Good News

BULLETIN 27 February 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The University of Johannesburg will award honorary doctorates to eight distinguished people during its 2025 graduation ceremonies, marking its 20th anniversary. Recipients include former president Kgalema Motlanthe, acclaimed Afrikaans poet, author, journalist, and academic, Antjie Krog, and world-renowned scientist in organic electronics, professor Huang Wei. The university says the honorary doctoral degrees recognise people whose work has significantly advanced knowledge, public life, and social progress. 

# University of the Western Cape professor, Helen Schneider, was honoured at the 11th South African Medical Research Council Scientific Merit Awards. She received the Research Capacity Development and Transformation Award, recognising exceptional achievements and contributions to South African health research. UWC says through Schneider’s leadership and expertise, she has shaped health policy, both nationally and globally, helping to build more effective and equitable health systems.

# The Johannesburg City Library, which houses 1.5-million books, is scheduled to partially reopen on March 21st, after being closed for almost five years. The library was closed in May 2021 after it failed to comply with safety regulations, particularly fire safety systems, and had electrical faults and water leaks. Only the ground floor is expected to reopen next month, while the rest of the facility is scheduled to open in June or July. The metro says the upgrades are expected to cost 69-million-rand, with 21-million-rand already spent. 

# Twenty-six female athletes from Tshwane University of Technology have received bursaries worth more than one-million-rand from the Women in Sport Trust. The bursaries are designed to support female student-athletes who excel academically and in their respective sporting codes. TUT’s Director of Sports, Hajira Mashego, says these young women have demonstrated outstanding dedication on and off the field, and this support will go a long way in ensuring they continue to excel. She adds the bursaries come at a time when the push for gender equity in sports is gaining momentum.

# And finally: Nominees Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who star in the blockbuster Wicked, are set to perform at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday. The movie has ten nominations, including best picture, and original score. Queen Latifah will be part of a tribute performance to the legendary Quincy Jones, who passed away in November last year. Doja Cat, Lisa of Blackpink, and Grammy-nominated artist Raye will also perform. Oscars’ executive producer, Raj Kapoor, says performers will celebrate the filmmaking community and some of its legends.

Stay tuned for more news………….