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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Sello, who carried his injured dog 15km to save her life, now has some stability, and Option is bouncing around happily on three legs!

Free State, South Africa (7 April 2026) – Their story showed us all what love between a man and his best friend looks like. In October last year, Sello walked 15 kilometres, with Option wrapped up in his arms, to meet the team from Virginia SPCA on the road outside Odendaalsrus.

Option had been struck by a speeding car. With his last few rand spent on airtime, Sello made the call to save her. After being turned away by other shelters and organisations who had no capacity to help, the Virginia SPCA finally answered. They met him on the road, and took Option in.

The story blew up across South Africa. Support and donations poured in. Weeks later, Sello visited Option at the SPCA with tears in his eyes. That reunion moved thousands more. We were all crying snot en trane.

It’s almost six months since that moment happened. This week, the SPCA shared that Sello and his beloved Option paid them a visit, and they’re doing well. The picture (and video in the comments section linked here) are everything.

Option has made a full recovery. She lost a leg in the accident, but this little three-legged doggie doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo that life is supposed to be harder. She’s doing just fine. Sello is doing well, too. A previous update shared that he is employed through to the end of May – stability makes all the difference for a man who gives everything he has to the ones he loves.

The Virginia SPCA playfully asked the public to guess who the two mystery guests in their post were. Hundreds of people, who never forgot their names or their story, flooded in with warmth and recognition.

“We could never forget Sello and little Option.”

“Two champions!”

“Brave Option with his hero Sello.”

“Sello and Option attached by special love chain”

“Even Hollywood could not dream up such an incredible story of love, resilience and compassion.”

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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Turning green into gold, entries to this year’s Eco-Logic Awards have opened.

South Africa (07 April 2026) – Heads up to all eco-innovators, sustainability champions and earth-kind heroes across South Africa – the Eco-Logic Awards 2026 are officially open for entries!

Now in their 15th year, the Eco-Logic Awards are South Africa’s most loved celebration of the people, projects and businesses finding smarter, kinder and better ways to look after our planet. From water-saving technologies to circular fashion and community-driven conservation, these awards exist to find the change-makers and make sure their work gets the spotlight it deserves.

Africa’s social impact economy is currently worth an estimated $96 billion annually and supports around 12 million jobs, with South Africans playing a huge role in driving that forward. Every innovative solution, every community project, every eco-conscious business is part of something far bigger.

Last year, Pure Flow Amanzi took silver for a gravity-fed water filtration system, bringing clean, safe drinking water to rural communities. Up-Cycled Cloth Collective took gold for transforming discarded textiles into fashion that people love. More on that here.

Backed over the years by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and a host of leading corporate partners, the awards recognise Gold, Silver and Bronze winners across 12 categories including Climate Change, Water Conservation, Circular Economy and Waste Innovation, Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle, Eco-Innovation, and Eco-Communities.

Entry is completely free and open to individuals, organisations, businesses and community groups. Submissions close at the end of June 2026, and this year’s celebration takes place on 5 October (World Habitat Day) at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, with the brilliant Themba Robin back as MC.

If you’re doing the work, go show it off. Head here to enter or find out more.

Sources: Eco-Logic Awards.

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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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Steve has just done something incredible! He’s walked 300 km, from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay, in his ongoing mission to raise over a million rand to help fund the studies of young students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Cape Town, South Africa (07 April 2026) – Retired Steve Murphy first had the idea after his wife Jenny counselled a young Zimbabwean girl who had lost her estranged father, and her mother just six months later. At eighteen, this left her unable to complete her matric, and with it, her future shrank in ways it shouldn’t have had to.

Thankfully, Steve and Jenny were able to help her financially. In doing so, they realised how many more young adults were navigating the same reality in South Africa. Too many capable minds are denied the chance to build careers, support their families and contribute to society, simply because they can’t afford to finish school or get into tertiary education.

“We could help the young lady financially but we also realised there were many others in this predicament and thought we would try ‘something’ like a walk!” Steve tells us.

That’s how it began. He mapped out a 300-kilometre route from bay to bay, a growing BackaBuddy campaign in tow, with an initial goal of one million rand, enough to cover student fees for at least a handful of young South Africans who needed a hand.

Steve started out knowing his efforts wouldn’t solve the national unemployment crisis, but was equally convinced that hope, placed in capable hands, leads somewhere worth going.

