Good News 14:00

BULLETIN 29 January 2 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The University of the Witwatersrand Theatre is turning 40 this year and will celebrate by relaunching its annual orientation week festival next month. The student-centred Pitso Ya Kalaneng Festival seeks to facilitate collaboration and creative exchange within the Wits School of Arts with other performing arts institutions in Gauteng. The university says the festival will transform Wits East Campus into a cultural and creative hub, celebrating student talent and the performing arts. Highlights of the festival will include 12 theatre productions, showcasing student talent.

# The Midvaal Municipality and the Sedibeng District in partnership with Cell C and MiDesk Global will donate 100 desks to Ratasetjhaba Primary School in Chrissiesfontein, Meyerton, today. The MiDesk is a revolutionary school bag that converts into a desk and chair with solar light and a USB charging portal. The municipality’s spokesperson, Idah Satikhe, says the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning for all.

# Western Cape premier Alan Winde has encouraged local entrepreneurs to access the government’s small, micro, and medium enterprises booster fund. He expressed gratitude to entrepreneurs in Khayelitsha for their role in making Cape Town and the province remain top destinations. During a visit to iconic tourism attractions, including Siki’s Coffee and Khaltsha Cycles, Winde engaged with entrepreneurs like Sikelela Dibela and praised their positive impact on both the community and the economy:

# The University of the Free State says the Philippolis Public Speaking Competition has done wonders to not only build confidence in young mother tongue speakers but to broaden the cultural perspectives of an entire community. Every year, learners from Grades six to nine are invited to present a speech on a specific heritage-related topic. Participants are encouraged to speak in their mother tongues, which in the region are mainly Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, and isiXhosa. The university says this competition does wonderful work in building feelings of self-worth and self-confidence.

# And finally: The world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has begun its maiden voyage from Miami, Florida, as it embarks on a seven-day island-hopping voyage in the Caribbean. Spanning across 20 decks, the Icon of the Seas has a maximum capacity of seven-thousand-600 passengers and two-thousand-350 crew members. It boasts six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice skating rink, a theatre, and over 40 dining establishments, bars, and lounges. The cruise ship is five times larger than the Titanic.

Stay tuned for more news………….