Exciting news for two remote farming communities near Phalaborwa!

Limpopo, South Africa (07 April 2026) – The African Conservation Trust (ACT) has helped install a cold room and solar power system at Gingirikani and Rixaka cooperatives in Phalakubeni village. This is a game-changer for local food growers to keep veggies fresh, reduce waste, and open doors to bigger markets.

Before the new cold room, farmers had to sell their vegetables on the very same day they picked them, because in the scorching summer heat, produce spoiled within hours. Now, they can harvest over several days and keep everything fresh until they have enough to make a big trip to market.

“We took our harvest to the market three times a week, and now we store it until we get enough produce. We don’t have waste or rotten stuff, and it’s improved our daily life.” says Vincent Mabunda, Coordinator at Gingirikani Cooperative.

At Gingirikani cooperative, a large insulated cold room was fitted inside a 6-metre shipping container, powered by a 6kW solar system. At Rixaka cooperative, a solar-powered borehole pump and drip irrigation system were installed. Together, the two cooperatives now farm five hectares of land with a full crop plan, growing seasonal veggies in large quantities.

The cooperatives are located near the Kruger National Park, quite far from big city markets. To bridge this gap, a refrigerated vehicle is being provided to transport crops, allowing farmers from both cooperatives to fill any weekly vegetable order and sell their fresh produce all the way to Johannesburg!

Making this happen took a team effort from several organisations, including ACT, Kruger to Canyons Non-Profit Company (K2C), and The African Stove Company (TASC), with financial support from K2C and TASC, enabling the installations.

Growing food in this region is not an easy task; farmers overcome many obstacles.

“Farmers face multiple food production challenges. Outward migration sees skilled workers leave for urban areas; many residents experience sustained unemployment, causing personal food insecurity; and small-scale farmers contend with drought, land degradation, and inadequate infrastructure.” says Carl Grossmann, Chairman of ACT.

On top of these hurdles, elephants from the nearby Kruger sometimes raid the gardens! Elephants Alive has stepped in with creative solutions like beehives to deter the ellies, along with chilli-based repellants, solar flashing lights, and metal strip fences. Watch towers have also been built at Gingirikani, which double as storerooms and honey harvesting stations.

More than 40 community volunteers work in the gardens and receive a stipend through the Social Employment Fund (SEF). Research shows that each SEF participant supports about six more people in their immediate family, meaning the ripple effect is major.

“Our families are thriving because more than 40 people volunteer in the gardens and receive a SEF stipend.” says Vincent.

Produce from the gardens is used in three impactful ways. The farmers eat it themselves, sell it to boost their income, or donate the surplus to vulnerable community members.

Sources: Project Africa.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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Across South Africa, old race medals are finding new meaning in the hands of brave young patients.

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 April 2026) – It’s not every day that a hospital visit ends with a medal… but sometimes, courage deserves to be recognised!

At Netcare Olivedale Hospital, that idea is being brought to life, turning moments of fear into memories of strength for young patients who face more than most of us can imagine.

Twelve-year-old Ehben Muller recently became the latest recipient of one of the hospital’s special bravery medals after showing incredible composure while being treated for a painful knee dislocation. What started as a frightening early morning quickly became a story about courage, care, and a team that understands just how important it is to recognise both.

“Ehben woke us at around 5 am in severe pain and very anxious because his knee had dislocated while he was sleeping,” his mom, Adri Muller, shared. “It was traumatic for him, especially because it happened while sleeping.”

Paramedics were called to assess him at home, and with concerns about causing further damage, they made the decision to transport him to hospital for specialised care. At the emergency department, doctors confirmed a dislocation of his left patella and prepared to stabilise it under conscious sedation, ensuring the procedure could be done safely and as comfortably as possible. It’s an experience that would shake even the bravest adult but Ehben approached it with a calmness that stood out to everyone in the room. Despite the pain and the anxiety, he remained cooperative throughout, following instructions carefully and even helping to position himself for the procedure. It was a level of maturity that left a lasting impression on the medical team caring for him.

In recognition of that courage, they awarded him one of their bravery medals, part of a special tradition in the emergency department where young patients are celebrated for the strength they show during treatment. These medals, donated by members of the community, carry far more meaning than their size suggests. They transform what could be a traumatic memory into something empowering… a reminder that even in difficult moments, there is something to be proud of.

“Visits to the emergency department can be frightening for children,” says Eugene Ferreira, General Manager of Netcare Olivedale Hospital. “Recognising their courage helps make the experience less intimidating and celebrates the remarkable resilience young patients often show. Ehben’s bravery was truly inspiring to witness.”

For Ehben, this wasn’t his first experience with a knee dislocation, which makes his response all the more remarkable. He already knew what to expect, yet he still chose to face it head-on. Now focused on recovery, he is attending physiotherapy, working with a biokineticist, and even going to gym to strengthen the muscles around his knees. He has a condition known as patella alta, where the kneecaps sit higher than usual, increasing the likelihood of dislocations, and while surgery isn’t an option just yet, his commitment to rehabilitation is clear.