“I am not really trying to ‘eat the elephant’ – I think, if we give young people skills we create hope and they are resourceful enough to find their own way. Build a solid base (that is an entity which is credible, authentic and real) and which others are happy to support, and the rest will follow. Empowered people do things that assist others.”

A call for sponsorship went out to his network, and Steve set off step by step. Over two weeks, he crossed the Garden Route to Storms River and back to Plettenberg Bay. He covered 300 km, averaging around 20 kilometres a day. It’s no small feat for anyone, let alone a champ of 74!

The road made space for all kinds of thoughts, but perhaps the greatest realisation was that making a difference can be as straightforward as putting one foot in front of the other for a worthy cause.

“I am a person of faith, so I did wonder if in my latter years I might still be fruitful. I also was encouraged to reach out to others with so little when I had so much. I was profoundly moved by the courtesy, kindness and respect from fellow pedestrians. I wondered if I lived in the same country as our parliamentarians and much of the media. I do not want to diminish the pain of those who have suffered violence and loss, but whilst that was a concern of mine, my lived experience was very different. So my thoughts have turned to registering a PBO and doing this ‘full time’ going forward.”

Along the way, Steve and his network raised R226,792. And then came a pledge that blew his original goal out of the water.

“The support I’ve received has been amazing, outstanding and humbling. I also received a pledge from the Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences of R1 million in educational bursaries for 2026!”

Around ten applicants have already reached out for help. The R1.25 million raised so far will get their studies off the ground, but the goal has grown, and so has Steve’s appetite for it. He’s already planning the next one.

“Now that I’ve reached the end of the journey, I feel on top of the world, grateful for a body that is still resilient, and ready to do more – I’m motivated for next year’s effort!”

Ultimately, choosing to give might just be the most rewarding thing a person can do with their time on earth.

“So much of western lifestyle is about getting, keeping, having. Jesus taught that giving is more blessed. It brings more contentment and satisfaction than getting. This exercise has confirmed for me that truth! So here is to trying to give a little more each day!”

Steve’s campaign is still running. If you’d like to support his cause, follow this link.

Sources: GTG Interview.

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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 74-Year-Old Walks 300km and Raises Over R1 Million to Help Students Cover Fees! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Albert’s message was about spreading peace and hope through harmony. A legacy he built for fifty-five years, in his time with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

South Africa (07 April 2026) – A legend has fallen. On Easter Sunday, Albert Mazibuko ended his Earthly watch at 77-years-old. The South African music icon had, for more than five decades, spread messages of peace and hope, his greatest gift to the world.

Albert first joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the year of its inception in 1969, when founding member Joseph Shabalala began recruiting his friends in a mission to breathe life into a vision that had first appeared to him in a dream.

That dream was brought into the world with the group’s formation. For fifty-five years, Mazibuko made a meaningful impact in South Africa and beyond alongside his friends turned brothers, through harmony and dance.

The group, as most South Africans will know, is a peaceful warrior of social justice and culture. Through music, they’ve inspired thousands, including the greats. Nelson Mandela said that the harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo were his strength and inspiration while he was held captive.

When Joseph retired from the group in 2014, Albert became the wise elder of the group.

“Albert was a saint. He was kind to a fault. He loved traveling the world, spreading the mission and music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He never tired of talking about the group’s history and its desire to spread ‘Peace, Love and Harmony’ everywhere people had ears to listen.” Ladysmith Black Mambazo shares.

In a documentary made about the group more than a decade ago, Albert shared insight into what drove his passion for music. It was about awakening peace and love within others and sharing hope with the world.

“To have peace, we need peace inside us. To have peace inside us, we need to have each other.” he said.

Mazibuko said that their voices had joined to spread the hope of tomorrow and to heal the present. Singing was a tradition he held close to his heart, a vessel strong enough to carry these powerful messages all around the world.

“To sing is always a tradition where I’m from. Singing for love, peace and harmony”

Below is a snippet from the documentary we mentioned earlier. In it, Albert’s gentle, loving and kind spirit shines through. It honours the legacy and hope he now so gracefully leaves behind. If you’ve been feeling low, allow Albert’s memory and his message to spark something greater in you.

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. 

The post The Powerful Message Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Albert Mazibuko Leaves Behind appeared first on Good Things Guy.

There was a meter of synthetic string wound around its beak and inside its mouth.

Gansbaai, Western Cape (07 April 2026) – Cape gannets are generally much too fast for human hands to catch. They’re built for speed with sharp eyes and razor beaks. They can outsmart even the quickest flick of a fish. This gannet, on the other hand, didn’t put up a fight when its rescuers drew closer. That’s when the crew of the Dream Catcher knew that something must’ve been awry.

