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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It’s boots on the ground teamwork helping tip the scales for wildlife in Phalaborwa and surrounds.

Phalaborwa, Limpopo (21 August 2025) – Phalaborwa’s Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF) spent the last couple of days tracking down and removing an astonishing 111 deadly snares across three operations on two properties in Limpopo, where wildlife roam.

Snares are deadly traps laid out to catch anything from small birds and porcupines to buffalo, elephants, impala and kudu. Even predators like leopards, lions and unintended victims like vultures are often caught in snares. They are often hidden in the bush by poachers, hoping for an easy catch.

What most people don’t realise is how much suffering is involved. Animals can be trapped for days, badly injured, or killed outright. The reality is sad. In the PNHF’s recent operation, the team found heartbreaking evidence of that.

“[We] found a spot where a lioness and white-backed vulture was killed by snares in a well-hidden snare line. The lioness’s face and feet were hacked off and all that remains is a pile of bones,” the PNHF shared.

Remains of multiple impala and kudu littered the area, clear signs that these snare lines can wipe out entire food chains if left unchecked.

That is why the amazing work of this non-profit that helps to rescue injured wildlife and remove snares deserves to be celebrated. There’s good news here, too.

Thanks to volunteers, another snare line was found and removed before it could claim any more victims. Every wire pulled out is a life potentially saved, and every operation means fewer animals lost to senseless cruelty and human-animal conflict.

The fight against snaring and poaching is never easy, and it’s certainly never finished. The organisation, which launched five years ago, has covered amazing ground this year alone, having patrolled over 464 kilometres, removed over 1349 snares and rescued 10 animals in 2025.

“It is easier said than done, but we will keep fighting!” says the PNHF.

The work relies on volunteers, donors, and local support from the Phalaborwa community and its surroundings. It just shows what a big difference ordinary people can make for wildlife.

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 & 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 & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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From the dusty streets of South Africa’s townships to the world! This is the dream of four driven young women who have been selected to represent Africa at Devcon 7, one of the world’s premier blockchain conferences, held in Bangkok, Thailand.

South Africa (07 November 2024) – Four extraordinary young women from the heart of South Africa are set to make waves on the global tech stage.

Maite Lemekoana, Lindokuhle Mlilo, Sandile M’remi, and Genevieve Shabangu, hailing from the townships of Phalaborwa, Tembisa, and Soweto, have been selected to represent WeThinkCode_ and Africa’s Blockchain Club at Devcon 7, one of the world’s premier blockchain conferences.

Having fully immersed themselves in coding, these brilliant minds are passionate about addressing the continent’s skills gap and youth unemployment crisis through accessible software development training.

Together they have developed an innovative coding project called OffConnectX, co-founded by Maite and Sandile, which harnesses the Lisk blockchain to enable offline transactions, addressing the challenge of unreliable internet connectivity in rural African areas.

This impressive solution supports communities by ensuring safe, reliable financial transactions and fostering economic growth even in areas with limited digital infrastructure.

Support needed to make a dream come true

The opportunity to attend the global event is more than just an opportunity to attend a conference; it’s a chance to inspire a generation and shape the future of Africa’s tech landscape.

“Attending Devcon 7 goes beyond gaining technical knowledge. We will assist in the event’s execution and engage directly with global leaders and industry pioneers.

“This experience will allow us to bring back insights, strategies, and collaborations that could drive initiatives in our communities and inspire others to explore blockchain’s potential for solving pressing issues, from unreliable connectivity to barriers in financial access,” the ladies said.

The group is scheduled to leave for Bangkok on 8 November for an eleven-night stay. While funds are tight, they are hopeful to raise the R200,000 they’ll need for travel, accommodation and conference fees, to at least travel there on Monday, 11 November.

“Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to representing Africa on a global stage—where we’ll gain insights, foster connections, and, most importantly, bring home knowledge to spark innovation and inclusion in Africa’s tech landscape,” the trailblazers appealed.

To make a donation to help make this dream come true visit the crowdfunding BackaBuddy page at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/devcon7-in-thailand

Sources: Supplied

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & 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 & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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