Good News

BULLETIN 30 May 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Reach For A Dream turned the dream of 14-year-old Sacha Willemse from Upington in the Northern Cape into a reality. The gifted young swimmer living with a life-threatening illness recently got to meet his sporting idol, Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos, in Cape Town. With today being Slipper Day, Reach For A Dream’s head of marketing, Ivor Cleary, says that with donations from the public, they can make dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses:

# Thirteen-year-old, Faizan Zaki, outlasted eight other accomplished spellers to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, US. From Allen, Texas, he finished as the runner-up last year after losing in a lightning-round tiebreaker. His winning word was éclaircissement. Including Faizan, whose parents emigrated from southern India, 30 of the past 36 champions have been Indian American, a run that began with Nupur Lala’s victory in 1999.

# Higher Education and Training minister, Nobuhle Nkabane, has congratulated one of the University of Pretoria’s youngest-ever graduates, Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli. She obtained a degree in Actuarial Science, which she completed at the age of 17. The department’s spokesperson, Camagwini Mavovana, says Ntuli is a shining example of academic excellence, resilience, and the transformative power of education:

# The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has confirmed its three-day line-up. The star-studded roster includes Grammy-winning artist Esperanza Spalding, South African pianist Thandi Ntuli, Afro-pop sensation Tresor, and the acclaimed Ababhemu Quartet. Celebrating its 26th year, the festival will feature over 50 performers across four stages, with the aim to offer an unforgettable showcase of jazz excellence, cultural fusion, and musical innovation. The jazz stars are set to dazzle audiences from the 26 to the 28 of September at the Sandton International Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

# And finally: South African art has broken yet another record with Vladimir Tretchikoff’s 1955 portrait Lady from the Orient selling for 31.9-million-rand at a Johannesburg auction. The masterpiece captivated bidders with 89 rapid bids, making local history. Internationally, Marlene Dumas’s 1997 painting Miss January also set a new world record for a living female artist, selling for 251.6-million-rand in New York. Together, these achievements showcase South African art’s growing global influence and success.

Stay tuned for more news………….