Good News

BULLETIN 8 September 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Skywatchers in parts of the world, including South Africa, got to see a rare total lunar eclipse, commonly called a Blood Moon, last night. This 82-minute spectacle, one of the longest in a decade, occurred when the Earth positioned itself precisely between the moon and the sun, casting its shadow on the moon’s surface. NASA says the lunar eclipse was visible in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Many took to social media to share pictures of the lunar eclipse, where the moon appeared orange or reddish.

# South African pop star Tyla won another MTV Video Music Awards at a ceremony in New York. She won in the best Afrobeats category for her hit single PUSH 2 START. The 23-year-old also won the same award last year for the smash hit Water. Lady Gaga was the big winner, grabbing four awards, including artist of the year, and best collaboration with Bruno Mars for Die With a Smile. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter both won three VMAs each. The Video Vanguard Award went to Mariah Carey.

# Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Jaco Londt, says the Fountain of Hope Intermediate Child Youth Care Centre in Philippi, Cape Town, is a critical response to a long-standing systemic gap in the country’s child protection system. The centre is a first-of-its-kind facility in South Africa, providing accommodation and support for young people transitioning from secure care to integration into community-based centres. Londt says the department has allocated 1.5-million-rand to the centre, which can accommodate 25 children:

# Cape Town’s biggest 24-hour community cycle challenge raised over 930-thousand-rand for the VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy in Langa. Catering to children aged four to 13, the academy’s mission encompasses academic support, early learning development, rugby coaching, and much-needed psycho-social care. The academy’s Nicky Matthews says over five years, the event has raised more than three-million-rand:

# And finally: The University of Johannesburg, in partnership with Absa Business Banking and Qhubeka Charity, donated bicycles to 129 Grade 11 learners at Hanyani Secondary School outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo. This initiative arose out of UJ’s transformative Societal Impact project, of leverages technology to address critical infrastructure needs for residents in under-resourced areas. UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Letlhokwa Mpedi, says the bicycles will help learners living in remote areas to get to school more easily:

Stay tuned for more news………….