Good News

BULLETIN 19 August 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Immigration capacity will nearly double at Cape Town International Airport following a partnership between the Border Management Authority, the Western Cape government, and the City of Cape Town. Launched by Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber, premier Alan Winde, and mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, the initiative adds 48 assistant port control officials. This increases staff from 66 to 114, improving border efficiency, boosting tourism, and enhancing national security while supporting local job creation as well as smoother processing.

# Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, officially handed over a decommissioned Embraer 135 passenger jet to Rhodesfield Engineering School of Specialisation in Kempton Park. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the aircraft, donated by Airlink, will be used as a training resource for learners pursuing aviation studies:

# Two Tshwane University of Technology student teams clinched first and fourth place out of 40 competitors at the prestigious Cars4Mars African Rover Challenge. The competition inspires African youth to pursue careers in robotics, space technologies and artificial intelligence. Competitors were from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. The TUT teams, made up of second and third-year students, built advanced mobile robots powered by independent onboard batteries and controlled wirelessly. The Grand Finals will be held in Johannesburg next month.

# Global technology leader HCL Technologies says it is proud of its growing partnership with the North West University, which is aimed at fostering access and opportunity for students living with disabilities. HCLTech began funding the university in December last year. It allocated one-million-rand for student bursaries and an additional 250-thousand-rand towards assistive devices and software updates for the university’s Disability Rights Unit. This brings the total contribution to 1.25-million-rand. HCLTech says its vision goes beyond bursaries; it includes opening doors to employment and long-term empowerment. 

# And finally: Dame Helen Mirren says James Bond should be played by a man, even though she is such a feminist. In an interview with Saga Magazine, the Oscar-winning actress said a woman just won’t work. Amazon MGM Studios will produce the next iteration of the spy franchise, with Steven Knight set to write what will become the 26th film in the series. At 80, Dame Helen is currently starring opposite former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in the film adaption of The Thursday Murder Club.

Stay tuned for more news………….