The Marine Dynamics Marine Big 5 Tour vessel had been out with guests on the water near Gansbaai when the crew spotted the bird flying low, trailing what appeared to be a length of synthetic string. It landed on the surface without diving or taking off. It just sat there as they inched closer.

Crew members Zwelandile Matiwane, Admire Kuseka, and Leon Kriel reached for the net kept on board for these moments and scooped the bird from the water. When it didn’t resist and didn’t so much as snap, they understood how close to the end it really was.

“It was as if it was saying: ‘I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to eat for days… maybe months. Help me.’”

Working with gentle hands, the three used a sharp knife to remove a metre of synthetic string wound tightly around the bird’s beak and lodged inside its mouth. It had likely been there for weeks or possibly months. Unable to open its beak properly, the gannet would have been unable to feed.

“Clients on this tour witnessed something I have never seen in my 25 years of marine conservation. I have seen many entangled seabirds, even gannets, but it is nearly impossible to catch and help them. This was truly amazing — but also incredibly sad that this bird was so weak we could literally scoop him up.” said Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics & Founder, Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

The Cape gannet, or ‘malgas’, is endemic to southern Africa and listed as endangered. A healthy population of gannets (like the growing colony on Bird Island) is considered a good indicator of a healthy ocean, so their steady decline over recent decades, driven by overfishing and shrinking prey stocks, is a story the sea itself is telling us.

Already nutritionally stressed, Cape gannets like this one are far less equipped to survive an additional threat like entanglement in ghost fishing gear.

“Yet, like the critically endangered African Penguin, their populations have declined dramatically due to reduced prey availability, driven by overfishing and changing environmental conditions. Forced to survive on less nutritious fishery discards, many are already weakened — making threats like plastic entanglement even more deadly.”

Chivell, who founded the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, and has spent 25 years working these waters, says this rescue was both remarkable and a reminder of the saddening reality his teams encounter regularly.

“It is heartbreaking to witness the suffering caused by entanglement. We see seals with plastic cutting through their skin and flesh – literally suffocating these animals. It is a slow, horrific death.”

The Trust has spent decades fighting back against ocean pollution through stormwater catchment programmes, education, and training crews like this one never to look away from an animal in need. That culture of readiness is what gave this seabird (and many others rescued) a second chance.

The gannet was released, if it’s spotted again showing signs of distress, it will be taken to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary for further care.

Thousands of tour guests pass through Gansbaai every year to see the ocean’s wonders. On this trip, they also got to see what it looks like when the people who love our oceans refuse to turn away from the cost of our plastic habit. A habit that quite literally kills.

“This gannet was given a second chance. But how many others are out there, suffering unseen? It doesn’t matter where you live. Every river leads to the ocean. Every piece of litter has the potential to become a death sentence for marine life.”

Sadly, not every bird will have a Dream Catcher nearby. A fisherman leaving a bit of line behind, a child tossing a wrapper out the window instead of in the bin…nobody thinks their small bit of carelessness is the problem. That’s what we need to work on changing. Stories like this one can spark that awareness – even if only reaching one person. Responsibly discarding your rubbish matters!

Sources: Dryer Island Conservation Trust. 

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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 Unusually Weak Cape Gannet Rescued by Dream Catcher Crew appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Mdzananda Animal Clinic’s annual Paws on the Promenade is back!

Cape Town, South Africa (07 April 2026) – On Sunday, 12 April, Capetonians and their four-legged friends are invited to lace and leash up to support Mdzananda Animal Clinic in its eighth annual Paws on the Promenade 5 km walk!

The route runs from the Mouille Point Lighthouse towards the Sea Point pools and back, but there’s no pressure to complete the full distance. Walk as far as you like, take your time, or just come along for the morning. No dog? You’re still welcome, and if you’d like, you can even walk one of the clinic’s shelter dogs (find out more via the link below).

Entry is R50 for adults and dogs, and R25 for kids under 12. Tickets are available online or on the day from 8:30 am, with the walk starting at 9:00 am.

On the day, there’ll be coffee, food stalls, and a few extras along the promenade, but the focus is on showing up and contributing toward Khayelitsha’s animals in need.

