Good News

BULLETIN 13 June

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Vergelegen Estate White 2023 has been crowned the best South African white wine at the prestigious 2025 International Wine Challenge. The globally respected competition praised the vintage from Somerset West in Cape Town for its elegance, minerality, and vibrant flavours. Managing director Wayne Coetzer says Vergelegen’s victory showcases the excellence of local winemakers and cements South Africa’s place on the world wine stage. He hails the award as a tribute to the team’s passion and dedication from vineyard to bottle.

 # Nominations are open for the Defender Awards, spotlighting South Africa’s grassroots changemakers. Categories include wildlife, community, land, and ocean defenders. Launched by iconic brand Defender, the initiative offers over two-million-rand, a vehicle, and expert support to one standout local organisation. The trio of Ross Holgate of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, Ivy Wairimu from Tusk, and Springbok legend Bryan Habana will join an international panel of experts to help select the finalists. Entries close on Monday.

# Cape Town’s brightest minds has been celebrated at the Western Cape Innovation Awards 2025, hosted by the Cape Chamber of Commerce. Fourteen awards honoured innovators in business, technology, sustainability, and civil society. Highlights included Cubespace’s satellite tech used by NASA, Zerocrete’s low-carbon concrete, and the City of Cape Town’s streamlined business programme. The event reinforced innovation as central to the province’s Growth for Jobs strategy and South Africa’s economic future.

# The head of the University of Venda’s Infrastructure Maintenance Unit, Tshisevhe Nesengani, has been honoured with the AUDE Summer School Best Project Award. The award comes with a week-long residency at the Association of University Directors of Estates summer school in the UK. Participants were required to develop and present a group project addressing key challenges or opportunities in higher education facilities management. Nesengani’s group project explored innovative methods for integrating students, academic staff, and professional teams into capital project planning. 

# And finally: Hollywood actress Viola Davis and comedian Conan O’Brien are part of the six people who will be inducted into the 2025 Television Academy’s 27th Hall of Fame in August. The Hall of Fame honours people who have made outstanding contributions in the arts, sciences or management of television over a lifetime career or via singular achievements. The other four are producer Ryan Murphy, Emmy-winning actor Henry Winkler, legendary composer Mike Post, and late director Don Mischer.

Stay tuned for more news………….