Good News

BULLETIN 11 December

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Percy Mashange has become the first visual arts student at Stellenbosch University to have his master’s dissertation upgraded to a PhD. The university says his striking abstract jewellery designs and groundbreaking research challenge conventions and invite discourse on identity and representation. Mashange says in African culture, jewellery transcends mere accessory status, but is a profound expression of identity, heritage, tradition and social status, intertwining tradition and modernity:

# Nearly 100 underprivileged children from George had the opportunity of a lifetime at the 13th annual Santa Flight. The event, organised by the Flight Training College and supported by local volunteers, gave the children a chance to see the world from above. At the George Airport, the children were also treated to other activities like jumping castles and snacks while eagerly awaiting their turn to fly. Adding to the magic, Santa arrived by plane, delighting the children with gifts and spreading festive cheer.

# The North West University says the groundbreaking initiative, Tswala!, a Setswana word meaning closing, is making significant strides. The project seeks to bridge the gap between students, teachers and the world by integrating digital tools into classrooms. Professor Jaco Hoffman says this project represents a vital step forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of location or background, have access to the digital tools needed to succeed in the modern world:

# The number of leopards has tripled in the world’s largest conservation area, the Kafue National Park in Zambia. There are currently 4.4 leopards per 100 square kilometres in the park, which uses camera trap surveys, smarter anti-poaching patrols and GPS-tagging of white-backed vultures to act as an early-warning system for potential poaching activity. This has also lead to a reversal of the decline in the lion population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists leopards as vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species.

# And finally: Pamela Anderson’s famous red swimsuit from Baywatch will go on display in London. The 57-year-old Canadian played lifeguard CJ Parker in the popular TV show in the 1990s. The one-piece is probably the world’s most famous swimming suit, with imitation versions bearing the Baywatch logo widely available online. It will be shown off at Design Museum’s exhibition, Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, which opens in March. Anderson received her first-ever Golden Globe nomination this week for her role in The Last Showgirl.

Stay tuned for more news………….