The world wanted this story to be real. In some cases, many believed did. You could feel it in every share, every comment and every headline that followed. But wanting something to be true and proving that it is are two very different things.

Global (27 March 2026) – Viral doesn’t always mean true. It means fast. It means emotional. It means shareable. And the story of the 7 dogs had all of that… in spades. A perfect mix of danger, loyalty and a journey home that felt like it had been written by Disney itself. The only problem is that the viral version wasn’t the real story.

A few days ago, a clip of 7 dogs moving together along a busy road in Changchun started doing the rounds on social media. 7 dogs, different shapes and sizes, sticking together as cars sped past them, moving with a unity that felt almost intentional. It looked like something out of a movie. It felt like something bigger. A story that pulled us in immediately.

Seven dogs stolen from their owners have gone viral after escaping from an illegal transport truck and making their way home.

They traveled around 17 km together, led by a corgi across highways and fields, now safely back with their respective owners.. pic.twitter.com/H5VB9BQkGB

— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) March 23, 2026

But then… things didn’t add up.

Here’s what is actually true. 7 dogs were filmed. That is the fact. Everything else that followed was layered on top through assumption, retelling and a version of storytelling that travelled far quicker than verification ever could.

The video was first captured in mid-March by a motorist near Changchun. He saw the dogs on a high-speed road, recognised the danger they were in, and shared the clip online, asking for help. That moment, that intention, is where the story begins. In the comments, he made a guess. He said the dogs “might have come from a transport vehicle”. It wasn’t something he witnessed. It also wasn’t something he could confirm. It was just a thought. Speculation.

But that thought became the foundation for everything that followed and within days the internet had built an entire narrative around it.

The story grew legs. The dogs were no longer wandering… they were “stolen”. Then they had “escaped from a truck”. Then they were fleeing “dog-meat traders”. Then they had travelled “17 kilometres home in formation”, turning into something cinematic and complete. Each version added more certainty, more emotion, more drama… until the speculation started to feel like fact.

But none of those details were ever confirmed.

Local journalists and volunteers went out to find the truth. They spoke directly to the original filmer. They traced the dogs. They knocked on doors and searched the surrounding areas, even using drones to try and locate where the animals had come from and where they were heading. What they uncovered was far less dramatic but no less real. The dogs hadn’t escaped from anything. There was no truck, no organised journey, no coordinated mission home. According to local verification and provincial authorities, the dogs had wandered off from a nearby village, drawn together by a female German Shepherd in heat, something entirely natural that just happened to look extraordinary when captured from the right angle at the right moment. The 17 kilometres was actually less than 4. And apparently, the dogs, who are all well looked after, wander often, but always come home.

And they did eventually go home.

The confusion sits in the middle of the story, where speculation quickly became “fact”, social media repetition became “proof” and emotion filled the gaps where evidence didn’t exist. Publications around the world picked up the dramatic version and ran with it, many sharing the story as “truth” before taking the time to verify it. Now, some of those very same outlets are revisiting their coverage. The Miami Herald has updated its reporting. People, which initially shared the more emotional version, has added an apology and clarification to its original article.

That is the cycle. Fast, emotional, shareable… and then, eventually, factual.

For us, here at Good Things Guy, it kinda feels like a moment of vindication. When we first saw the clip, we wanted it to be true just as much as everyone else did. There was something really beautiful in the idea of 7 dogs “being kidnapped and then escaping to find their way home together”. But there were gaps, and we noticed them immediately. Instead of running with the headline, we looked deeper. We read local reports (which we had to translate) and followed the details that didn’t line up. Good Things Guy was one of the first publications to say, “Hang on… this isn’t adding up.” And we felt the pushback. There were many comments telling us we were wrong and messages insisting the story was true. We even had emails with people sharing pictures (created by AI) who insisted the story was real and “we got it wrong”.

