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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What a brilliant way to turn the problem ofinvasive plants into a solution of beautiful, earth-kind homes!

Western Cape, South Africa (26 March 2026) – The Elandskloof community near Citrusdal has unveiled a first-of-its-kind community centre that is both an architectural feat and a major environmental victory! It also brings new hope for South Africa’s housing crisis.

The new building is constructed entirely of bricks, made from the biomass of invasive alien black wattle trees.

These trees were cleared from the riverbanks within the Groot Winterhoek Strategic Water Source Area.

The centre is built on a community-owned farm with a deep history. The community was dispossessed in 1962 and had its land restored in 1996.

The project is a result of a three-year partnership between nonCrete, non-profit Phuhlisani, the Elandskloof community, and the WWF Nedbank Green Trust.

By removing the invasive wattle, the project has already helped increase the freshwater supply and has also reduced the risk of runaway fires.

“To develop this method and design, we collaborated with the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, Switzerland; and the Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR),” says Andrew Lord, who co-founded nonCrete with Stephen Lamb.

The company has over two decades of experience in sustainable construction, design, engineering and architecture.

“The ultimate aim is to develop a safer, more dignified government-funded housing alternative,” continues Lord. “Millions of South Africans are still awaiting their homes, and this approach could be a very viable option for lower-cost housing, but also for all types of housing and buildings.”

To create the low-carbon building bricks, invasive plant material was put through a chipper and then combined with a specially developed binder.

One-Nil Construction was central to the construction. Their team, including Grabeth Nduna, Peter Mafuwe, and Mojalefa Thelingoana, mastered the unique material mix.

“We developed a structural mix that is incredibly strong but 55% lighter than conventional concrete. We have something special here and it also creates jobs, which the government has committed to achieve.” says Nduna.

By swapping out traditional stone, sand, and cement for invasive biomass, the project significantly lowers the environmental footprint of construction. With the built environment cited as contributing almost 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this is an exciting and innovative way forward!

“Making use of invasive wattle biomass for our bricks significantly reduces the amount of stone, sand and cement used in standard concrete bricks,” says. Lord.

The project could be a blueprint for the rest of the country.

“The methodology has the potential to be duplicated across the country in all areas with invasive alien infestations,” says Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Nedbank’s Social Impact Unit. “It frees up freshwater and replaces conventional, carbon-heavy building materials and practices in a sustainable, environmentally rehabilitative way, including locking the carbon absorbed by the trees into the construction.”

Beyond being eco-friendly, the bricks offer superior insulation and fire resistance. They passed official testing with flying colours, including a three-hour fire-resistance rating under a continuous load. The building also sports a unique vaulted roof system designed to use less steel and concrete while maintaining incredible strength.

The project has provided both a new facility and new skills for the Elandskloof community, too. Five community members were trained to manufacture the 18,000 bricks required for the centre.

“We are very happy with the project and this new way of building,” says Flippie George, CPA Chairperson. “At first it was strange to us, and we weren’t sure if the nonCrete people knew what they were talking about, but when we visited their factory in Cape Town and witnessed how they developed this unique brick and roof system, we realised that we have something very special here. The fact that the community centre was built from the ground up on our farm, with our people trained in the brick-making technique, is also very exciting and we hope we can build homes this way.”

With the centre complete, the community is working with Phuhlisani to apply for housing subsidies through the municipality to develop the farm sustainably. This includes plans for agriculture and the potential proclamation of a nature reserve, too.

“The land is currently being used by only a handful of small-scale livestock and vegetable farmers. And they harvest indigenous plants like wild buchu, which grows abundantly here and for which there is market demand. We are also working closely with CapeNature and the South African National Biodiversity Institute to have a portion of the farm proclaimed as a protected environment or nature reserve, as it has critical biodiversity areas and wetlands. Agriculture and other livelihood zones can continue under a protected environment.” shares Phuhlisani’s David Mayson, who has a longstanding relationship with the Elandskloof community and helped them with the land restitution process.

Lord encourages that the new community centre is a symbol of the potential for more widespread change.

“Our goal is for construction to become restoration; to collaborate with construction companies, cement manufacturers, planners, architects, engineers, municipalities and other government departments. We want to share this technology and create jobs. Our team wants to train people to build their own houses and buildings.”

