Good News

BULLETIN 4 September 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# The award-winning South African feature film Carissa will now be released in cinemas nationwide. The film, directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year. It tells the story of a young woman, played by Gretchen Ramsden, and her community in the heart of the Western Cape’s Cederberg Mountains. Carissa has also been screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California and the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia. It won several awards in Venice.

# FNB won eight awards at the Global Finance Best Digital Banks 2025 Awards, which is one of the most respected awards in global financial services. The awards celebrate institutions that are shaping the future of banking through innovation, security, and customer-centric digital transformation. FNB’s awards include best consumer digital bank and best mobile banking app in South Africa, and best in transformation in Africa. FNB’s Jacqui O’Sullivan says they remain focused on setting the benchmark for digital excellence:

# Renowned personalities DJ Zinhle and actress Rami Chuene took part in the Tshwane University of Technology’s Ntombazana 2025 Women’s Empowerment Seminar, where they uplifted and inspired young women. The seminar focused on empowering female students to embrace their potential, navigate challenges and pursue excellence. TUT says DJ Zinhle and Chuene shared personal life lessons and words of encouragement, leaving students energised to pursue their dreams. It adds the success of this event underscores its dedication to creating empowering spaces for women.

# Stellenbosch Business School’s 2024 Small Business Academy student of the year, Rucien Petersen, says his business is growing from strength to strength. He founded Spottmedia Limited during his postgraduate research in 2017. Petersen says Spottmedia was born to help small businesses identify marketing gaps and adopt strategies that look beyond short-term fixes. He adds that since completing the programme, Spottmedia has seen a 20-percent increase in sales and expanded its client base beyond its local area.

# And finally: Nelson Mandela University’s Ruby Davies is one of seven master’s degree students countrywide who received the South African Women in Science Awards DSTI–Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Fellowship. The Fellowship celebrates exceptional women scientists advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in South Africa and beyond. Davies’ research, which was recognised, investigates how nectar robbing affects pollinator behaviour, pollen limitation, and the reproductive success in the fynbos biome of the Cape Floristic Region.

Stay tuned for more news………….