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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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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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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The SA Youth Rugby Medical Assistance Fund is calling on the public to support injured players like Sandile and Wian, whose family now faces overwhelming medical costs after a serious head injury.

South Africa (07 April 2026) – It all started as a mission to support young rugby players in crisis. Now it is becoming a lifeline for families facing some of their toughest moments. The SA Youth Rugby Medical Assistance Fund is stepping in where help is needed most. By ensuring that injured players are not left to face the aftermath alone.

Right now, that support is focused on a young player named Sandile, who suffered a serious head injury that included a fractured skull and a blood clot on the brain. No one prepares for these injuries and unfortunately, his situation has been made even more difficult by the fact that his medical insurance has declined to cover the costs.

Sandile’s mother, who is currently unemployed, is raising him on her own following the passing of his father. With hospital bills expected to be significantly high, the financial pressure has quickly become overwhelming. Despite efforts to share his story across various rugby communities, support has been limited so far. This shows just how many families face these battles quietly, without the backing they need.

It’s exactly why the SA Youth Rugby Medical Assistance Fund exists. The organisation was created to ensure that young players, regardless of their background or visibility, have access to support during moments like these. For those behind the initiative, this work is deeply personal, driven by lived experiences of navigating serious rugby injuries without adequate medical cover.

As part of their efforts to raise funds, the organisation has launched a “Fill My Tank” raffle. With fuel prices continuing to climb, the prize of a full tank of petrol or diesel is both practical and timely, while also contributing to a meaningful cause.

Tickets are available at R20 each, or R100 for six entries, with the draw set to take place on 18 April 2026. Every entry goes towards supporting injured school rugby players like Sandile, helping ease the financial burden on their families during incredibly difficult times.

The fund is also supporting another young player, Wian Botha, a 15-year-old from Krugersdorp whose rugby journey has been put on hold after suffering two concussions last year. He has since been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and now requires at least six months of ongoing treatment to recover fully. Like Sandile, Wian’s situation highlights just how quickly things can change for young athletes, and how important it is to have support systems in place.

More than anything, this is about community. Showing up, even in small ways, for those who need it most.

For more information or to get involved, follow the SA Youth Rugby Medical Assistance Fund on their social media platforms via the link here.

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 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 Rallying Support for Young Rugby Players Facing Serious Injuries 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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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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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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The ultra-marathon champion has a new “book” coming, and fans are loving the cheeky preview.

South Africa (01 April 2026) – South African ultra-marathon star Gerda Steyn had fans doing a double-take this April Fool’s when she announced her latest “project”: a book titled Forget Running, An Autobiography.

Gerda shared a playful sneak peek of her ‘book,’ with some hilarious tips only an ultra-runner could come up with:

• Running is overrated
• Train for 10km, race an ultra
• Better overtrained than undertrained
• How to run on empty
• Niggles are a sign of success
• Train insane or remain the same

Pre-orders for the book are “coming soon,” but Steyn left a few empty pages, joking that her story is still very much in motion.

Fans quickly took to the comments to join in on the fun.

“Thank God for the comments because I was already sold.”

Trust that you were not the only one.

“Why does this sound like a 1 April’s story?”

They were clearly catching on, but still not 100% sure.

“Never mind the date, we know this is fake because you still have loads of races to win in the future. You’d have to update that book yearly!”

Gerda’s playful side has everyone smiling, while reminding runners and fans that the ultra-marathon champion isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Safe to say, she almost had us there. So maybe keep your guard up for the rest of the day, because if Gerda can pull this off, anything is possible this April Fool’s

Sources: Gerda Steyn 

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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 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. 

The post Jeni-Anne Campbell on the Leadership Shift No One Talks About appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Honouring the heroes who see the worst and turn it into second chances.

South Africa (30 March 2026) – The Midrand SPCA has recognised two of its long-serving inspectors, marking a combined 31 years of service to animal welfare.

“This past week, we had the privilege of celebrating two incredible members of our team who have each dedicated more than a decade of service to the Midrand SPCA.”

Inspector Theo Mokgatle has served 18 years, while Inspector Jerry Seemise has given 13. Both brought years of experience with them before joining the Midrand branch.

Their work sits at the front line of animal welfare. They’re the ones who respond to countless complaints, investigate cruelty and neglect, and ensure animals are protected under the law. It’s often difficult work, and it requires consistency and a very big heart.

“While their journeys as Inspectors began long before joining us, we are deeply grateful for the many years they have devoted to protecting and serving the animals of our community through Midrand SPCA.”

The organisation marked the milestone with a small internal celebration attended by staff and committee members. Theo and Jerry were each awarded a certificate from General Manager Inspector Pam Pretorius, along with a trophy.

“As part of the occasion, they were presented with a special certificate… acknowledging not only their years of service, but also their ability to ‘survive’ her all this time – along with a well-earned trophy.”

Their years on the job translate into real impact.

“Theo and Jerry, your years of service represent countless lives changed — animals rescued, suffering prevented, and second chances given…”

It isn’t the kind of work that always gets attention, but it keeps communities and their animals safer every day. That is something we will always celebrate!

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 Midrand SPCA Honours Two Inspectors with Decades of Service appeared first on Good Things Guy.

She was arrested and then barred from her degree. Her twin daughters just graduated from the same university together.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (29 March 2026) – In the early 1980s, a young woman named Patricia Grace Rorich was studying medicine at Stellenbosch University when she was arrested for protesting the injustices of apartheid.

When she was released, she was told she couldn’t continue her MBChB degree. She had to switch to a BSc in dietetics, instead. During her studies, she wasn’t allowed to live in residence because she was classified as coloured. She stayed with her uncle in Idas Valley, instead.

