News Bulletin of 8 May 2026, 10am

Expanding Access to Literacy
A major literacy drive has expanded across South Africa, with 2,010 trolley libraries—including Braille books—donated to support learners of different abilities. The 2026 AVBOB Road To Literacy Campaign has selected 2,000 primary schools and education non-profit organisations as beneficiaries of its latest rollout, the largest since the programme began in 2022. Launched in Johannesburg, the initiative provides mobile classroom libraries filled with CAPS-aligned books. This year’s expansion also introduces Braille trolley libraries for the first time, broadening access for visually impaired learners.
Sandton and Gauteng
From Taxi Driver to Maritime Leader
From driving taxis in a township to becoming one of South Africa’s most respected maritime leaders, Captain Rufus Lekala has turned perseverance into success.Lekala is now preparing to graduate with a Master’s degree in Maritime Studies from University of KwaZulu-Natal — a major milestone in a journey built on resilience, hard work, and determination.His story is a powerful reminder that no starting point is too small to achieve extraordinary things.Lekala tells the youth to pursue careers they genuinely love rather than those chosen out of convenience or pressure.

South Africa
BTS Sparks Massive Fan Celebration in Mexico
BTS drew an estimated 50,000 fans to Mexico City this week, where crowds gathered outside the National Palace for a rare public appearance by the global superstars.The group waved to supporters from a balcony after meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum, ahead of their upcoming concerts in Mexico City on May 9, and 10. More than 135,000 tickets for the stadium shows sold out within minutes.BTS recently returned to the global spotlight in March after a nearly four-year hiatus as members completed mandatory military service.

World
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

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

Gold is trading at 0.00 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 79,561.00.
Attenborough at 100
Today is David Attenborough's 100th birthday. One of the most memorable moments of his broadcasting career remains his encounter with a playful family of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. In the 1979 documentary series Life on Earth, he famously said, "There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know,". The scene became iconic, highlighting the deep connection between humans and the natural world. To mark the milestone, Sir David has taken part in two documentaries reflecting on that extraordinary encounter and the later story of the gorilla family.

Local: 81 words (32%), National: 92 words (36%), International: 82 words (32%)