Good News

BULLETIN 5 August 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, and deputy minister, Peace Mabe, will host a celebratory dinner in Cape Town this evening, in recognition of South Africa’s recent World Heritage achievements. The 46th World Heritage Committee, held in New Delhi, India, approved South Africa’s bids for inclusion in the prestigious World Heritage Listing. The recognised sites are two rock shelters in the Western Cape, Diepkloof Rock Shelter near Elands Bay, and Pinnacle Point Site Complex in Mossel Bay, alongside Sibhudu Cave in KwaZulu-Natal.

# Stud Game Breeders has awarded bursaries valued at 8.75-million-rand to deserving students in the Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management programmes at the Tshwane University of Technology. The bursary programme, now in its 13th year, began with an initial contribution of 70-thousand-rand supporting two students in 2011. It has since expanded to support 266 students. TUT says this year’s bursary recipients join a growing legacy of scholars empowered by Stud Game Breeders, contributing to the future of biodiversity conservation and wildlife management in South Africa.

# Western Cape Grade 12 learners, Aimeè Stollie and Akhona Zondo, have recently returned from their ten-day voyage as part of SEAmester Seven – South Africa’s Class Afloat programme. They were on board the SA Agulhas Two. MEC for Education David Maynier says the SEAmester programme combines traditional classroom lectures with hands-on ship-based deck activities while providing students with an opportunity to support specialist scientists in recognised marine research activities:

# A Mossel Bay teacher has been crowned Mr Global South Africa 2024. Diaz Primary School’s Anton Siebert was among 16 finalists who participated in the competition. Judges praised Siebert’s originality, and more especially his Project Blessing, an animal welfare charity. The project involves taking care of animals whilst also teaching children about love, care and respect. The first runner-up was JP Geldenhuys from Gauteng. Siebert was Mr South Africa’s second prince in 2021 and the Mr Supranational SA 2023 runner-up.

# And, the late basketball superstar Kobe Bryant’s personal locker from the Staples Centre has been auctioned for 53-million-rand, making it the most valuable sports locker ever sold. Sotheby’s confirmed the sale, noting it was preserved by a maintenance worker during the 2018 renovation. Sotheby’s Brahm Wachter described the locker as a profound relic of Bryant’s legacy. The sale marks the third-most expensive Kobe Bryant memorabilia auction. Proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation.

Stay tuned for more news………….