Khayelitsha has around a million people and roughly 300,000 pets. Most of those pet owners cannot afford private vet care. Mdzananda Animal Clinic is what they have. The clinic is the only low-cost veterinary service serving the community, doing everything from sterilisations and vaccinations to emergency surgery, mostly for people who have very little to spare.

Grab your lead, lace up your sneakers, and let’s make sure every pet in Khayelitsha has a reason to wag their tail. Oh, and make sure to wear something orange!

Find out more here.

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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Over 395 people from the under-resourced Frasers community in Tongaat got to shop completely for free, thanks to the Robin Hood Foundation’s latest Mahala Market!

Frasers, South Africa (06 April 2026) – At the Mahala Market, price tags don’t exist, the ‘currency’ is a smile, and the only requirement is that you take what you love. Residents of Frasers, a small, under-resourced community situated among the sugarcane fields of Tongaat, were treated to that experience this week.

The Robin Hood Foundation (RHF) recently packed up their van of wonders and headed to the heart of KwaZulu-Natal to host another edition of their famous Mahala Market, bringing dignity through the power of choice

While traditional charity often involves handing over a pre-packed parcel, the Mahala Market allows community members to browse and select items that actually fit their needs. The market was designed to feel like a real shopping experience.

“We invite people to come and ‘shop’ for free, yes, completely Mahala. Guests are welcomed in groups of 20 at a time. Their first stop is a refreshing drink and a doughnut, before entering our market space.”

Each guest was handed a large Robin Hood shopping bag and invited to fill it to the brim with their pick of pre-loved clothing for men, women, children and babies, alongside shoes, accessories, linen, bags and household goods.

“Our volunteers walk alongside each person, helping them find the right sizes and making the experience feel personal, dignified, and full of care.”

By the end of the day, over 395 people had shopped at the market! To make sure that the immediate needs of the families were met alongside their household and wardrobe upgrades, the foundation made sure no one went home hungry.

“As they exited, each person also received a large bag of maize meal, bread, toiletries, and Easter eggs – small additions that make a big difference.”

Worth celebrating too, is just how many hands went into making the Frasers market happen.

“This market was truly a collective effort. It simply would not be possible without every single person who plays a role: from those who donate their pre-loved items, to our generous donors, our partner NPOs, and the incredible community leaders and workers on the ground.”

The Robin Hood Foundation has once again proven that while we can’t solve every struggle overnight, we can make the load a little lighter.

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. 

The post Hundreds in Frasers Community Fill Their Bags for Free at a Mahala Market! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

An opportunity for us all to do a little something that turns hope into action on Friday, in honour of one of the world’s most respected visionaries.

South Africa (02 April 2026) – On Friday the 3rd of April, the world marks the first official Jane Goodall Day, proclaimed by the Jane Goodall Institute to be celebrated annually on what would have been her birthday. It’s a date for reflection, and for action.

Jane Goodall passed away in October 2025, at 91, peacefully in her sleep while still on the road. She died doing what she loved – sharing hope and urging people not to give up. Right until the end, she logged around 300 days of travel a year. She was abosutely extraordinary like that.

Gill Simpson, Executive Director of Wild Rescue – a registered nature reserve and animal sanctuary in the Western Cape – has been thinking about what this day means, and what Dr. Goodall leaves behind for us to hold onto.

Hope.

“In today’s world with its wars, destruction and economic gloom it’s tempting to get lost in despair and feel like our problems in society are just too large and insurmountable,” says Gill. “But Dr. Jane Goodall taught us that we have the ability to make extraordinary changes and reforms, to pull back from the brink of disaster and navigate towards a better future, and it all begins with the small everyday acts and choices made by every individual on the planet.”

That was always her message, and that’s what Jane Goodall Day is about.

People often tell themselves the story that alone, their impact could never be great enough. That just isn’t so. If we all chose to bring a little bit of light into the world, in small ways, it would be a better place. Your ‘little light’ might look like a litter clean-up, a tree planted, a meal that’s plant-based. A kind act extended to someone who needs it. All of it makes a difference.

The Institute is inviting people worldwide to mark the day in whatever way is accessible and meaningful to them, and to share it under #JaneGoodallDay.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference through the cumulative effect of small ethical actions.” once said Goodall.

One of Jane’s most enduring gifts she left to the world is her four pillars of hope. It’s the framework through which she understood people, nature, and the possibility of a better future for all.

The first pillar is the resilience of nature. Land recovers. Soils regenerate. Species return. If given the space and the care, ecosystems can and do come back. That is hopeful.