Sources: WWF South 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. 

The post New Community Centre Built Out of Invasive Alien Plant Material! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Stefanie de Beer’s work brings endangered species back into our shared space, asking us to look closer, care deeper and recognise our role in what happens next.

South Africa (14 March 2026) – Stefanie de Beer is an artist working against disappearance. Her practice is shaped by what is vanishing from our landscapes and coastlines, and by a belief that visibility can still change outcomes.

Using sculpture, printmaking and wearable art, she places endangered species back into the human line of sight, creating encounters that are felt before they are understood and remembered long after they are seen.

What becomes clear early on is that this work did not arrive suddenly. It has been gathering momentum for years, informed by training, experience and a growing sense that aesthetics alone were never going to be enough. Stefanie’s academic grounding in Fine Arts, Visual Communication and Entertainment Technology equipped her to understand how images carry meaning, how narratives are shaped and how attention can be directed.

For her, the move towards environmental work was not a shift in direction, but a clarification of purpose.

“Those disciplines were never only about aesthetics. They were about narrative and impact,” she explained in a recent interview.

“I was trained to think conceptually, to communicate clearly and to understand how visual language shapes perception. The environmental direction wasn’t a deviation. It was an alignment.”

That alignment sharpened in September 2024 during a Heritage Day collaboration with the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in Pretoria. The activation involved a large-scale, live industrial lino and wood-carve print, created in a public space as both artwork and advocacy. It was during that event that a conversation about Botha’s Lark fundamentally changed the trajectory of her practice.

The bird, reduced to roughly 340 individuals in South Africa, depends on a fragile grassland system in Mpumalanga and does not easily relocate. Hearing its story reframed abstraction into urgency.

“The reality of a species reduced to that number landed with force. A bird that doesn’t move easily, dependent on an ecosystem that’s changing fast. That moment opened the floodgates.”

From there, the work unfolded with pace and intention. Small Art for Botha’s Lark followed in support of BirdLife South Africa. Soon after came The Protected Pack, centred on African Wild Dogs, and The Huddle, focused on African Penguins. Rather than feeling forced or opportunistic, the projects emerged as if they had been waiting for the right moment to surface.

Scale plays a critical role in how Stefanie communicates urgency. Her public installations bring endangered animals into shared spaces at true-to-life size, removing the emotional buffer that distance so often provides. African Wild Dogs and Cape Penguins are no longer reduced to photographs or statistics; they stand at human height, occupying the same physical space as the viewer.

“When an animal stands at your height, it becomes harder to ignore. You’re no longer engaging with an idea. You’re encountering a presence.”

That same sense of intention carries into her printmaking, where intimacy replaces monumentality without losing impact. Species such as the Southern Ground Hornbill and Botha’s Lark are carved with precision and care, selected not only for their symbolism, but also for the ecological roles they play and the fragile systems they sustain. The work asks for time and attention, rewarding those who stop to really look.

At the centre of Stefanie’s practice is purpose, not medium. Sculpture, printmaking, couture and workshops are simply tools for the same underlying aim: to reconnect people to what is being lost and to their role in that loss.

“The thread is always the same. To make the invisible visible, and to restore the bonds between beauty, story and survival.”

That thinking extends to materials. In her wearable works, Stefanie places strong emphasis on traceability and origin, working with what she describes as the long language of land. Wool becomes more than fabric; it becomes a record of place.

“Sheep walk across veld and gather fragments of that terrain into their coats. When you know where the wool comes from, you know where the sheep comes from, and you begin to understand the landscape that shaped it. Materials carry lineage.”

Some of her most confronting works take this even further, using materials directly associated with harm. Sculptures created from snares collected in the bush carry both physical and emotional weight. Before they are transformed, the tightening loop is removed… an intentional act that alters the object’s meaning before it becomes art.

“When I initially took up the work of sculpting with snares, I did not realise how heavy a snare could be. I also did not understand how important it would become for me to cut off the end that actually ensnares. That tightening loop is the functional part. It is the part designed to trap. Removing it is a significant act. It changes the object before it becomes anything else,” Stefanie says.

“It is a big job. Far more emotionally demanding than it is physically demanding.”

