Good News

BULLETIN 24 February 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Waterfall City in Gauteng has won the Best International Masterplan award at the International Property Awards in London. This marks the region’s first victory in the category, which recognises large-scale urban developments. Waterfall City also secured the title of Best Masterplan Africa 2024-2025. CEO Willie Vos hailed the achievement as a testament to innovation and excellence, adding that the awards highlight Africa’s growing role in global urban development.

# The line-up of artists for this year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival in April, has been curated under the theme of, Legacy Meets Tomorrow. Acclaimed DJ and producer Black Coffee will share a stage with pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, for a special performance accompanied by a full orchestra and special guest vocalists. Other performers include jazz pianist and composer, Kyle Shepherd, bassist and composer, Benjamin Jeptha, and singer Thandiswa Mazwai. Organisers say the full line-up will be revealed next month.

# South Africa’s Shamwari Untamed has been selected for the Blue Bird Film Festival. The 13-part series is a behind-the-scenes look at what’s involved in managing the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. The series is told largely from the perspective of wildlife vet, Johan Joubert, and ecologist, John O’Brien. It has also won awards at the recent Indo Dubai and Asian Independent International Film Festivals. Shamwari CEO, Joe Cloete, says the series is the most accurate, insightful and authentic depiction of the conservation team’s incredible work.

# Global superstar Mariah Carey will headline the Heritage Live at the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in the United Kingdom in August. The show at the 20-thousand-capacity venue will feature support from Nile Rodgers and Chic as well as Eternal. The festival’s Giles Cooper says with Carey’s catalogue of huge hit singles, it’s going to be an incredible occasion. This will be the second UK show for the singer in August, as she has also been confirmed as the headliner for the Brighton Pride Festival.

# And finally: Stellenbosch University has partnered with an NGO, Yeyethu Designer Studio, to upcycle disused material as pencil bags for students. The university’s Charlene Wicomb says much of the collateral used to market the institution, like flags, is discarded once used. She says this was the ideal opportunity to upcycle them into something useful. Bulelwa Tito, who runs the Yeyethu Designer Studio from the Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment NGO in Kayamandi, says the project has been life-changing. Wicomb says the pencil bag initiative has sparked other upcycling ideas.

Stay tuned for more news………….