“He is very dedicated to his recovery,” his mom explains. “He attends physiotherapy, works with a biokineticist, and even goes to the gym to strengthen the muscles around his knees. Keeping him fit, active, and healthy is our priority. He never complains, even when the exercises are challenging or painful. As parents, we should never take it for granted when our children are healthy and able to participate in sports without limitations.”

Beyond the hospital, Ehben is a curious and determined young boy who attends Laerskool Unika, where he explores his love for computers and technology through robotics. He also plays hockey and is determined to keep going, even with the fear of future dislocations lingering in the background. Last year, he represented his school at the 2025 World Robotics Olympiad, and he has his sights set on doing it again.

After his treatment, Ehben was discharged later that same day with a knee brace and crutches, but not before taking the time to thank every member of the medical team who helped him. It’s a small detail, but one that speaks volumes about the kind of person he is.

And while this story belongs to one young boy, it also reflects something much bigger happening across South Africa. From hospital initiatives like this one to national drives like the HAHA Bling for Bravery campaign, where thousands of donated race medals are given to children facing medical challenges, there’s a growing movement focused on recognising courage in the moments where it matters most.

More than 22,000 medals were collected earlier this year alone, each one destined to become a symbol of strength for a child who needs it. It is a beautiful act of kindness to gift a moment of completing a challenge, to honour a stranger’s bravery. It’s South African. And we are here for it.

Sources: Netcare | HAHA Bling 

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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What happens internally when leadership takes hold? Jeni-Anne Campbell explores the personal transformation behind responsibility.

South Africa (01 April 2026) – Jeni-Anne Campbell is back with some new insights for South African businesswomen. This time, she is focusing on the leadership identity shift that one needs to prepare for. She shares that no one prepares you for these shifts, so giving this insight is her way of helping women within the business space.

Who were you before responsibility found you, asks Jeni-Anne Campbell, founder of The Good Businesswoman and author of Feeding Unicorns. It is a question that sits at the heart of Leadrescence, a concept she developed to describe how responsibility reshapes leaders in ways we rarely acknowledge.

At some point in every leader’s journey, there is a shift. Leadership stops being about what you do and quietly becomes about who you are.

We are well-trained for the external demands of leadership. Strategy, growth, financial management, performance. These are the things we are taught to measure, refine and improve. What we are not prepared for is the internal transformation that comes with being responsible for other people’s livelihoods.

Because that responsibility is not abstract. It is deeply human.

It looks like carrying the weight of payroll while managing client expectations. It looks like being the calm one at work and the strong one at home. It looks like making decisions that affect not just revenue, but stability, security and the lives of the people who depend on you.

Over time, this level of responsibility begins to reorganise you. Your tolerance for uncertainty increases, your emotional regulation is tested daily, your decision-making sharpens under pressure, and without even realising it, you become more resilient, more capable and more composed than you ever expected to be.

From the outside, this is what leadership success looks like – good job! But there is another side to this transformation that is far less visible.

Leadership is not the only space where identity is reshaped by responsibility. In psychology, the term matrescence is used to describe the developmental transition into motherhood, a process where identity reorganises, priorities shift, and emotional capacity expands. It acknowledges that becoming a mother changes who you are, not just what you do.

Leadrescence builds on this idea. It recognises that leadership creates a similar shift. When you become responsible for teams, payroll, clients and livelihoods, your internal world reorganises in ways that are just as profound, but far less acknowledged.

And, if left unconscious, Leadrescence can harden identity in the name of competence.

Many women leaders wake up one day incredibly capable, but quietly disconnected from themselves. They have built strength, but lost a sense of wholeness. They are performing at a high level, but operating in a constant state of survival.

This is where the conversation becomes more complex for women.

We are still navigating a leadership narrative that asks us to hold opposing expectations. To be decisive, strategic and authoritative, while also being empathetic, likeable and emotionally available. To lead and to carry, to perform, and, while we’re doing it, to also make people feel secure.

The result is often overextension: over-preparing, over-anticipating, over-carrying. And over time, that becomes unsustainable.

This is why naming Leadrescence matters. Because once we understand that leadership is changing us, we can begin to engage with that change deliberately. Leadership pressure can either strengthen you or harden you. The difference lies in whether the transformation is conscious.

Conscious Leadrescence is the decision to actively participate in who you are becoming as a leader. It is the shift from surviving responsibility to selecting how you carry it.

What does this look like? Setting boundaries and repeating them, even when it feels uncomfortable. Allowing your team to solve problems without stepping in immediately. Resisting the instinct to fix everything, to overexplain, or to carry more than is yours to carry.

It also requires a redefinition of strength.