Still, we trusted our gut and stayed with it, leaning into the responsibility that comes with telling stories that reach millions of people. There is something incredibly important in that. Media has the power to shape how we feel, what we believe and how we see the world. It can lift, inspire and connect, but it can also blur the line between what is real and what is simply repeated enough times to feel real. That does not mean the intent is always wrong. It often comes from a place of wanting to share something good, something hopeful… something worth talking about. The challenge is holding onto truth while doing that.

The story may not have been what we thought it was but the reaction to it says everything about who we are. We still stop. We still care. We still lean into stories that make us feel something good. And maybe the real win here isn’t the version that went viral… it’s the reminder that there are still millions of people out there who want to believe in something kind and something connected. The world still believes in good things (and we believe that’s a really good thing).

Sources: Social Media | City Evening News | Dahe Daily | The Guardian | CNN | Various media outlets 

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 How 7 Dogs Became a Story The Internet Got Wrong (But it’s Still Good News) appeared first on Good Things Guy.

For a few seconds, the world stopped… 7 dogs walking a dangerous road together, no humans in sight and a story that made millions feel something all at once.

Global (24 March 2026) – A short video from northeast China had millions of people holding their breath: 7 dogs, different sizes and breeds, moving together along the side of a fast road near Changchun. With no owner in sight and cars flying past, somehow, the dogs stayed together.

Online, the story quickly grew into a Hollywood-type movie… we could even call it “Homeward Bound 7”.

Seven dogs stolen from their owners have gone viral after escaping from an illegal transport truck and making their way home.

In some versions, the dogs had been stolen. In others, they’d escaped a transport cage. Some posts even claimed they were fleeing a dog-meat fate, then trekking 17 kilometres back home like a real-life animated adventure. But when local reporters and volunteers did the hard work, actually going out, asking questions, and finding the people involved, a much less dramatic (and far more everyday) explanation emerged.

Seven dogs stolen from their owners have gone viral after escaping from an illegal transport truck and making their way home.

They traveled around 17 km together, led by a corgi across highways and fields, now safely back with their respective owners.. pic.twitter.com/H5VB9BQkGB

— 𝕐o̴g̴ (@Yoda4ever) March 23, 2026

The earliest (original) posting is consistently described as being on Douyin (a version of TikTok only available in China), by a user identified in reports as “Mr Lu”. The original filmer posted the video as a request for help and it was speculated in comments that the dogs “probably came from a dog-transport vehicle”. Later reporting quotes him explicitly clarifying he did not see the dogs escape from a vehicle.

According to local reporting from City Evening News, and published on Tencent News, the dogs weren’t “escaping captivity” at all. The owners allegedly said the dogs had simply wandered off from a village where dogs are commonly free-roaming, and the group formed because a female German Shepherd was in heat, attracting other dogs to follow. The same reporting puts the distance at only a few kilometres (around 4 to 5 km), not the viral “17 km epic.” But the strongest local reporting suggests that the most dramatic version of the story was built on guesses, reposts and emotional retelling, rather than verified eyewitness evidence.

Jilin’s provincial culture and tourism bureau reitterated this and explained that the dogs had wandered off of their own accord, attracted by the German shepherd who was on heat and has been known to disappear for a few days at a time. State media warned that the incident “reflects the shortcomings of online information dissemination… a mixture of true and false information, where subjective speculation is easily taken as fact and spread”.

So does that mean the story isn’t worth sharing?

Not at all, it just means the real good-news angle is different.

While the internet was busy writing scripts, people on the ground were showing up. Volunteers searched, asked around villages and worked to confirm the dogs were safe. Local follow-up reporting says the dogs were back in their home area, and the owners were relieved, with some details still a bit murky around two of the dogs seen in the viral footage (local reporting notes they were harder to identify).

What is clear is this: a few seconds of footage sparked a wave of concern and real people turned that concern into action. And in a world where rumour can travel faster than truth, this one also leaves us with a reminder in the age of the internet… share the heart but check the story.

Sources: Social Media | City Evening News | Dahe Daily 

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 Homeward Bound 7: The Story Behind The Pack of Pups Who Went For a Walk! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

And here’s how to spot hoaxes before they hijack your group chats.

