Good News

BULLETIN 18 October 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# South African comedian and former Daily Show host, Trevor Noah’s new book, Into The Uncut Grass, has debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. The book is about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of sharing, connection, and finding peace with the people he loves. This book, which is illustrated by Christopher Myers, follows the success of Noah’s memoir Born A Crime.

# The University of Pretoria honoured 19 past students who made the 2024 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans list, at a luncheon. The number of alumni recognised this year amounts to about 9.5-percent of the 200 honourees. Since the inception of these awards, more than 210 university staff members, current students and alumni have been recognised. Vice-Chancellor, professor Francis Petersen, says the 19 alumni have been recognised for their solution-driven, community-oriented contributions across a variety of sectors.

# Two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Wouter Kellerman, is one of four people who has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Tshwane University of Technology. The others are celebrated artist, academic and cultural commentator, professor Pitika Ntuli, renowned South African artist, curator and arts activist, Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa, and first president of Mozambique, Samora Moisés Machel, who was awarded an honorary doctorate in Public Affairs posthumously. TUT says these people have made outstanding contributions to society.

# A total of 102 wheelchairs were handed over to nine schools, hospitals, and community organisations in Gauteng. This was part of a collaborative project between the Oxford Centre for Religion, Public Life and Security in Africa and the Buddha’s Light International Association. Three types of wheelchairs, for adults and children, and so-called CP recliner chairs for people living with cerebral palsy, were distributed. Twelve other wheelchairs will in future be used to help improve access to and mobility on the University of Pretoria’s campuses.

# And finally: Karateka Luchay Weideman and golfer JP van der Watt were named the Nelson Mandela University’s sportswoman and sportsman of the year respectively at the annual Madibaz Sports Awards. Twenty-two-year-old Weideman added nine more golds and two silvers from two national tournaments to her 2024 tally. Twenty-three-year-old Van der Watt was runner-up at the SA Amateur strokeplay championship earlier this year. The award for sports coach of the year went to Gerhard Posthumus for athletics, while the sports team of the year was Madibaz Golf.

Stay tuned for more news………….