Many leaders operate as though strength means being unbreakable. The ability to absorb pressure without showing cracks has become a quiet benchmark for success, but sustained leadership inevitably creates pressure points. The goal is not to avoid breaking but to repair deliberately.

The philosophy of Kintsugi offers a powerful parallel. In this Japanese art form, broken pottery is repaired with gold. The cracks are not hidden; they are reinforced and become part of the object’s strength and story.

Leadership is no different. When we engage consciously with Leadrescence, we stop protecting an image of resilience and start building something far more sustainable. A version of leadership that is calm, boundaried and clear that carries responsibility without carrying everything.

This shift is particularly important in a South African context, where leaders are operating in environments that demand resilience on multiple levels. Economic pressure, social responsibility and business performance often intersect in ways that require leaders to carry more than their role description suggests.

At the same time, there is a growing recognition that performance and well-being are not opposing forces. The most effective leaders are not those who carry the most, but those who lead with clarity, perspective and intention.

Leadrescence gives us a practical framework for that shift.

It reminds us that leadership will change us whether we engage with it or not. The real question is whether we allow that change to happen unconsciously, or whether we choose to shape it.

Because success should feel as good looking back as it does moving forward. And that requires more than capability; it requires wholeness.

Leadrescence is inevitable. Conscious Leadrescence is where sustainable power lives.

Sources: Linked above.

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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What should have been a devastating medical emergency turned into a story of rapid recovery, thanks to quick thinking, expert care, and being in the right place at the right time.

Western Cape, South Africa (01 April 2026) – Una van Rhyn didn’t have time to second-guess herself. One moment her husband was resting on the couch, the next he was lying on the floor, unable to move. Minutes later, behind the wheel with everything on the line, she made a call that would change the outcome of that day… and the days that followed.

When Una found Andrew face down on the living room carpet last November, she knew instantly that something was terribly wrong. The 65-year-old contractor from Melkbosstrand had been resting just moments earlier and now his right side appeared paralysed. It looked like a stroke… and every second suddenly mattered.

What followed, in Una’s words, was “an absolute stroke of luck, and God sent”.

“We were driving towards another hospital where Andrew’s regular doctor practised when he suffered what appeared to be a second stroke right there in the car. As his body went limp beside me, I made the decision that I believe saved his life – I pulled into the nearest hospital instead,” she recalls.

That nearest hospital turned out to be exactly where they needed to be. Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital had only weeks earlier become the first hospital in the Western Cape to achieve World Stroke Organization Essential Stroke Centre certification. It is one of just two hospitals in Africa to hold this distinction, alongside Netcare Garden City Hospital in Gauteng. In that moment, none of that was front of mind for Una. She just knew she needed help. What she found was a team ready to act with urgency, skill and care.

“Andrew was unresponsive when we arrived at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital’s emergency department. When he finally came to, tears were streaming down his face. He kept trying to speak but could not form the words. I could see him struggling, desperate to say something,” she says.

It was a frightening scene, made heavier by Andrew’s medical history. He had experienced a mild stroke in 2020 and had been living with serious endocrine issues for nearly four decades. This time felt different. More severe. More uncertain.

And yet, within that uncertainty, something remarkable began to unfold.

“The entire emergency team was incredible. Dr Charl Carstens and the unit manager, Claudette Lotz, kept me fully informed throughout. When their shift ended at 7 pm, no one left. The whole team stayed until Andrew was stable and transferred to the ICU. That level of dedication made all the difference – healthcare professionals don’t get nearly enough recognition for this sort of commitment,” Una adds.

Under the care of neurologist Dr Dinita Devchand, Andrew’s treatment followed internationally recognised protocols designed for exactly these kinds of critical moments. Stroke care is measured in minutes, and the systems in place ensured that every one of those minutes was used effectively.

Dr Devchand explains it clearly: “When blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, brain tissue can no longer get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die – a reality captured by the saying ‘Time is brain’.”

“This critical neurological damage makes acute stroke a medical emergency where every second counts, and it is this urgency that drives every aspect of our treatment protocols, from the moment a patient enters through our emergency department to their recovery.”

In South Africa, that urgency carries even more weight. Around 75,000 people suffer strokes each year, with 25,000 cases proving fatal. Survivors often face long-term challenges, with an estimated 95,000 collective years lived with disability. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest stroke incidence rates in the world.

Which is why access to the right care, at the right time, can change everything.

The World Stroke Organization certification represents a comprehensive system of care, from rapid assessment protocols and specialist stroke teams to advanced imaging, treatment options and rehabilitation services. According to Sr Sylvia Ninham, nursing services manager at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, these standards directly influence patient outcomes.

“Quicker treatment times, access to the latest therapies, and teams equipped with proven protocols can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent disability,” she explains.

For Andrew, it meant something extraordinary. His previous, milder stroke in 2020 had kept him in hospital for over a week. This time, despite the severity, he was back at work in just ten days.

