News Bulletin of 9 June 2025, 4pm

The University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra recently hosted the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra for a special cultural exchange.
Despite ongoing political tensions between South Africa and the USA, the collaboration celebrated unity and shared culture through music.
The University of Michigan opened its South African tour with a moving performance at UP’s Aula Theatre, featuring the Negro Folk Symphony by African-American composer William Levi Dawson.
A standout moment came when both orchestras joined in singing the Xhosa hymn Bawo Thixo Somandla, creating a shared emotional experience that crossed language and nationality.
This event highlights UP’s dedication to global partnerships, inclusivity, and preparing students to be socially conscious and globally minded leaders.

A young humpback whale entangled in rope and dragging a large buoy has been successfully freed off the coast of East London.
The animal was first spotted on Friday, and located on Saturday morning by a search aircraft.
NSRI rescue teams responded quickly, finding the exhausted whale roughly two nautical miles off Kidds Beach.
Using specialised cutting tools, they made four precise cuts to remove rope wrapped tightly around its tail.
The juvenile whale — estimated to be around seven to eight metres long — swam away freely after the rescue.
Authorities believe the fishing gear may have originated from a foreign vessel operating near South America.
The operation is being praised as a successful example of rapid marine rescue response.

A new separation-at-source recycling pilot at Tshwane’s Fountains Valley Resort is proving successful.
Since February, visitors have been using 12 colour-coded recycling bins to sort aluminium, plastic, paper and glass right where they dispose of waste.
This public-private partnership between the City of Tshwane and Petco aims to change recycling habits and reduce landfill waste.
The clean separation of recyclables also helps waste pickers by providing better quality materials for sale.
Notably, the bins themselves are made from recycled materials, diverting hundreds of thousands of cartons from landfill.
City officials plan to expand the project to other public spaces, hoping to create cleaner communities and strengthen the local recycling economy.