They’re often seen as a nuisance but Hardy the Hadeda is showing the softer, surprising side of South Africa’s loudest bird.

Johannesburg, South Africa (19 August 2025) – South Africans know the sound of a Hadeda long before they see one… that distinct, trumpeting “haa-haa-haa-de-dah” call that usually jolts you awake at the crack of dawn. For most of us, they’re noisy lawn visitors or sky-high flybys. But for Nicole McDonald, a Johannesburg local, they’ve become something entirely different: family.

Nicole has gone viral on TikTok after sharing videos of her domesticated Hadedas, with one particular star, “Hardy”, stealing hearts across the country. Together, her feathered friends have clocked more than 400,000 collective views, turning the humble Hadeda into an online celebrity.

The Hadeda is a large ibis native to Sub-Saharan Africa. With its long curved beak, iridescent wings, and unmistakable morning calls, it’s often seen as a nuisance. But Nicole’s TikToks are showing South Africans a softer side, one filled with trust, patience, and yes, a whole lot of personality.

Speaking to Good Things Guy, Nicole explained that building this bond took time, “It took a year of patience to get them to be so trusting of me,” she says.

“I just hope that the videos put a smile on South Africa’s faces.”

And judging by the comments and shares, they’ve done exactly that. Hardy, with his curious mannerisms and unexpected charm, is quickly becoming the internet’s favourite bird, proving that even the loudest lawn alarm clock can capture our affection.

Watch some of Nicole’s heart-warming Hadeda moments below (and get ready to fall in love with the bird you never thought you’d adore):

@nyx_mcd Big breakthrough with my semi-tame queen today. She let me hold her beak! #hardythehadeda #hadeda #tiktoksouthafrica ♬ original sound – Headbangers Dan

@nyx_mcd Replying to @thabimasinga ♬ original sound – Headbangers Dan

@nyx_mcd Replying to @earthsgreatestninja23 Future historians will look back on this video and blame me for the domestication of hadedas. #hadeda ♬ som original – LK 𝐋𝐔𝐊𝐢

Sources: Interview with Nicole McDonald 

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

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

The post The Johannesburg Hadeda That’s Gone TikTok Famous appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In 2017, Johan Scott turned a petty theft into something powerful. A single stolen vegetable led to a garden that would feed a community… and now, in 2025, his story is making waves once more.

Heidelberg, South Africa (21 June 2025) – Sometimes, the internet gives an old story new life. That’s exactly what’s happening right now.

A 2017 story about Johan Scott, a retired policeman from Heidelberg, South Africa, is suddenly going viral again. It’s doing the rounds on Facebook, being shared by pages and people who may not know the full background… but it’s hitting home regardless.

And it’s no surprise why.

It all started with a single stolen cauliflower.

Most people would’ve been annoyed. Maybe even angry. But Johan saw it differently. The missing vegetable made him pause. It made him realise that someone nearby must have been hungry… hungry enough to help themselves.

So instead of putting up a fence or a camera, Johan planted more.

More vegetables. More hope. More kindness.

“It makes my heart happy when I see people eating my vegetables,” he told us in 2017. “That is why I planted this… because the people are hungry, they need this.”

Johan turned the pavement outside his home into a thriving little garden filled with beans, tomatoes, eggplants and beetroot. And told his community they were welcome to help themselves. No charge. No catch. Just food and dignity, freely given.

It was one of the very first stories we shared about growing food for the community… and it’s stuck with us (and South Africa) ever since. Unfortunately, we don’t have a new update on Johan or how his garden is doing in 2025. But what we can tell you is this: his story planted something far bigger than he may have imagined.

Since that viral moment in 2017, we’ve written dozens of stories about ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things… all by planting vegetables on pavements, in parks, outside schools, or even in wheelbarrows. We’ve seen community champions grow free food gardens in townships, business owners create veggie stands for anyone in need and kids start planting for their neighbours. And in every single one of those stories, the idea is the same: people are hungry… and we can help.

There’s something deeply powerful about these simple gestures, and it’s not because they solve hunger overnight but because they remind us that compassion doesn’t need permission. You don’t need a big budget or a fancy plan. Sometimes all it takes is some seeds, a bit of soil and the will to share.

Desmond Tutu said it best, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

So if you’re seeing Johan’s story again and wondering if kindness still exists, yes, it does. It’s growing all around us. One veggie patch at a time.

PS… this story may be the seed you needed to start your own “good things garden”!

Sources: Good Things Guy 

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 South Africa’s Favourite Pavement Garden is Back in the Spotlight appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When 18-year-old Mo Madiba posted a TikTok asking Tyla to be his matric dance date, no one, not even him, could’ve predicted what would happen next.

Johannesburg, South Africa (28 June 2025) – A Johannesburg matriculant, Mollwane “Mo” Madiba, had the audacity to dream big… and the heart to put it out into the world. In February, Mo posted a bold TikTok, Grammy Award-winning global sensation, Tyla, to be his matric dance date.

What started as a sweet, hopeful gesture soon turned into a nationwide moment of joy.

5FM caught wind of Mo’s story and immediately got behind it. The station shared his journey, interviewed him on-air and rallied the country to support this young dreamer. The hashtag went viral. Listeners got involved. And hope started to sparkle.

At one point, word came through that Tyla had seen the video and was genuinely moved… but wouldn’t be able to attend. Still, Mo was chuffed.

“She noticed me,” he said at the time, which already felt like a win.

But 5FM wasn’t done.

On the night of the matric dance, hosted in the elegant Mears Hall at St Stithians Boys’ College, the energy was electric. Mo looked dapper, his spirit high, and the station was there, covering every glitzy second. Then, after speeches were done and everyone had settled in, something unexpected happened…

Tyla’s brand-new song “Is it” suddenly filled the room, one of the very first public plays of the track. The excitement as palpable.

And then… the real twist.

With the crowd still buzzing, the announcement dropped: Tyla was actually there. In person. At the dance. For Mo.

South Africa’s golden girl, born in Edenvale and now lighting up global stages, had pulled off the ultimate surprise. And the reaction was absolute euphoria. Mo’s face said it all. A dream he’d dared to share with the world had come true.

They met. They danced. They sang.

“On the dancefloor she said, ‘Come, we’re singing!’ and shouted ‘Mollwane and Tyla for MD!’”

Mo shared, still riding the high. “I heard her say that I’m a gentleman, by the way. Thank you, Tyla!”

5FM’s Business Manager, Masi Mdingane, summed it up beautifully: “This is what 5FM is about – moving the youth of SA, celebrating their courage, and amplifying the voices and stories that inspire the nation. Thank you to Tyla, her family and her team for making this happen… and to Mo and Saints for starting a fire that’ll burn in many hearts for a long time to come.”

The story doesn’t end there. Inspired by the magic of Mo’s promposal, 5FM has officially launched #5FMPROMPOSAL, a brand-new initiative inviting matriculants across South Africa to shoot their shot and make their own unforgettable dance moments. Whether it’s a flash mob, a full-on musical, or a heartfelt Insta reel, 5FM wants to help make it iconic.

What a feel good, lekker story.

When one bold ask turns into a once-in-a-lifetime yes, it reminds us all of something pretty powerful: sometimes, the world does say yes. Sometimes, the stars align. And sometimes, a kid with a dream gets to dance with Tyla.

Sources: 5fm 

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 When Dreams Come True: Tyla Surprises Matriculant at His Dance appeared first on Good Things Guy.