Good News

BULLETIN 25 July 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The United States’ largest music school franchise, School of Rock, will open in Johannesburg in November. The school will offer programmes for all ages, including performance-based instruction, group classes, and private lessons. Instrument lessons include guitar, bass, keys, drums, and vocals, with the addition of music production. Franchisee and owner, Russell Lund, says they aim to create a fun, inclusive environment for students and promote positive change in the community. Applications are already open at www.parktownnorth.schoolofrock.com.

# North-West University academic professor Olubukola Oluranti Babalola and student Sinenhlanhla Mthembu have been named finalists for the 2024 South African Women in Science Awards. The awards recognise outstanding contributions by women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Babalola is widely recognised for her groundbreaking research on plant-microbe interactions, which has far-reaching implications for sustainable agriculture and food security. Mthembu is currently involved in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular research. The awards will be held in Mpumalanga on the 15th of next month.

# The University of Fort Hare has partnered with the Education, Training and Development Practice Sector Education and Training Authority, to support unfunded students, by alleviating their financial burdens. Seventy-two students will benefit, each receiving a stipend of two-thousand-rand for two months. The university’s acting dean of Education, professor Mzuyanda Mavuso, says education transforms lives and it is a great honour to be able to invest in the future of education.

# The seventh annual Creative Coffee Week, is underway in Durban until tomorrow. Hosted at FNB’s Acacia House on Umhlanga Ridge, the event features Patrik Rolf from Denmark’s April Coffee, a four-time world finalist as a coffee roaster, a barista and a renowned influencer in the world of coffee. Top coffee professionals, including baristas and roasters, will explore global trends and compete in the first April Brewers Cup in South Africa. This initiative supports the coffee sector’s growth and job creation across the value chain.

# And finally, the Southern Africa Cat Council’s Cat of the Year competition is set to showcase 20 cat breeds this year. The theme is A Song of Ice and Fire. Six judges will select the winners in various categories, such as Cat of the Year, Neuter of the Year, Kitten of the Year and Household Pet of the Year. International judges for the competition include Jane Allen and Phillipa Holmes, hailing from the UK. The competition will be held at the V&A Waterfront’s Radisson Blu Hotel in Cape Town on Saturday.

Stay tuned for more news………….