News Bulletin of 9 October 2026, 1pm

Vintage with Love is hosting its first dedicated Furniture Fest at Design Quarter in Johannesburg from 15 to 18 October.
The four day sale will feature pre-loved furniture that has been restored and reupholstered, giving quality pieces a new lease on life.
All profits will go towards literacy and education charities across South Africa, continuing the non-profit organisation’s work of funding educational opportunities through the sale of donated goods.

Stellenbosch University researcher Dr John Paul Makumbi has won a 150,000 US dollar research grant, worth about R2.6 million, to help protect Africa’s rivers, lakes and wetlands.
His project uses microbial DNA analysis and machine learning to detect early signs of water pollution and ecosystem damage before they become visible.
The research will cover water systems in South Africa, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia, with the aim of helping authorities respond earlier to environmental threats.

The Banking Sector Education and Training Authority has provided R13.9 million to clear historical student debt for 253 Central University of Technology graduates, allowing them to access qualifications previously withheld over unpaid fees.
The graduates studied Information Technology, Accounting, Internal Auditing and Applied Management.
The funding will help them use their qualifications to pursue employment opportunities and build their careers. One beneficiary, who completed her IT qualification in 2017, says the support has given her renewed hope of working in her chosen field.