The second is the power of the human mind. The same intellect that drove industrialisation, pollution and habitat loss is also capable of the ingenuity that reverses it.

“Wisdom involves using our powerful intellect to recognize the consequences of our actions and to think of the well-being of the whole,” Dr. Goodall once said.

The third pillar is the energy of young people. Dr. Goodall’s Roots & Shoots programme, now active across more than 62 countries and 12,000 groups since 1991, is proof of what happens when young people are trusted with real problems and given a platform. South Africa is part of that network. It matters.

And lastly, the indomitable human spirit. History is full of people who kept going when the odds were impossible. That persistence and refusal to stop is something Dr. Goodall practiced until her very last day.

“We cannot give up. We all have the power to uphold her remarkable mission and Dr. Goodall’s four reasons for hope remains one of her greatest legacies.” says Gill.

Dr. Goodall was careful to say that hope isn’t passive. It’s not wishful thinking. The world needs to be reminded of that.

“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement. Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so. Hope does not deny all the difficulty and all the danger that exists, but it is not stopped by them.”

Emily Dickinson once wrote that hope is the thing with feathers, the thing that perches on the soul and never stops singing. Dr. Goodall would have agreed with the sentiment, but she would have added – ‘and then it gets up and does something about it!’

This Friday, wherever you are, there is something small you can do. What will it be?

Sources: Wild Rescue.

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 The World Celebrates the First Jane Goodall Day on Friday! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

If you’ve ever wanted to meet the people dedicating their lives to saving greyhounds, donkeys, parrots, rats, pigs, and big cats – your Sunday plans just sorted themselves out!

Johannesburg, South Africa (02 April 2026) – The Rescue Expo is back, and this time it’s bigger than ever before! The first of its kind Autumn Edition lands at Bryanston Market on Sunday 19 April 2026 from 9am to 3pm.

It’s one of the most feel-good days Jozi has to offer.

It all started in 2022 with three animal advocates and a good idea. Fast forward to October 2025, and the fourth annual Rescue Expo pulled in 2500 visitors, hosted 60 vetted rescue and rehabilitation organisations, and distributed a whopping 3000kg of donated pet food.

In 2026, the expo is running twice as the Autumn Edition in April, and a Spring Edition in September. Two chances to show up for the animals!

It’s not just about the heroes who rescue dogs and cats (although yes, there are many of those too) it represents the full picture of animal welfare in Gauteng. This year’s participating organisations include donkey sanctuaries, parrot and cockatiel rescues, rat and rodent welfare organisations, pig havens, therapy dog programmes, wildlife rehabilitation, and big cat conservation!

“If there’s an animal in South Africa, there’s someone quietly giving their life to protect it and the Expo is where you get to meet them.”

The expo is where you finally get to meet them face to face. Some of the incredible organisations attending this month include Greyhound Welfare SA, Pigs ‘n Paws, Rat Angels, Rest Ur Ass Donkey Sanctuary, The Lions Foundation, Brainy Birds, ARC Rabbit Assist, and dozens more.

South Africa’s animal rescue sector runs almost entirely without government funding. Most organisations survive on donations, WhatsApp appeals, and the personal savings of their founders. Abandonment and backyard breeding mean shelters are operating at chronic capacity. The Rescue Expo exists to help break that cycle by connecting rescues with adopters, donors, and each other, and giving the public a window into a world of animal welfare most people never get to see.

Behind it all is The Rescue Collective, founded by Dean Bush (Greyhound Welfare SA), Jennifer Gerner (former vet nurse for CLAW), and Cheryl Hunter (three decades in animal welfare). They started the Collective because they kept seeing NPOs working in isolation, too stretched to even find each other let alone the public who wanted to help.

This year’s event will include rescue and rehabilitation organisations covering every species, pet product suppliers, adoption opportunities for animals looking for forever homes, food stalls, and fundraising merch supporting individual rescue groups. And it’s also pet-friendly, so leash up your well-socialised dog and bring them along!

When? Sunday 19 April 2026
What time? 9:00am – 3:00pm
Where? Bryanston Market, 40 Culross Road, Bryanston
Tickets? R50 per adult | Children free | Leashed dogs welcome

Find The Rescue Collective SA on Facebook for more.

This is one of those days where you leave feeling hopeful about humanity. Don’t miss it!

Sources: The Rescue Collective SA.

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 SA’s Animal Heroes Are Coming Together for One Epic Sunday in Joburg appeared first on Good Things Guy.