Johannesburg, South Africa (11 December 2025) – Every few months, South Africa produces a viral story so wild that the nation collectively goes: “Yoh, imagine if this were true.”

Remember the wildly satirical article about robbers accidentally hijacking a snake transport truck that went viral in July? Well, this one is even wilder. And just as much… not true.

This week’s story was the absolutely bonkers “account” of a 54-year-old (or 44-year-old depending on the post) Limpopo woman who apparently “opened her own prison” in her backyard and calmly detained drunkards who didn’t pay their tavern bills. There were also versions of people being “arrested” for drunken driving, aggressiveness and some more crazy stuff in between. It had everything: drama, crime, vigilante justice, gender-based violence interventions, unpaid tabs and a granny-with-a-plan energy that made people cheer, “Free her… she’s doing the Lord’s work!”

Except… none of it happened.

Zero. Zilch. Not even a tiny sliver of truth.

It looks like the entire thing started as a Facebook Facebookery on the 8th of December and snowballed faster than a WhatsApp about Woolies selling Prosciutto for R9999.99. Except that one is true.

Police eventually had to step in two days later to say, “Guys. Please. This is fake.”

And that, friends, is how a fictional tavern-owner-slash-prison-warden took over the internet for 48 hours.

So, where did it come from? How did it spread? And how do we stop getting duped by these things? Let’s break it down… with a little humour, because laughing while learning is peak South African excellence.

So… where did this nonsense even start?

The original post appeared on Facebook, not a news outlet, not a community newspaper, not a journalist’s page. Just a random social media account with a “Breaking News!!!” banner slapped on top. No byline. No source. No link. No nothing.

And the spelling was a dead giveaway. The viral version first used the word “areested”. That alone should have told us this wasn’t penned by someone with an editor. Or even spellcheck. The post claimed a woman in NkowaNkowa opened her own prison, jailed men who didn’t pay their bills, and locked up those who beat women “when drunk”. It also referred to her as “he” at one point. Again, not usually how a legitimate arrest report reads. But because the story was so outrageous (and honestly, sounded like something you’d watch in a soapie), people copied it, pasted it, reshared it and before long it was everywhere. X. Instagram. Threads. WhatsApp. Probably even your auntie’s church group.

One big X account even got millions of views by calling her a “legend”. Everyone jumped on the bandwagon… except the journalists. Because there was nothing to report.

By the 10th of December, the virality reached the point where the cops themselves had to step forward.

“There is no such case. There was no such arrest. This is fiction.”

That’s how far the story spread. SAPS literally had to log on and explain that nobody in Limpopo was running a backyard correctional services branch.

And look, if someone actually built a private prison and stuffed people in it, every news outlet in the country would’ve run it instantly. There’d be photos, court records, interviews and statements. The whole shebang. But instead, not one reputable news source has reported on it. Because the entire thing was stitched together from imagination, memes and the nation’s love of a vigilante story.

There are a few clues that a story is fake. This one had all of them. Like a hoax bingo card.

1. No real source.

If a story doesn’t appear on reputable platforms but is somehow all over Facebook groups with blurry graphics. It’s suspect.

2. Dodgy grammar.

Real outlets don’t write headlines like “WOMAN AREESTED!!!” If they did, their editors would also be arrested.

3. A completely absurd premise.

A tavern owner running a full-on correctional facility with 36 inmates? Come on. Even Netflix would say it’s too far-fetched.

4. No official confirmation.

If police, courts, or government don’t mention it, but your uncle’s WhatsApp group does, be cautious.

5. No matching photos.

The viral picture didn’t match any real arrest. Reverse-image searches would’ve shown it was unrelated.

6. Emotion before evidence.

The jokes flew faster than the facts. When people are reacting, not verifying, that’s when fake news thrives.

So, in order to help us distinguish the real from the not, we’ve put together a short guide to avoid being bamboozled next time.

1. Check who posted it.

“ADMIN OF SKEEF NEWS PAGE” does not count as a source.

2. Look for real reporting.

If The Citizen, News24, eNCA, TimesLive, Sowetan, BBC, SABC, etc. are all silent. That’s telling.