Underlying this work is a question that has stayed with Stefanie for years: what did you do once you knew? It is a question she does not attempt to answer neatly, but one she continues to explore through form.

“Once you understand the scale of the snare crisis, you cannot unknow it. Transforming snares into sculpture is my way of responding to that reality. When I transform a snare into a sculpture, I am translating an answer to that question. It is a visual translation. It is taking an object designed to harm and reshaping it into something that can create a connection. My hope is that there is a layer of understanding that forms between the work and the viewer.”

Research anchors every project. Stefanie spends long periods reading, speaking directly with conservationists, photographing her subjects and immersing herself in the environments she references. Observation, she believes, informs intuition.

“You charge your gut by really looking. The more time you spend observing, the more informed your intuition becomes.”

Some ideas take years to reach resolution. If a concept feels thin or unresolved, it is left alone until the understanding deepens.

“If it’s mine to work with, it won’t go away.”

Impact, for Stefanie, must be tangible. Twenty-five percent of every artwork sold goes directly to biodiversity protection, ensuring the work contributes meaningfully to conservation efforts rather than stopping at awareness.

“Impact that lives only in abstraction is too easy to hide behind. I want to be able to answer clearly what the work actually changed.”

When people encounter her work, the hope is not overwhelm or despair, but responsibility. A shift from passive concern to active care. An understanding that even small, conscious actions matter.

“When you have the choice to support or not support, choose to support. Small actions, done consistently, gather momentum.”

Even her aspirational projects follow this same logic. Polar, which imagines mirrored aluminium polar bears placed in desert dunes, uses contrast to collapse distance and reflect the issue back at the viewer.

“A polar bear doesn’t belong in a desert. That dislocation is the point,” she explains.

“The work is intended as a commentary on oil, on extraction, and on the relentless appetite for more. More fuel. More production. More consumption. The polar bear has become one of the most visible indicators of climate instability. Melting sea ice directly affects its ability to hunt and survive. The urgency is real and measurable. By placing a mirrored aluminium polar bear in a desert, I want the viewer to confront contrast. Ice in sand. North in South. Cold in heat. The mirrored surface would reflect the landscape and the viewer back at themselves. It becomes harder to separate the issue from our own participation in the systems that drive it.”

And it is this visibility in all her artwork that can still lead to insight. Insight that can still lead to responsibility. And responsibility, acted on with intention, can still protect what remains. That belief sits at the heart of her work, and it is what makes encountering it feel less like observation and more like participation.

Action, taken with intention, can still protect what remains.

Sources: Interview with Stefanie de Beer

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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 South African Artist Turning Endangered Species Into Encounters appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Local entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal are proving that climate-smart businesses can create opportunities and preserve ecosystems.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (22 February 2026) – In northern KwaZulu-Natal, building a business isn’t just about turning a profit, but about protecting the land and feeding the community at the same time.

Around the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, women are launching climate-smart enterprises that are restoring fragile ecosystems while strengthening food security in one of South Africa’s most vulnerable regions. From poultry farming to egg distribution and sustainable fishing, these entrepreneurs are proving that economic independence and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

At the heart of this movement is a partnership between leading conservation organisation WILDTRUST and Indalo Inclusive, a non-profit championing socially and environmentally responsible entrepreneurship.

Several entrepreneurs have already progressed through the programme’s development phases, with women leading many of the enterprises.

21-year-old Nokuthula Msweli is one of them. The founder of Thule’s Poultry Farm in KwaDapha, she runs a broiler chicken business using an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach. Her farm now provides a reliable protein source to her community, employs two people and supports 14 dependants.

“Being part of the programme has been transformative. It enabled me to refine my strategy, improve efficiency, and expand my market reach.”

Moving to eNkovukeni, Nosihle Ngubane is making her mark with a fast-growing egg sourcing, packaging and delivery business supplying local e-tailers, wholesalers and individual customers.

“With the help of WILDTRUST and Indalo Inclusive, I have been able to grow my operations and build long-term business relationships.”

Meanwhile in KwaZibi, Thobile Shange is the founder of Liyana Layer Farm. She is blending academic expertise with practical innovation. She produces organic, free-range eggs using invasive aquatic plants as feed, tackling environmental degradation and high input costs in one move.

