News Bulletin of 9 August 2026, 12pm

Young Innovator Takes SA to Sweden
Seventeen-year-old Sikhulile Nkosi from Mpumalanga is preparing to represent South Africa at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Sweden later this month. The Grade 11 learner at Sitintile Secondary School in Mbombela earned the opportunity after winning the South African Youth Water Prize for developing an innovative coating that reduces microplastic and chemical contamination in drinking water. South Africans are being encouraged to support Nkosi by voting for the People's Choice Award before voting closes on 15 August.

South Africa
Women Who Inspire Change
The Smile Foundation celebrated the strength, courage and compassion of women at its annual Women’s Day breakfast at Inanda Club yesterday. The theme “Rooted in Strength,” brought together supporters, healthcare professionals and community partners to honour women. These women make a difference in the lives of families and children receiving life-changing reconstructive surgery.

Sandton and Gauteng
New Learning Centre for Strandfontein Youth
The 9Miles Project is creating a permanent learning centre in Strandfontein, Cape Town.
The centre will offer children and at-risk youth a safe space for education, mentorship, digital learning and community activities. The centre has won the 2026 WAFX Award in the Power & Justice category and was also named a finalist in the World Architecture Festival’s Future Projects – Education category.The WAFX Award celebrates the world’s most forward-looking architectural concepts.
The centre will give vulnerable young people access to safe spaces, skills and support that can help them build brighter futures.
South Africa
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.13 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,341.48 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 64,767.00.
The World’s Slowest Concert
A tiny organ in eastern Germany has been making musical history by performing the world’s slowest concert — and it is expected to continue for another 600 years.The John Cage Organ Project in Halberstadt has been playing composer John Cage’s piece at an incredibly slow pace for almost 25 years. Last week a rare chord change took place inside the medieval Church, with the organ moving from seven notes to eight.The project is designed to last 639 years, making each chord change, a rare and celebrated event.
It’s a wonderfully unusual reminder that some things are worth slowing down for — creating a piece of art that will outlive everyone alive today and connect generations far into the future.
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