3. Search for an official statement.

Police love a press release. If they haven’t said anything, the story probably isn’t real.

4. Verify the image.

Reverse-image tools are your friend.

5. Slow down before sharing.

If it triggers an instant reaction, stop and breathe. That’s how hoaxes trick us.

6. Use fact-checking sites.

Africa Check, AFP Fact Check, Real411.. they exist for moments like this.

This story was hilarious. The memes were gold. South Africans know how to take a tall story and turn it into social media poetry. But it was fake. And even funny fake news still spreads confusion, wastes officials’ time, and teaches people to believe anything with a sensational headline.

So no, there was no tavern warden running a correctional centre from her backyard but there was a nation ready to believe it. South Africa, we really are a movie.

Source: Social Media | The Citizen | SAPS 

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 Limpopo “DIY Prison” Story Went Viral… Shame, But It Was Completely Made Up appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Earlier this year, a little Anglerfish captured the world’s attention. Now, she’s returned to remind us all that even when life pulls you into the deep, there’s always a way up.

Global (06 November 2025) – A fish. A light. A story that somehow made millions of people cry on the internet. The Anglerfish that once captured the world’s imagination has returned… this time through “The Way Up”, a short film that dives even deeper into her journey from the dark depths toward something brighter.

Written, prompted, edited, and directed by Drew Garcia, The Way Up takes the viral Anglerfish story (or “tail”), one that inspired millions with its quiet message of resilience, and turns it into a stunning piece of visual storytelling. Jane Merrow lends her voice as Luma, the glowing soul of the sea, with an evocative score composed by Robin Hoffmann and performed by The Louisiana Scoring Orchestra.

The short film captures what so many felt when the Anglerfish first became a sensation. A creature born in darkness who learns to rise, to search, and ultimately, to shine. It’s delicate, melancholic and entirely mesmerising.

Social media has once again been swept away by the emotion of it all:

“Dammit I’m crying over that fish again.”

“Her light becoming one with the sun’s at the end was so beautiful .”

“This anglerfish didn’t just find the light… it became the light .”

It’s rare to see something so simple capture so much meaning, the idea that no matter how deep the ocean or how heavy the darkness, there’s always a way up.

Source: 

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 Viral Anglerfish That Stole Our Hearts is Back… And it’s Even More Beautiful appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Her patients call her an angel, a hero and even a second mother. Sister Dolly Mofokeng’s name is spreading across South Africa for the purest reason of all… love.

Ekurhuleni, South Africa (14 October 2025) – Sometimes, one person’s kindness can ripple through countless lives… and that’s exactly what’s happening right now with a nurse from the Far East Rand Hospital Antenatal Clinic. Her name is Sister Dolly Mofokeng and she’s going viral for all the right reasons.

A Facebook post about Sister Dolly has been flooded with love, gratitude and tears of appreciation from people whose lives she’s touched. She’s not a celebrity, not a public figure… just a woman doing her job with extraordinary heart. But to the hundreds of mothers she’s helped, she’s so much more than that.

“I’d rather lose my job than live with the guilt of your child dying.”

One of the most shared stories came from Lebohang Mahlangu, who remembers Sister Dolly’s bravery and compassion vividly.

“There was confusion about my due date. The doctor said I was far from giving birth, but when Sister Dolly checked, she realised I should’ve already given birth. She told me, ‘I’m admitting you because I’d rather lose my job than live with the guilt of your child dying.’”

Lebohang gave birth to a healthy baby girl and says she’ll never forget the woman who refused to ignore her instincts.

“She has a heart of gold,” she wrote. “She served us with love.”

Arabile Mokwena described Sister Dolly as “the best… actually incredible.” When her baby stopped moving, Dolly didn’t hesitate. She personally took Arabile to the doctor, monitored her, and made sure she was booked for a C-section.

“She even showed kindness to my husband,” Arabile added. “I have no words to thank her. She is wonderful. May God continue to bless her.”

“Her kindness is out of this world.”

For Kaymie Zwayne, Sister Dolly’s care went beyond medicine.