“I know it sounds strange to say this about a stroke, but the whole experience was actually as positive as something like this could turn out to be. The entire team was simply fantastic. They made all the difference,” says Una.

There is also a message here that goes beyond one family’s experience. Up to 90% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, reducing stress and going for regular check-ups all play a role.

“Stroke is often called a ‘brain attack’ because it closely resembles what occurs during a heart attack. The same lifestyle changes that protect your heart can also help safeguard your brain,” adds Dr Devchand.

At its core, this story is about a moment. A decision made under pressure. A turn into the nearest hospital instead of the familiar one. A team that showed up and stayed. And a system that worked exactly as it was designed to.

Sources: Netcare 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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A practical workplace initiative is helping employees and employers identify accessibility gaps and rethink how inclusive their environments really are.

Western Cape, South Africa (27 March 2026) – The Western Cape Association of and for Persons with Disabilities is pushing for a more honest look at how inclusive South African workplaces really are, and they’re doing it in a way that’s hard to ignore.

Through its Walk in My Wheels initiative, the organisation is encouraging companies to move beyond policies and actually experience what accessibility feels like on the ground. The programme challenges employees to spend part of their workday using a wheelchair while going about their usual tasks.

It’s during this time that small, often overlooked details start to stand out. Spaces that seem functional at first glance can quickly reveal limitations, from tight office layouts to facilities that aren’t designed with everyone in mind.

The goal is not to simulate disability, but to build awareness in a practical, real-world way. By placing people in unfamiliar situations, the programme opens up conversations around how workplaces are designed and whether they truly cater to a diverse workforce.

This comes at a time when disability inclusion in South Africa still has a long way to go. Despite national targets, representation of persons with disabilities in the workforce remains low. While attitudes are slowly evolving, many environments are still not fully equipped to support meaningful participation.

According to the organisation, one of the biggest gaps lies in how businesses assess their own readiness.

The experience also encourages teams to reflect on how they support one another. Inclusion is not only about infrastructure, but also about understanding, empathy and everyday interactions in the workplace.

By rolling out programmes like this, the association is calling on organisations to take a more active role in shaping inclusive spaces. It’s about shifting from intention to action and recognising that real change often starts with seeing things from a different perspective.

Sources: Western Cape Association of and for Persons with Disabilities (WCAPD) 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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For children who have faced more than most, finding a space to feel safe, strong and in control can change everything… and that’s exactly what’s happening here.

Johannesburg, South Africa (21 March 2026) – For the past year, I’ve been riding a motorbike thanks to Linex Sandton Yamaha… and while that’s been an adventure on its own, this story isn’t about me. It’s about what happens when those same bikes become something far more meaningful.

In an exclusive interview with Tiffini Hein from The Maletsatsi Foundation, I got to unpack how a “happy accident” grew into Team Zonke… a programme where motorbikes are helping children rebuild confidence, process trauma and find their footing again.

“Team Zonke has been the best thing we have done for our children and their mental and physical well-being.”

From the start, Tiffini makes it clear this wasn’t planned. It came from a gap that needed filling. Traditional therapy simply isn’t always accessible for children in care, especially when legal processes or systemic challenges get in the way.

“Truthfully, Team Zonke is a very happy accident,” she says.

“Traditional therapy is notoriously difficult for kids in care to access, and there are a number of reasons for that. Children who are involved in criminal cases are often not permitted to access talk therapy until those cases are closed, because it’s seen as potentially influencing their testimony, and that process can take years. So you have a child arriving in your care having been through something incredibly traumatic, needing support immediately, but unable to access the very systems that are meant to help them. And even outside of that, therapy is just not easily accessible for many of our families… there are language barriers, financial constraints and often just the overwhelming complexity of navigating it all.”

That reality led to a decision rooted in instinct rather than strategy. One child needed an outlet but the suggested path didn’t feel right.

“Just over two years ago, one of our children was finally able to access a combination of therapies, all of which he absolutely hated, and the recommendation was to get him into wrestling as a way to channel his energy. But my gut just didn’t sit right with that. These kids already carry so much, and there is already so much stigma attached to children in alternate care. I didn’t want to place him in an environment where he might be misunderstood or labelled again. I also didn’t want to see him in a space that simulated fighting… they’ve had enough of that in their lives already.”

So she looked closer to home. And what she found was a motorbike. Her husband has always ridden motorbikes, so there were always bikes around, and at the time, there was a small kids’ bike in the garage that hadn’t really been used.

“We popped a helmet on him, put him on the bike and enrolled him in some basic coaching, just to see what would happen. And then we started watching him blossom. I mean the change in this child was unbelievable. It wasn’t just about the riding, it was about confidence, about presence, about something shifting inside him.”

That shift didn’t stay with just one child. It sparked curiosity. It drew others in. And before long, something bigger began to take shape.

By Tiffini’s own words, their home had become “a melting pot of trauma and medical stress.” The children had experienced loss, uncertainty and emotional weight that few should carry so young. The bikes arrived into that space… and slowly, something changed.

