Good News

BULLETIN 16 April 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Stellenbosch University says a group of medical students are on a mission to establish a specialised intensive care unit for organ donors at Tygerberg Hospital. The students are part of Save7, a student-led non-profit organisation focused on organ donation awareness. Save7 vice-president, Naazim Nagdee, says Life Pod, a first of its kind in Africa, will provide life support to consented organ donors to keep their organs viable until they can be harvested for transplantation:

# Almost a million-rand has been raised in pledges ahead of the Cableway Charity Challenge in Cape Town on Saturday. Every year, change climbers, racing rockstars and amateurs with tremendous ambition climb Table Mountain to make a difference for charities doing important work in local communities. On Saturday, participants will task themselves to tackle as many climbs up Platteklip Gorge as they can manage. Charities that will benefit include Wilderness Search and Rescue and the Volunteer Wildfire Services.

# An inner-city after-school support programme based in Johannesburg, Safe Study, has received a solar boost from a local solar installation company. Versofy SOLAR installed a complimentary solar power system for the organisation’s Bez Valley facility, guaranteeing uninterrupted operations during load-shedding. This initiative not only facilitates learning but also provides essential amenities like electricity, heating, and Wi-Fi, greatly benefiting disadvantaged youth. The programme’s co-founder, Nicola Bennett, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the transformative impact, highlighting improved access to education and reduced financial strain.

# Two North West University lecturers, Viné Petzer and Nokwanda Bam, have been accepted into the Teaching Advancement at Universities programme. The 12-month programme aims to improve the standard of teaching and elevate teaching and learning in public higher education. The university says over the programme period the participants work on educational projects where they are granted the opportunity to build partnerships with colleagues from other institutions. Bam says the programme will help her make a meaningful impact in the realm of university teaching and learning.

# And finally: Another pangolin has been rescued following a sting operation in Silver Lakes, Pretoria. This operation, involving the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Transfrontier Africa, led to the arrest of four suspects. The rescued pangolin, named Sebastian, was taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for treatment. Despite being dehydrated and weak initially, Sebastian is now showing signs of improvement. Last week, a pregnant pangolin was also rescued. Pangolins are primarily poached for their scales which are used in traditional medicine.

Stay tuned for more news………….