Good News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 February 2 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The South Africa Hotel Review report has revealed an increase in hotel occupancy in the Western Cape during the 2023 holiday season. Data shows that hotel occupancy in December reached 73.4-percent, a rise from 71.6-percent in December 2022. Additionally, five-star hotels in Cape Town surpassed those in other major South African cities, with occupancy rates at 69.1-percent.  The Western Cape MEC of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, says the growth in hotel occupancy is positive for the province’s economy and job creation. 

# Cancer organisation Cancervive is making a significant impact in rural communities by providing assistance to patients battling cancer through their annual ten-day motorcycle ride across South Africa. Over 60 cancer survivors, supporters, and crew members embark on this mission, using various forms of communication such as words, performing arts, music, poetry, dance, and storytelling to reach audiences. The organisation aims to break down taboos surrounding the disease, and create support structures necessary to initiate conversations about cancer.

# The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Cape Town commemorates 25 years of aiding 270-thousand abuse survivors. Director Bernadine Bachar emphasises the failures of the criminal justice and public health sectors in assisting those seeking help. The centre provides job skills training, entrepreneurial programmes, counseling, and an ECD centre for young children. Furthermore a homeschool centre is availabe for older children, legal assistance for divorce orders and maintenance and food parcel distribution.

# The Tshwane University of Technology says from today until Friday, students are ready to captivate audiences with their theatre production titled June the 1st. This is part of the O-Week programme with the University of the Witwatersrand. TUT says under the direction of Msindisi Messiah Nxumalo, June the 1st is a powerful theatrical masterpiece that seamlessly intertwines acting and dance to tell a story of profound human experiences.

# And finally: The University of the Witwatersrand says a whole of society approach is needed to address health issues as populations in Africa age. Since 2014, the research by Longitudinal Studies in South Africa has examined the intersection and impact of HIV/AIDS, chronic non-communicable diseases, and multimorbidity on older people in rural Mpumalanga. Wits Professor Kathleen Kahn says they are now evaluating the need for pre-exposure prophylaxis among people over 40 years. Kahn added that initial analyses suggest that 44 percent of people in this age group may benefit from PrEP, based on current South African guidelines.  

Stay tuned for more news………….