Good News

BULLETIN 26 August 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Shoprite has reassured South Africans that its new smart Xpress Trolley pilot will not threaten jobs. The trial, running at Checkers Hyper Brackenfell and Checkers Constantia in Cape Town, introduces 20 high-tech trolleys allowing customers to scan items, track totals, and pay directly from the cart. Shoprite says the innovation is designed to improve shopping and not to replace workers. Meanwhile, new roles such as concierge assistants and tech support are being created as the technology evolves.

# Tessa Moll has been named as the University of Cape Town’s first recipient of the prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award. The award provides funding for already established researchers and teams seeking to pursue bold and creative research ideas, to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. Moll’s research explores the intersection of reproduction, medical technology and environmental health in South Africa. She says the award will provide vital support for research exploring the alter lives of chemically-driven health interventions.

# A consortium of nine South African universities and five European partners have launched the South African Master’s in Ocean Sciences programme. This is an ambitious initiative that promises to transform postgraduate training in Ocean Sciences across the continent. Graduates will develop skills in problem solving, writing, communication, data handling, teamwork, entrepreneurship, project management, and fundraising. Applications for the first intake are now open, with the closing date set for August 31st.

# The University of KwaZulu-Natal says the inaugural KwaZulu-Natal Blind Cricket Ladies Team training camp was a major step forward for disability sport, gender equity, and cricket development in South Africa. This ground-breaking initiative was spearheaded by the KwaZulu-Natal Association of Blind Cricket and saw enthusiastic participation from women across the province, marking the formal beginning of the team. The camp involved an intensive three-day programme of skills training, match play, leadership development and team-building. 

 # And finally: The Durban University of Technology Clothing Management second-year students led the Denim Sustainability Campaign to promote upcycling and eco-friendly fashion. The Campaign is part of their project-based learning initiative titled Reimagine Denim, A Circular Apparel Consumption Initiative. The campaign focused on the harmful effects of textile waste, with denim being one of the most polluting fabrics in the fashion industry. The university says denim requires large amounts of water and energy during production and, when discarded, adds to the growing problem of environmental pollution.

Stay tuned for more news………….