News Bulletin of 9 March 2026, 11am

Artist Turns Vision Loss Into Inspiring Art
Local artist Belinda van Dyk transformed a life-changing challenge into a powerful source of creativity after a retinal detachment in December 2018 left her right eye partially blind. Despite the emotional and physical challenges, van Dyk returned to painting as a way to process her experience and reclaim control. During her healing journey, a striking theme began to emerge in her work-eyes. Today, she uses her art and story to raise awareness about retinal blindness. Her participation at the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight last month at Boksburg Stadium highlighted her commitment to supporting others facing similar challenges.

Sandton and Gauteng
Local AI Platform Speaks South Africa’s Languages
Untapped AI has launched new artificial intelligence systems trained to understand South African languages and accents, helping businesses communicate more effectively with local customers. The platform has been developed using regional speech patterns and is being rolled out to companies looking for alternatives to overseas AI tools. These tools often struggle with local language use. Founder Lloyd Mathew says the goal is to improve customer response rates by making digital interactions more relatable and accurate.

South Africa
UP Scientist Wins Global Award for Cancer Research
A scientist from the University of Pretoria, has received the prestigious Saul Hertz Award at the 8th Theranostics World Congress for her work in theranostics. This is a medical field that combines diagnostic imaging with targeted radiation therapy to improve cancer treatment. Dr Keamogetswe Ramonaheng's research helps doctors determine the right radiation dose for each patient, making treatment safer and more effective for people battling cancer. Ramonaheng says the award is also a sign that South African research and clinical practice are competitive on the global stage.
Sandton and Gauteng
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.55 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 5,174.19 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 67,797.00.
United Airlines Cracks Down on Loud Devices
American United Airlines has introduced a new rule requiring passengers to use headphones when playing audio or video on personal devices during flights. The airline quietly updated its Contract of Carriage in 2026, stating that passengers who play content out loud without headphones could be removed from the aircraft or even banned from flying with the airline. The rule aims to address a common in-flight irritation — travellers playing music, videos or social media clips loudly from their phones or tablets. According to United, the policy is intended to improve comfort in the cabin and reduce disruptive behaviour for other passengers.

Local: 183 words (71%), National: 75 words (29%), International: 0 words (0%)