“The bikes came in and started becoming an outlet for so much of that. We started seeing children who were so overwhelmed by stress that they couldn’t even make eye contact begin to find confidence behind a helmet, and then slowly bring that confidence into their everyday lives. We saw kids become stronger, more aware, and more capable of making decisions.”

What happens on the track doesn’t stay on the track. Their riders have learnt to master both their bikes and their emotions. They learn to assess risk, to recognise danger, and to make informed decisions. That carries directly into daily life. But Tiffini believes the most important shift is that riding gives them back something that was taken from them. That something is deeply personal… and incredibly powerful.

“For many of our children, ownership of their bodies has been taken from them, whether through abuse, neglect or medical trauma. On a bike, that changes. They are the ones making the decisions. They choose the speed, they assess the risk, they decide when to push and when to pull back. It’s not something that is done to them, it’s something they actively create. And that is profoundly healing.”

This is where Linex Yamaha becomes part of the story. Not just as a sponsor but as an early believer.

“Yamaha was the first corporate to really see Team Zonke and believe in it as something real. They sponsored one of our first bikes, and that belief meant more than I think they even realise. Because behind the scenes, we are making this work through what I jokingly call ‘mom math’, but in reality, it’s a lot of personal sacrifice. We are investing everything we can into this because we’ve seen what it does for the kids, but we also know that we can’t sustain it alone forever.”

And when you hear the stories of the kids, that support starts to make even more sense.

“We have one little guy who was told he would never walk and that he wouldn’t amount to much, and he kept watching the other kids ride and saying, ‘Mommy, mine want to ride’. One day I just decided that we were going to make it happen. We went to Yamaha, got him onto a bike, and he just took off. The joy on his face was something I will never forget. Today, he rides like he owns the track.”

“I mean, imagine being told you would never walk and then quite literally giving the middle finger to the world by hopping onto a motorbike.”

Tiffini speaks with so much passion about that story. The video she shared with me made me see why. But there are more stories like that. Stories of kids finding their voice, their confidence and their place again.

“We have another young man who came into our home carrying a level of trauma that is difficult to describe, and over time, through riding and being part of this team, we’ve watched him find himself again. He’s now editing videos of his rides, he’s found confidence on the bike, he’s standing on podiums, and his dad said to me recently, ‘Mum T, this boy is more than my ancestors could dream.’”

Looking ahead, the focus is simple. Keep going. Grow the impact. Bring more kids into the fold.

“We’ve got our Ride for a Reason campaign this year, which is about creating awareness and raising funds so we can keep this going. Riding is eye-wateringly expensive, from the bikes to the gear to the nutrition, but the return is something you can’t measure on paper. We just need more people to understand why this matters.”

And maybe that’s the most important part of the story. Not the bikes or the races… the shift. Kids who once felt small now taking up space. Kids who didn’t have control now making decisions. Kids who were defined by what happened to them now defining what comes next.

“You can see it in the way they ride. You can feel it in the way they show up.”

And once you see it, you understand… this is working.

Click here for more information about The Maletsatsi Foundation or Linex Yamaha.

Sources: Interview with Tiffini Hein 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post When Motorbikes Became a Lifeline for South African Kids! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

SME’s from across South Africa were invited to join the My Incredible Business campaign, and Radio PlayZN won season 1.

South Africa (19 March 2026) – Small businesses in South Africa are the bedrock of keeping local economies thriving, which is why Incredible launched the My Incredible Business campaign to honour the hard work every day citizens put into their small businesses.

The Incredible Business Series shines a spotlight on local entrepreneurs who have weathered storms, bet on themselves and kept moving forward. The series was born from a deep belief that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are the true innovators and the driving force of South Africa’s economy. It was an invitation for SMEs to share what really happened on the road to building their business, the struggle, the turning point, and the breakthrough.

We helped them rally support, calling for businesses to step forward, and as promised, the winner of Season 1 has now been announced.

Meet Radio PlayZN, founded by Keri Miller and Fiona McCarthy. The duo embodied the ‘incredible’ spirit of passion and perseverance through the craft of digital broadcasting. Keri brings her expertise from working in traditional radio, while Fiona brings years of strategic corporate expertise. Together, they have created a business that gives the KwaZulu-Natal community quality and informed content.

It was these cornerstones that earned Radio PlayZN the win and the coveted R50,000 in Incredible vouchers to invest in the technology needed to take their business to the next level.

What makes Keri and Fiona’s story so inspiring is that they worked with what they had to build something better. Radio PlayZN started in a shipping container, which they transformed into a fully-fledged digital studio. They not only offer traditional broadcasting but have created an online space where the modern listener can access live streaming, curated content, podcast snippets and high-quality storytelling. It’s adaptable to the listener’s needs.