“She’s the reason I made it with my baby. Her kindness is out of this world. She’s calm, fun and kind-hearted and those songs she made us sing during pregnancy are still working! My six-month-old loves them.”

“She made antenatal visits feel like home.”

Confy Mokubung summed up what so many mothers have said:

“When we talk about someone who loves what they do, we talk about Sister Dolly. She made antenatal visits feel like home with her kindness, humour and friendly conversations.”

“Even those who’ve never met her feel inspired.”

Perhaps the most powerful proof of Sister Dolly’s impact comes from people like Kabelo Lebereko, who commented simply…

“I don’t know her, never met her, but I’m inspired to hear that there are such amazing people out there.”

This wave of love shows what happens when compassion meets courage, when someone truly cares. Sister Dolly’s story reminds us that everyday heroes don’t wear capes; they wear scrubs, offer comfort and make life-changing decisions out of love.

In a country that often feels heavy with headlines, stories like these remind us that goodness is still alive, often found in the quiet halls of hospitals, where people like Sister Dolly Mofokeng are making miracles happen every single day.

Thank you, Sister Dolly, for giving us all the feels today.

Source: Facebook 

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 “She Saved My Baby”: Tributes Pour in for Kindhearted Nurse from Far East Rand Hospital appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A father’s vulnerable Facebook post has united South Africans around a single truth: kindness still lives here and sometimes, it wears a petrol attendant’s uniform.

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 July 2025) – When Justin Roderick shared a story to the I Love Fourways Facebook group, he didn’t expect it to go viral. He wasn’t chasing likes or sympathy, he was sharing one of the hardest mornings of his life… and how a complete stranger gave him hope, when he thought he had none left.

“This morning, something happened that broke me, humbled me, and gave me hope, all at once,” Justin wrote. “Our family has been walking through one of the toughest financial seasons of our lives.”

A failed investment had shattered everything. They had sold nearly all they owned just to stay afloat.

“Every cent, every drop of petrol put in with pray and hope that it will keep the wheels turning,” he added. It was survival, one day at a time.

That morning, Justin thought he had just enough fuel to get his daughters, aged 9 and 11, to school. But halfway there, on a busy road during peak traffic, the car gave in.

“My heart sank.”

His girls burst into tears. The eldest, especially, was devastated. She had a school outing that day, and missing it wasn’t an option in her little world.

“Then I hear my little girl’s voice say, ‘Justy, I’ve got R20’ – which I had given her to buy a cooldrink on her school outing. My heart sunk even more.”

Justin had no airtime. No data. No way to call for help. Just his two daughters and a desperate plan: walk.

They left the car behind and, hand in hand, tears still fresh, walked more than a kilometre to the nearest petrol station. And that’s where everything changed.

“I approached the first petrol attendant I saw. I held out the R20 in coins and asked if he could please help me get a little bottle filled… just enough to get my girls to school 2km away.”

The attendant told him to go to Pump 6. Another attendant, quiet and unassuming, brought a 5-litre bottle and started filling it.

Justin tried to hand over the coins. The man simply shook his head.

“Don’t worry,” he said gently. “He’s paying for it.”

He pointed back to the first attendant.

Justin was stunned.

“In that moment… it hit me so hard. I was standing there with my two girls, holding R20 in coins, overwhelmed and broken… and here was this man, a petrol attendant, a complete stranger who was filling a full 5L out of his own pocket.”

Justin was fighting back tears. His daughters were watching. And this man, who probably earns just enough to make it through his own days, gave without hesitation.

And then, as they were running back to the car, something even more unexpected happened.

“I was looking for him to thank him again, and he came running out of the store towards me. He reached out his hand as if to shake mine, but slipped something into it.”

Justin assumed it was a small note. R10, maybe R20.

Only once they were back on the road, safely moving again, did he open his hand.

It was R100.

“No words. No attention. No pride. He didn’t hold it out for all to see. Just quiet, sacrificial kindness from someone who likely doesn’t have much himself.”

The impact of that moment hit Justin deep.