Patricia finished her degree, got married, and had twin daughters. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Clio and KD Sass were three years old when their mother died.

Their father, Ernest, raised the girls alone in Pinelands, Cape Town, surrounded by a large extended family. He told them their mother loved unconditionally and saw the good in everyone. He used to tell them that the brightest star in the sky was their mom, looking out for them. The twins only learned the full story of what had happened to Patricia at Stellenbosch when they were in Grade 11, the same year they started thinking about which university to apply to.

“When we heard it, we just knew that we had to come to Stellenbosch,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University. “Her story meant that we couldn’t succumb to a spirit of victimhood. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but we can always grow forward if we strive forthrightly.”

They arrived as Maties and spent their first four years living in residences within walking distance of each other. They studied together, supported each other through the pressure of university life, and both rose to leadership positions in their residences.

Walking to class and living in a residence where her mom had been denied held weight.

“It just brings so much humility – sadness for her and for so many others, but overall gratitude,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University.

Clio also felt her own version of that connection when she realised her chosen field had actually overlapped with her mom’s

“It felt very full circle being in a similar field to what our mother studied,” she said.

The journey didn’t come without challenges. KD’s degree in mathematics typically takes three years. It took her six, and required a Dean’s Concession to complete. She kept going because of the example her mom had set. She mentioned she’d bought her graduation dress in 2024, the year she first thought she’d be done.

“I’m very happy to now be wearing that dress for the first time for my graduation!” she said.

On 25 March 2026, Clio received her master’s degree in food science, awarded cum laude. KD received her BSc in mathematical sciences, biomathematics. They walked across the stage on the same day, at the same university where their mother’s dreams were once taken from her.

Their dad watched from the crowd.

“The fact that Clio and KD are graduating on the same day makes this occasion exceptionally special,” said Ernest Sass, as per Stellenbosch University. “When they were born, I could never have imagined that I would one day be their primary caregiver and provider. The sacrifices and uncertainties along the way were immense – and now, standing at this moment of their graduation, I am left speechless.”

The twins say their mom’s middle name, Grace, described who she was, and what she was denied.

“To live with grace is to show kindness, humility and goodwill,” Clio said. “Grace was not always given to my mother, yet she continued to give it freely to others. She rose above her circumstances, and we can all learn a powerful lesson from her life.”

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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Philicity Reekan’s weight loss journey may have started with a health wake-up call, but it turned into a journey of seeing and loving herself in a new light.

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 March 2026) – Sometimes the biggest transformations happen beneath the surface. Philicity Reeken, the radiant co-host of Jacaranda FM’s award-winning breakfast show ‘Breakfast With Martin Bester’, has revealed her incredible physical and mental transformation, having lost 35 kilograms over the past year.

While the physical change is evident, Philicity is now sharing the deeper, more personal story behind her journey, one defined by a shift from survival to vulnerability.

Motivated initially by severe health concerns, including damaged knees and chronic inflammation, Philicity realised that her weight was hindering her mobility and long-term quality of life. However, as the kilograms dropped, she discovered that the journey was as much about the mind as it was about the body.

“I didn’t realise that I was holding on to my weight as a protective measure,” Philicity reveals.

“I’ve worked through that now and truly embrace vulnerability. It wasn’t just about physical changes; it was about the mental and emotional process of saying goodbye to that weight and seeing myself in a different body.”

As she opens up about her weight loss journey, Philicity shares that it was all motivated by her health and mobility.

“I have very damaged knees, and my weight was hindering my ability to live the life I wanted to. I was also really inflamed and was concerned about things like high blood pressure and other lifestyle-related issues.”

The Biggest Challenges Faced Along the Way

The biggest challenges on her weight loss journey were both physical, mental and emotional.

“Physically, it was relearning and reacquainting myself with whole foods and portion sizes. Mentally, it was actually seeing myself in a different body and what that means, and emotionally, it was saying goodbye to the weight.”

But intentionally shifting her mindset and entrenching the good habits made all the difference.

 

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A post shared by Philicity Reeken (@philicityreeken)

Support is Everything

“Having access to doctors, my own assigned nurse that I could reach out to at any time, biokineticists, nutritionists, and even a psychologist is invaluable,” Philicity says, crediting Dr Smook and Partners.

She explains that the hardest part of making such a significant change is trying to do it alone.

“Support and encouragement from family and friends is vital. They are also great for a little accountability.”

There Are No Shortcuts to a Healthy Lifestyle

One of the misconceptions Philicity has found is that people tend to think that getting medical assistance means that you don’t have to put in any work.

“It is absolutely not the case. This is not a quick fix but a lifestyle overhaul. You need to commit and focus. Realising you are worthy of a healthy life.”

 

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A post shared by Philicity Reeken (@philicityreeken)

Know Your ‘Why’, Celebrate Your Wins

She advises anyone starting their health journey to realise their ‘why’ – ‘Why are you doing this?’ – That way, the small changes all add up to big changes.

“Celebrate the wins (the scale isn’t always your friend, but you’ll feel changes in your clothes). Move, if that means walking, swimming, dancing, just move! If you mess up, it’s okay, just don’t keep messing up! If you need help, there are people out there who want to and can get you on the right path,” Philicity encourages.

As Philicity continues to embrace her new lifestyle, her story serves as a powerful reminder that health is not a destination, but a continuous commitment to oneself. By stripping away the physical and emotional weight of the past, she has paved the way for a more active, vibrant, and vulnerable future.

Sources: Supplied

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The post Philicity Reeken on Losing 35kg and a Journey of Heart and Health appeared first on Good Things Guy.