And with the right tools in hand, they have really got the opportunity to take things to the next level! You can listen to them via the website, follow on the socials Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, or stream directly through the TuneIn app, or the PlayZN app on the Google Play Store.

Incredible is committed to providing tailored technology solutions, from hardware and software to connectivity. Whether it is advanced laptops for production, high-end cameras for digital content, or reliable routers to ensure seamless broadcasting, Incredible Business stands shoulder to shoulder with them as they scale.

“This is more than just telling stories; it’s about capturing the very heartbeat of each business,” says the Incredible Business team. “By giving businesses like Radio PlayZN a platform, we help them be seen, heard, and celebrated”

The best part of all is that the story doesn’t end here, not for Keri and Fiona, and not for other SME’s, because My Incredible Business is gearing up for season 2, giving more entrepreneurs the opportunity to tell their stories and win big.

Entering is simple: register an online business profile with Incredible Business. Just complete the entry form at www.incredible.co.za/myincrediblebusiness and share your business story.

Good Things Guy has proudly partnered with Incredible to bring the My Incredible Business campaign to life. Together, we’ll be sharing the inspiring stories of small and medium-sized businesses across South Africa… the innovators, the job creators and the dreamers who turn ideas into livelihoods.

As South Africa’s largest tech retailer, Incredible makes first-to-market innovation accessible to all. Through their division, Incredible Business, they’re working to equip SMEs with the tools and technology needed to thrive, from laptops that keep the books balanced to printers that keep the admin flowing to screens that turn a family restaurant into a game-day hotspot.

At the heart of this campaign is a powerful promise: to celebrate and support local businesses.

We can’t wait to share these stories with you. Stories of resilience, passion and the courage to dream bigger. This is where ambition meets innovation and where South Africans get to see what it truly means to Be Incredible.

Sources: Incredible

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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When the pandemic closed one door, Nancy didn’t just wait for another to open. She built a whole new world for the children of Khayelitsha.

Cape Town, South Africa (18 March 2026) – Sometimes, it’s only when life challenges us that we realise how far our passion and potential can truly take us.

When Mthwakazi Nancy Soqaka lost her teaching job during the COVID‑19 pandemic, she faced a decision familiar to many experienced Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners. She could look for another job, or she could take the risk of building something of her own.

Nancy chose to build and started her own preschool.

Today, just four years later, Nancy is the founder and owner of Grow Buddies Preschool and Aftercare in Khayelitsha and has recently opened a second ECD centre, growing her business, creating jobs, and reaching more children with high‑quality early learning.

Starting With Experience, Not Capital

Nancy spent 15 years working at a preschool in Pinelands before losing her job in 2021 due to the pandemic. Encouraged by her former employer and driven by a deep passion for children, she decided to open her own centre in the community where she lived.

She admits that starting without funding was daunting. With donated equipment, a rented house in poor condition, and just four children enrolled, Nancy relied on word of mouth, community trust, and her professional experience to get started.

“It was a little bit scary, but I was brave. I told some of my neighbours that I’m going to open my preschool, and because they knew of my previous experience, they trusted me. One parent even told me they would wait for me to open my school before enrolling their child anywhere else,” Nancy recalls.

Grow Buddies Preschool and Aftercare opened in 2022, responding to a clear need in Khayelitsha for quality early learning delivered in English and rooted in strong educational practice.

Turning a Passion Project into a Sustainable Business

As enrolment slowly increased, Nancy recognised that passion alone would not be enough to sustain her centre or put food on the table. She needed business skills. She was introduced to Grow ECD, a non‑profit social enterprise that supports ECD centres in operating and expanding as viable businesses.

After meeting the required enrolment threshold, Nancy joined Grow ECD’s Business Accelerator Programme, a six-week training focused on building confidence, business skills, and long-term sustainability for ECD owners.

“That training changed my mindset. It gave me the courage to think bigger and plan properly. I knew this was the start of something big,” she says.

Nancy received structured business mentoring, teacher training, quality education equipment, and access to digital tools that transformed how she managed her centre. Her business mentor helped her simplify fee structures, improve financial tracking, and adopt processes – and the mindset – that now guides how she runs her schools.

“You are not running a charity. You are running a business. You must have a brain for the business and a heart for the children,” Nancy explains.

“Before, it was very stressful for me to do the filing and bookkeeping. But now I use the the free Giraffe App. I can register my finances there, do a staff register, take the children’s register, and record my expenditures. I can record everything that is happening in my centre,“ says Nancy.

Using the Grow ECD App, Nancy now manages enrolment, staff records, finances, and reporting in one place, reducing administrative pressure and enabling better decision‑making.

At the same time, education mentors supported her with classroom setup, curriculum planning, observation, and assessment, strengthening the quality of education offered at Grow Buddies.

“The quality of education is five-star. The children’s language, confidence, and development improved across the board,” she says.

Growth That Creates Jobs and Reaches More Children

As quality improved, demand followed. Enrolment soon exceeded the space available at Nancy’s original site. Temporary solutions helped for a time, but further expansion became necessary.