“He didn’t just bless me with petrol. He gave me hope. He didn’t just get my car going. He helped carry my heart this morning.”

Justin shared the story publicly, with raw honesty, laying out his struggles and his gratitude.

“As much as I didn’t want anyone to know about my situation… I’m choosing to put my pride and ego aside to share this. Because what this man did for me… deserves to be seen. It deserves to be honoured.”

The response has been overwhelming. Messages keep pouring in. Comments stacked by the thousands. South Africans, broken in their own ways, saw themselves in Justin’s words. And in that incredible petrol attendant’s heart.

“This was such a moving post! How beautiful of this man! Incredible hearing these stories — definitely makes you see we still have kind-hearted people in this world!”

“We are privileged to live in this beautiful country, South Africa ”

“This blooming beloved country. At the exact moment you have that ‘screwthisshit’ moment, something like this pops up. The juxtaposition of good and evil in this place is both exhausting and exhilarating. Be like Warren.”

“What a wonderful and hopeful story. Thank you for sharing it. May the tide turn soon for your family.”

Justin then returned to the Shell Bryanston Convenience Centre, on Winnie Mandela Drive, and found the man who had restored his faith.

His name is Warren Bhebhe.

And now, South Africa knows who to thank.

“I’m a world apart from where I was yesterday,” Justin wrote in an emotional update. “The endless, crushing stress of trying to keep my family afloat has been replaced with something I haven’t felt in so long — hope, light, and an unshakeable faith in humanity.”

“This is who we are as South Africans,” he added. “Yes, we face corruption, challenges, and struggles that would break other nations. But we rise. We endure. We love.”

Warren didn’t want credit. He didn’t film his act. He didn’t post a status. But his quiet generosity has reminded a nation who we are… and what we’re capable of.

“No government, no politics, no hardship can steal the Ubuntu that lives in our hearts – only we can surrender that. And through every comment, every response to this post – we have proven we never will.”

Warren’s simple act wasn’t just a gift of money or fuel. It was a mirror held up to all of us, showing what South Africa looks like when we lead with love.

Speaking to Good Things Guy, Justin reflected on the moment and everything that followed.

“It’s been humbling and truly moving to see how the story has touched thousands of hearts,” he shared. “It’s become a powerful reminder that goodness, kindness, and humanity still run deeply in our communities and in our country.”

And perhaps most importantly, Justin reminded us:

“The solution to many of the problems we face in our country begins in our hearts. We have to be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.”

Sources: Justin Roderick | I Love Fourways 

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 This Petrol Attendant Quietly Changed A Family’s Life And Touched A Nation! 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 

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

They say our pavements are charging cars. We say: have you seen our potholes? A viral fake story about South African sidewalks has sparked a hilarious online reaction.

Global (15 July 2025) – A social media post from an American “science” page is going viral and South Africans are absolutely howling with laughter.

The post confidently claims that South Africa has invented solar pavements that can power streetlights, charge electric vehicles and basically transform everyday sidewalks into a clean energy grid. It speaks of a “wide pedestrian avenue in Cape Town” where this futuristic tech has been rolled out, complete with tempered glass tiles, underground battery vaults and wireless EV charging pads. The post even adds that the Department of Energy is piloting the project and claims local infrastructure energy use has dropped by 60%.

It’s a shiny, sci-fi utopia… that doesn’t exist. And South Africans know it.

This isn’t the first time the internet has had fun with a South African story. Just a few days ago, another wild piece of satire went viral… this time about hijackers accidentally robbing a truck full of snakes, thinking it was carrying cash. The article, originally shared on NewsVine and later covered on Good Things Guy, featured lines like “the robbers are now suing the Department of Environmental Affairs for being ‘bitten without consent’” and “emotional support lizards” were apparently being demanded in court.

The funniest part was that half of South Africa believed it. The other half were equally entertained.

But unlike the satirical snake-heist, which was meant to be absurd, this “solar street” story is being shared completely seriously by an international science page. It sounds plausible. It sounds impressive. To South Africans who deal with potholes the size of small bathtubs and streetlights that just don’t switch, it was immediately flagged as absolute nonsense.

