Good News 14:00

BULLETIN 2 February 2 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The University of Pretoria has achieved a ranking in the top eight-percent of universities worldwide for providing international students with high-quality and affordable education. The ranking was determined by Study Abroad Aide, which assessed over eight-thousand private and public higher education institutions across 69 countries. Vice-Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, Sunil Mahaaraj, says the university is committed to creating a globally inclusive academic environment, where students can access top-notch education without compromising on quality.

# The Shoprite Foundation has launched robotics laboratories at Mountview and Verulam High Schools in KwaZulu-Natal. The initiative, with an investment of 1.6-million-rand, aims to support the Department of Education’s pilot programme on coding and robotics as a school subject. The foundation has provided training and equipment, and transformed existing computer rooms into fully functional robotics laboratories. In-person and online training for teachers are also part of the programme. This marks the first phase of a broader technology support program for schools across South Africa.

# Expert scientists and clinicians from PediCAP and SNIP-AFRICA, recently presented groundbreaking results and ways to advance antibiotic research, tailored to the needs of children and their families. According to the World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance was responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019, with one in five being children under the age of five. SNIP-AFRICA will now conduct a clinical trial and pharmacokinetic studies to identify the optimal antibiotic dose and regimens that can significantly reduce mortality rates caused by drug-resistant sepsis in newborns.

# A group dedicated to raising funds for children with cancer, CHOC Cows, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The group has been participating in the Midmar Mile in KwaZulu-Natal, swimming dressed as cows, to raise funds for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation. Established in 2014, CHOC Cows has raised millions of rands for the foundation. The initiative aims to advocate for the health and well-being of children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders. CHOC Cows also promotes awareness and education on childhood cancer.

# And finally: South Africa’s biggest social sport and lifestyle event, the Cape Town 10s, kicks off an exciting month of events in the Mother City today. The two-day festival features six sporting codes, namely rugby, netball, dodgeball, padel, water polo and a five-kilometre charity run on Saturday morning. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says Cape Town is providing support to at least 21 events taking place in the city this month:

Stay tuned for more news………….