With access to Grow ECD’s funding pathways, Nancy secured funding to refurbish a second property, enabling the opening of Grow Buddies 2.

At the same time, Breadline SA, a Grow ECD partner, generously supported the expansion by providing a classroom container at the original site, increasing capacity and improving infrastructure.

Together, this support made it possible for Nancy to expand responsibly while maintaining quality.

Today, Grow Buddies supports:

• 17 children in the original classroom
• 20 children in the Breadline classroom container
• 16 children at Grow Buddies 2

From a single centre with four children, Nancy has built a growing ECD enterprise that creates employment and expands access to quality early learning in Khayelitsha.

And the parents? They couldn’t be happier, sharing the positive changes in their children’s development, language and confidence.

A Model for Scaling ECD Impact

“If we are serious about reaching more children with quality early learning, we have to stop treating ECD centres as informal projects and start supporting them as the businesses they are,” says Tracey Chambers, Co‑Founder of Grow ECD.

“Nancy’s journey shows what becomes possible when ECD entrepreneurs have access to the right business skills, systems, and partners. When centres are financially sustainable and professionally run, they don’t just survive, they grow, create jobs, and expand their impact year after year.”

Nancy is already planning her next phase of growth. Her long‑term vision is to develop a larger campus with multiple classes, outdoor play spaces, and education up to Grade 7.

“I know my dream will come true,” she says.

Sources: Grow ECD

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post A Khayelitsha Teacher Who Went from Job Loss to Opening Her 2nd ECD Centre appeared first on Good Things Guy.

This week, hundreds of people in Johannesburg will gather to break wooden boards, but the real goal is far greater: empowering thousands of women with knowledge that could save their lives.

Johannesburg, South Africa (16 March 2026) – Long before INpowered trained thousands of women and girls to defend themselves, the story began with a chance meeting in London. It was 1990 when Mark Grobbelaar crossed paths with Alison Botha while travelling. At the time, it was simply one of those fleeting encounters life sometimes offers. The two eventually went their separate ways, losing contact in an era before social media and search engines made reconnecting easy.

Years later, Mark would read Alison’s name again, this time under circumstances that would forever change the direction of his life.

On the 18th of December 1994, Alison was abducted, brutally assaulted and left for dead in one of the most horrifying attacks the country had ever seen. Against all odds, she survived. When Mark later read about what had happened in a magazine, he was stunned. The two eventually reconnected in April 2000, and hearing her recount the ordeal in detail stirred something profound in him.

A fifth-dan karate practitioner, Mark had spent years studying self-defence but Alison’s experience reframed everything he thought he knew about the subject.

“I realised that I had to share what I had known for so long with the world,” Mark explains. “Knowing something, having that knowledge, could potentially save someone’s life. When Alison got up and decided to live… the course of my life changed.”

He went on to write his thesis titled Girl Power – Self Defence for Women, which would eventually become the foundation for what is today known as INpowered.

When Alison read the thesis, she shared a sentence that has echoed through the programme ever since.

“Had I known this, my ordeal would never have happened.”

That moment turned a personal passion into a mission. In 2012, Mark left corporate life behind and committed himself fully to empowering women with practical self-protection skills through Woman INpowered (WIP). Over time, the initiative expanded, eventually bringing men into the conversation through Guy Responsibly INpowered (GRIP), creating the broader INpowered programme that now works with communities across South Africa and beyond.

Since its launch, the programme has reached more than 16,000 women and girls, teaching them to recognise danger, defuse situations where possible, and respond when necessary. And for Mark, the impact of that knowledge has already proven life-changing.

“Miss SA and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow (nee Nel-Peters) credits the INpowered program for being alive after being in an attempted hijacking just after she was crowned Miss SA,” he says.

It is stories like these that continue to fuel the work.

 

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Now, Mark and the INpowered team are hoping to expand their reach even further through an event called The INpowered Big Break, taking place at The Tryst in Johannesburg on the 18th of March 2026.

At first glance, the concept is simple: hundreds of participants gathering together to break wooden boards. But the symbolism runs far deeper.

The current record involves around 300 trained martial artists breaking boards simultaneously. INpowered hopes to break that record with 1,000 everyday people, most of them with no martial arts training at all, standing together to demonstrate something powerful.

“Breaking the board symbolises doing something you thought impossible,” Mark explains. “It gives you the belief that you have a choice, that you are not a victim, and that you don’t have to be afraid.”

Each ticket purchased contributes to something even bigger. The funds raised will help provide the full INpowered personal protection programme to 2,500 women and girls in 2026, many of whom would otherwise never have access to this kind of training.

“After the event, we will reach out to people to register for the training,” Mark says. “We’ll focus on underprivileged schools, shelters and organisations like Women For Change. The goal is to make sure the knowledge reaches the women who need it most.”

