Good News 14:00

BULLETIN 31 October 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# One person has won yesterday’s Lotto jackpot and is now 103.6-million-rand richer. The winner, yet to be identified, matched six numbers. The operator of the National Lottery, Ithuba, says the jackpot was the second-largest ever recorded in South Africa, following the 110-million-rand prize shared in January 2018 by four winners. When the next Lotto draw takes place on Saturday, the jackpot will be an estimated three-million-rand.

# Award-winning actress Charlize Theron has partnered with South African writer, actor, and filmmaker, Thabo Rametsi, and his business partner, Thabiso Mabanna, for a new comic book series, Imbokodo. The series honours great warrior women of Africa, including Shaka Zulu’s mother Queen Nandi, and Angola’s Queen Nzinga. Theron was involved in the project through her media company, Secret Menu. Rametsi says this project is not just about bringing a comic series to readers, but about immortalising African mythology and history in a way that speaks to audiences worldwide.

# The docking of World Odyssey at the port of Cape Town signifies the beginning of South Africa’s 2024/’25 cruise season. Sailing under the flag of the Bahamas, the cruise liner brought approximately 538 international tourists on board. Transnet National Ports Authority says it is set to handle 268 passenger liners across the country’s seven commercial seaports. This is a 29-percent increase from the previous year’s 207 calls. The authority says South Africa’s ports are key drivers of economic growth and gateways for international trade. 

# Barbie has unveiled its first-ever Diwali-themed doll in South Africa, created in collaboration with acclaimed Indian designer Anita Dongre. Today is Diwali, the festival of lights. Homes, businesses and public spaces are lit up with diyas, or oil lamps made from clay, and fireworks displays abound. Dressed in Dongre’s signature Moonlight Bloom ensemble, the Barbie Diwali doll combines a modern aesthetic with traditional Indian design elements. The doll is available at select retailers across South Africa.

# And finally: China has a new richest person, and it’s the entrepreneur behind the wildly popular, and controversial, app TikTok. The 41-year-old Zhang Yiming’s wealth has now reached the equivalent of 865-billion-rand. Since its official launch in May 2017, TikTok has become an era-defining social media platform beloved by many young people around the world. Zhang’s rise to the top of the 2024 Hurun China Rich List knocked bottled water king Zhong Shanshan out of the lead spot for the first time in three years, though he remained second, followed by Tencent founder Pony Ma.

Stay tuned for more news………….