fairly and transparently.

World
UJ Choir to Open Global Choral Symposium in China
The University of Johannesburg Choir has been selected to open the World Symposium on Choral Music 2026 in China. This is one of the most prestigious events in the global choral calendar. The Johannesburg-based choir is one of only 13 ensembles invited worldwide and the only African group on the programme, earning the honour of performing first at the symposium in August. Made up of students from across different academic fields, the choir is known for its award-winning performances, including gold medals at the World Choir Games.

Sandton and Gauteng
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.24 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,543.87 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 73,860.00.
Satellite Helps Protect Wildlife
A groundbreaking satellite system called Icarus is giving conservationists a powerful new tool in the fight against poaching. By tracking animal movements and behaviour from space, scientists can detect unusual reactions that may signal the presence of human intruders.The technology is being used to study wildlife in places such as Namibia, where animals like zebras, wildebeest and giraffes instinctively react to potential threats. Researchers can now analyse these patterns on an unprecedented scale, helping them identify and respond to poaching activity more quickly.The system could play a major role in protecting vulnerable species, including Cheetah, Black Rhinoceros and African Bush Elephant, by providing early warning signs of danger in remote wildlife areas.

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