“I realised that expensive feed was a major challenge, so I explored natural alternatives that also help address climate change.”

For 56-year-old Jane Mthembu from KwaDapha, the initiative has brought renewed stability. A widow and mother of five, she has returned to her role as a Small-Scale Fisher Monitor.

Nozi Mbongwa, Senior Project Manager at WILDTRUST, explained that the project is equipping women with confidence and support to build environmentally sustainable enterprises rooted in their local communities.

These women are leading change and doing so while feeding their communities.

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. 

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The Mother City’s FYN is one of just four restaurants worldwide joining a pilot that focuses on biodiversity, culture and caring for life on Earth.

Cape Town, South Africa (04 February 2026) – Cape Town restaurant FYN has been chosen as one of only four restaurants globally to partner with UNESCO on a new sustainability pilot led by Relais & Châteaux. The project looks at how food can support biodiversity, cultural heritage and regeneration.

FYN is carrying the flag for South Africa.

They join an international group that includes Mirazur and Maison Pic in France, Eleven Madison Park in the United States, and L’Effervescence in Japan. Each contributes their own local approach to sustainability.

Led by chefs Peter Tempelhoff and Ashley Moss, FYN’s contribution brings focus to the biodiversity of the Cape.

“Rooted in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the Cape Floral Region, our contribution explores biodiversity, cultural heritage, and regeneration – from cultivating endangered indigenous plants and moving away from wild harvesting, to expressing ancient South African ingredients through refined, technique-led cooking.” the restaurant shares.

They’re also working alongside palaeontologist Jan de Vynck, exploring South African ingredients and bringing deep history into modern, technique-led cooking.

Each restaurant in the group is tackling sustainability from a different angle, from marine conservation in Japan and food education in the US, to preserving culinary heritage in France.

FYN’s focus will lean into indigenous species and the landscapes that shape our food.

“I believe cuisine has the power to transform the world. This vision comes to life through these four pilot projects – from indigenous species stewardship in Africa and sustainable fishing in Asia to the preservation of culinary savoir-faire in Europe and community-centered food education in North America – each demonstrating how gastronomy can actively protect ecosystems,” shares Mauro Colagreco, Vice President, Chefs of Relais & Châteaux and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity.

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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One of the most meaningful changes you can make in 2026 is to choose kindness towards animals. FOUR PAWS shares a few simple (and easily adoptable) habits guaranteed to make a huge impact for the voiceless!

South Africa (05 January 2026) – Kindness wherever we go, friends. That’s the mantra for 2026. And if it can’t be extended towards people (because let’s be honest, sometimes they deserve a klap), then share it with animals.

“Making animal welfare a focal point of our resolutions is a powerful way to create positive change for animals, whether through daily acts of kindness or broader lifestyle adjustments. Small, committed actions truly matter and with a collective effort, we can build a future where animals are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve.” shares Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa.

That doesn’t mean adopting a pet when you can’t afford to raise it or volunteering imaginary time that you don’t have (if you do – do it! Working with animal welfare organisations will certainly earn you that hero badge).

It’s about simple, sustainable choices that have positive ripple effects. FOUR PAWS has shared a few practical tips to help us all get started.

Eat Kinder (No, You Don’t Need to Ditch Meat for Good)

No one’s telling you to become vegan or vegetarian. Small changes, like reducing animal products in your diet, are enough. Do a meat-free Monday every week, or try a plant-based braai with local favourites like grilled mielies and chakalaka. Every swap you make helps reduce animal suffering and environmental impact.

Support Ethical Brands

Choose cruelty-free and animal-friendly products. Your purchasing power can shape a kinder marketplace. In South Africa, the most reliable cruelty-free symbols to look for are the Leaping Bunny logo (Cruelty Free International) and the Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) SA logo.

Advocate for Animals

If you’re committed to doing a little bit more, download FOUR PAWS’ Animal Welfare Advocacy Guide to learn how to engage with local government, sign petitions, and host awareness events in your community. Spreading awareness and standing for change is a wonderful way to make an impact.

Educate and Inspire

Share knowledge about animal welfare issues with friends, schools and social groups. Change starts with conversation. If you don’t know where to start, pay a visit to your local SPCA or animal shelter. You’ll learn a lot, the experience will stick with you, and you can pass it all on.

Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Cover the basics. Make sure that your pets are sterilised, up to date with vaccinations and microchipped. Keep them safe during firework season and provide them with enough enrichment and companionship.

“By committing to these resolutions, we can start the year with intention and purpose, knowing we are making a meaningful impact. Kindness is a choice we make every day, let’s make it a movement.” shares Fiona.

South Africa faces urgent animal welfare challenges, from wildlife exploitation to factory farming and stray animal suffering. By embracing these simple and compassionate choices, we can all play our part in helping protect animals.

Sources: Supplied

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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. 

The post Is 2026 Your Year of Becoming an Animal Welfare Hero? appeared first on Good Things Guy.

KwaSokhulu and Nyembe fishers celebrate receiving rods and training that empower both women and men, promoting responsible safeguarding of marine life.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (11 December 2025) – Northern KwaZulu-Natal’s coastal communities are celebrating a meaningful step toward more sustainable fishing, as WILDTRUST’s Small-Scale Fishers and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Project rolled out a hands-on initiative that places practical tools directly in the hands of local fisherfolk.

The initiative was made possible through support from ICONIQ, Oceans 5, and the Blue Action Fund. Together with WILDTRUST, their efforts signal a promising path forward.

The KwaSokhulu and Nyembe communities recently gathered for lively events where brand-new fishing rods were presented to fishers. For residents who depend on the ocean for food and income, the shift to rod fishing marks a new chapter that supports both livelihoods and the health of local marine ecosystems.

For Nyembe fisherman Velani Mjadu, the handover represented more than equipment.

“Having these fishing rods will be very beneficial to us. I believe this is a start to a greater future for the Nyembe fishing community.”

As part of the day’s activities, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife joined community members to unpack the laws and guidelines that support sustainable fishing. Trueman Buthelezi of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife emphasised the regulations that safeguard both fishers and the environment.

Education was a central theme; fishers received resource materials on safe handling of sharks and rays, to ensure that any accidental catch of these crucial species results in a safe release.

A highlight of the day was the strong focus on women’s participation. In communities where rod fishing has traditionally been a male activity, women were deliberately encouraged to take part and broaden their economic opportunities.

Tholakele Mnguni, a mussel harvester from KwaSokhulu, shared the importance of this inclusion.

“We are happy with these rods, especially for the women in this community, because mussel harvesting is seasonal. Having these rods will allow us to fish when it’s off season for mussel harvesting.”

The broader project aims to strengthen socio-ecological resilience, support food security, build knowledge networks, and encourage open dialogue between fishers and the government.

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 Northern KZN Communities Cast a New Path for Sustainable Fishing appeared first on Good Things Guy.

As part of their final mark, students at UP were tasked with finding creative ways to turn food waste into something you’d grab off the shelf and order from a menu.

Pretoria, South Africa (04 December 2025) – Every year, South Africa throws away tons of usable food. Most of this waste occurs during harvesting, transport, and production, long before produce even makes it to us (consumers).

So for their final project, UP’s Consumer and Food Sciences students decided to take that problem and turn it into dinner for their guests.

The event was called UPCycled, and it challenged them to create dishes and nutritious products using ingredients and materials that would usually be chucked in landfill.

Retail Management students developed three products, complete with packaging! There was STOAT, sweet or savoury oats with ‘ugly’ fruit-based spice mix. Benefiz, fizzy tabs designed to enhance beverages, made from fruit and veggie trimmings and enriched with collagen extracted from entrails. Lastly, Noods & Moods, a combo meal of hot and spicy vegetable-filled ramen cup, and a vegan macadamia nut ice cream with spent coffee grounds and nut chips.

Culinary and Hospitality students treated guests to dinner. The full menu was built entirely around rescued food and production offcuts. The focus was on sustainability, food security and zero waste. We’d inhale it all – potato croquettes dusted in onion ash, a reimagined beef Wellington made with coffee-cocoa ragu, an amasi cheesecake with rooibos coulis and strawberry mousse…

From food to fashion, Clothing Management students got involved too, reimagining waste in a different way. They created outfits made from old bread packets and plastic shopper bags.

All of this was showcased at Moja Gabedi, a space that used to be an illegal dumping site in Hatfield. UP cleaned it up, turned it into a community garden, and now uses it as a space where students grow food with local residents to help curb hunger.