For Mark, this has never been about martial arts or breaking boards. It has always been about knowledge, choice and empowerment. And it all traces back to one woman’s survival story, and the words that changed everything.

“Had I known this…”

Today, thousands of women do.

Event Details:

The INpowered Big Break is scheduled for the same week as International Women’s Day 2026, uniting voices and fists in the fight against violence against women and children.

Date: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Time: 18h00 to 21h00 (registration at 17h00 for 17h30)
Location: The Tryst (20 Archimedes Street, Kramerville, Sandton)
Cost: R700.00 for two people

Each ticket purchased allows two participants to attend, as every delegate requires a partner to complete the board break.

Sources: Interview with Mark Grobbelaar 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post How One Survivor’s Story Sparked a Movement Empowering Women appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A dropped recliner, a squashed toe and a tangled Labrador. Jack and Jenna’s moving day mishap shows how Fedhealth’s flexiFED hospital plan steps in when life takes an unexpected turn.

South Africa (16 March 2026) – Life has a funny way of changing in an instant. One minute you are young and flexible, the next moment, you are dropping the new couch on your toes. Jenna and Jack, a 30-something duo getting serious about life together, are learning this.

The couple, who embody Fedhealth’s awareness campaign for 2026, have just moved in together, become pup parents to a Labrador named Murphy, and are learning the realities of taking care of one’s body.

Being young and still climbing their respective career ladders, they have chosen to invest their Rands in the Fedhealth’s flexiFED 2 GRID hospital plan. With GRID offering South Africa’s second-largest hospital network, they felt reassured that there would always be a hospital nearby should they ever need one.

On moving day, Jack learned a lesson that is all too familiar to many South Africans. Being sure he could manage carrying the recliner on his own, Murphy insisted help was necessary.

Somewhere between the bakkie and the front door, Murphy gets tangled up in Jack’s feet. Big recliner meets little toe… and Murphy ends up with a dramatic kink in her tail. No one knows for sure who yelped the loudest. Within minutes, they’re rushing to the casualty ward at the nearest network hospital, which was luckily just around the corner.

Jack’s hospital plan steps up, covering his X-rays and pain medication through the D2D+ benefit. Jenna feels relieved knowing that Murphy is also protected through the TAME Pet App that offers free virtual vet consultations. And with accident cover by Paw-Paw Pet Insurance, Murphy’s treatment comes with peace of mind.

Sure, the couple don’t quite get the moving day they dreamed of, but they get a great story to tell friends, and besides a little bruised ego, they walk away pretty unscathed. It’s also a good reminder that sometimes the real value of a medical aid that’s built different, shows up best when life trips you up – literally.

Jenna and Jack are joining a growing number of South Africans who are joining Fedhealth’s range of flexiFED plans.

A hospital plan that does more than you’d expect.

Fedhealth’s flexiFED range isn’t just conventional hospital plans – it’s hospital plans with access to back-up day-to-day savings, meaning you pay for a plan that fits your budget. It means having funds available for the day-to-day events that life throws at you.

But for 2026, Fedhealth has taken this even further with the introduction of the D2D+ benefit. flexiFED 1, 2, 3 and 4 members can now unlock up to R4,500 in extra day-to-day benefits simply by completing a Health Risk Assessment at any Fedhealth Network pharmacy and registering on the Fedhealth Member App. This unlocks cover for GP visits, specialist consultations, prescribed medication, basic dentistry and more.

For Jack, the D2D+ benefit meant the cost of his X-ray and pain meds were covered under his hospital plan. A big win when the couple needed a little reassurance.

Fedhealth’s GRID hospital network is the second largest in South Africa, featuring facilities from both Mediclinic and Netcare. Members on GRID options not only enjoy exceptional choice and access to quality care, but they also save 10% on their monthly contributions. This means that should Jack have needed an operation on his foot, he could have chosen from a wider range of hospitals, no matter where he lives.

Because your pet is family, too

Here’s the part that made Jack and Jenna’s moving day significantly less stressful: all Fedhealth medical aid plans include a free pet care benefit. Through the TAME Pet App, members receive one free online vet consultation per month (flexiFED Savvy members get two) that gives quick, convenient access to professional advice for your cats or dogs. And through Paw-Paw Pet Insurance, members also receive accident cover of up to R10 000 per year for their pets. This meant instant peace of mind for Jenna as she could get quick vet advice for Murphy’s tail. It’s the kind of benefit you don’t know you need, until you absolutely do.

For young and healthy couples like Jack and Jenna who want to be smart about their medical aid cover without overspending, Fedhealth’s flexiFED plans offer something genuinely different: a hospital plan that’s lean on cost but rich in protection, built for real life and all its unexpected moments.

Find out more about Fedhealth’s range of flexiFED plans here.

Sources: Linked Above 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post What One Moving Day Mishap Taught a Young Couple About Medical Cover appeared first on Good Things Guy.