 

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Every project was built around a bigger point that if we learn to use what we already have, we waste less, harm less, and feed more people who actually need it. The onus isn’t only on the consumer, waste starts long before that. The ingredients we overlook still have value. Scraps can become sustenance. Students can rethink the whole system in ways that feel sustainable, doable and hopeful.

Sources: Supplied

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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.

The post UP Students Turn Discards Into Actually Nutritious Products & Dishes! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Battery myths, charging fears and policy hurdles… Winstone Jordaan tackles them all in this powerful conversation about what’s really holding South Africa back from a cleaner, smarter future.

South Africa (15 October 2025) – The conversation around electric vehicles in South Africa isn’t just about cars… it’s about change.

On this week’s “Good Things with Brent Lindeque”, I got to sit down with Winstone Jordaan, the CEO and founder of GridCars, to unpack how electric vehicles could transform the way we move, save money and protect our planet.

For years, South Africa has watched the global electric vehicle revolution from the sidelines. But as Winstone explains, it’s not because South Africans don’t want EVs, it’s because our policies make it harder for them to get here.

“We’re essentially penalising clean technology while rewarding pollution,” he says, pointing to the fact that import duties for EVs sit at 25%, compared to 18% for petrol cars. It’s a 7% difference that’s costing both consumers and the environment.

The good news is that the economics are changing fast. Volkswagen’s global CEO, Thomas Schäfer, recently said it’s now realistic to expect equal profitability between electric and petrol cars over their lifetimes, meaning price parity is no longer a distant dream.

“If we can just fix the policy environment,” Winstone adds, “an electric VW Polo could cost the same as a petrol one and save you half your fuel bill.”

One of the biggest misconceptions about EVs is that we don’t have enough charging stations. But according to Winstone, that’s not the full picture.

“Most charging happens at home, overnight,” he explains. “And with solar power becoming more common, South Africans can charge their cars cleanly and cheaply.”

Public charging networks are also expanding along major routes, while Eskom’s improved reliability is helping shift public perception.

“We’re not where we need to be yet,” Winstone admits, “but the momentum is there.”

Watch the full conversation with Winstone below… and join the movement towards a cleaner, smarter, and more affordable South Africa.

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Source: Good Things With Brent Lindeque 

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 Driving Change: Winstone Jordaan on South Africa’s Electric Future appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Tshwane University of Technology’s video on sustainable automotive technologies earns international acclaim, showcasing South African innovation on the world stage.

Brisbane, Australia (01 October 2025) – South African engineering excellence has been celebrated on the global stage! The South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) clinched the top prize at the 2025 CAETS Communication Competition during the Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) annual meeting in Brisbane, Australia.

The winning entry was a five-minute video titled Sustainable Automotive Technologies: A TUT Case Study, was created by Dr Christiaan Oosthuizen of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), with support from Prof Barend van Wyk, TUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Competing against nine other entries from countries including the USA, UK, China, India, Australia, Mexico, Poland, Netherlands, and Uruguay, the South African submission impressed the judges with its clarity, creativity, and impact.

The Competition celebrates the most engaging audio visual presentations that explain technological and engineering concepts in an innovative and accessible way. Science and engineering can sometimes feel distant or inaccessible to many people, especially with technical jargon or complex concepts.

The video captures the team’s remarkable journey from building SunChaser in 2014, driving thousands of kilometers powered only by the sun. Along the way, they inspired communities, sparked curiosity in young minds, and demonstrated the power of sustainable engineering.

The Academy relies on one mission to drive all of its work.

“The mission of SAAE is to promote the technological welfare of the nation by marshalling the knowledge and insights of eminent members of the South African engineering profession, elected by their peers, and to be a source of expert advice on matters pertaining to global competitiveness and quality of life for the nation.”

The next CAETS Communication Competition opens on 1 October 2025. If interested in all things science and engineering, or just love sharing innovative ideas, this is your moment to shine! You can contact the SAAE office at office@saae.co.za for more information.

While you are at it, check out the award-winning video here if some inspiration.

Sources: Supplied 

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 & 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.

The post SA Triumphs at Global Engineering Communication Competition appeared first on Good Things Guy.