And, as we do best, we went straight to the comments.

“As a South African, I ran to the comments section, which did not disappoint! ”

“Ramaphosa would ask the same question he asked Trump in the White House: ‘Where in South Africa is this?’”

“We can’t even pave with normal tarmac hahaha.”

“Lol. Our roads are paved with POTHOLES.”

“Not even the parliament or Union Building streets are that clean. Voetsek.”

“They can’t even keep a solar-powered light on a pole, nevermind tie and make a solar pavement… ”

“ Those solars would disappear moments after installation. Our pharas don’t waste time. I mean they even steal robots”

“100% certified kak story.”

What’s incredible, and worth celebrating, is how unified the online response was. We laughed together, shared it across groups and pages, and kept the humour rolling for hours. Even while dealing with real challenges (like unreliable infrastructure, poverty, crime and corruption), South Africans somehow still have the capacity to laugh, even when we’re the punchline.

So while we may not be walking on solar pavements just yet, the ground beneath our feet is far from ordinary. It’s filled with potential, resilience and a population that knows how to take a joke.

Sources: Forest Hunts Facebook Page 

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 Mzansi Reacts to Viral Post Claiming SA Invented Solar Pavements appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A wildly satirical article about robbers accidentally hijacking a snake transport truck has gone viral in South Africa… and the funniest part? Half the country thinks it’s real.

South Africa (12 July 2025) – Something absolutely ridiculous is doing the rounds online… and it’s biting hard.

A satirical article titled “Braindead Robbers Mistake Snake Truck for Cash Van, End Up in ICU After VIP Treatment from Angry Pythons” has gone completely viral across South African social media, not just because it’s hilarious but because thousands of people actually think it’s real news.

The story, written by News Vine, a platform that describes itself as “South Africa’s freshest source of satire, where we turn the headlines upside down and serve them with a twist of wit and absurdity,” was published yesterday. Within 24 hours, it had already racked up over 21,000 likes, 8,000 shares… and countless comments from a nation unsure whether to laugh, cry, or call the SPCA.

The article itself reads like a comedy sketch. Hijackers armed with pangas intercept a supposed cash-in-transit van, only to find themselves under siege from a crate of angry snakes. It’s got it all: cobras mistaken for currency, a truck driver cracking jokes about “Standard Boa,” and criminals hospitalised by venom and their own absurdity. Honestly, it’s so wild it teeters on believable, because let’s face it, this is South Africa… we’ve seen worse on a Wednesday.

Let’s be clear though: it’s not real.

There was no truck filled with 87 venomous snakes, no hijackers screaming about “moving R200 notes”, and no python named Rihanna who “shines bright like a diamond” while dishing out revenge. But the fact that so many South Africans believed it is possibly the funniest part of the whole thing.

“This is like an April Fools news article… But it’s real ”

“By chance have we just stumbled on the best security innovation for dealing with cash-in-transit robberies?”

“Poetic justice! Perhaps all Cash-in-transit vans should have Snake guards in future!”

Yes, people were reading the post and sharing it, believing it was true. We even had some of our readers send us the article, to report on the “good news”.

And then… News Vine dropped a follow-up.

Snakebite Lawsuit: The Sequel We Didn’t Know We Needed

In a satirical sequel that somehow managed to top the first, News Vine reported that the five bitten hijackers are now suing the Department of Environmental Affairs for “emotional trauma” after being “bitten without consent”.

You read that right.

According to the post, their lawyer, Advocate Boetie “Snake Eyes” Dlamini, argued that the crates should’ve had warning signs, like “Danger: Contents May Slither and Kill.” He says the group would’ve “chosen a different truck to rob” had the dangers been clearer. They’re demanding R2 million each, spa vouchers for their nervous systems and emotional support lizards.

Meanwhile, Rihanna the python is living her best life.

The now-famous snake, Rihanna, has apparently signed a deal with National Geographic for a docuseries titled “From Crate to Fame: The Snake Who Bit Back.” She was last spotted sunbathing in a luxury enclosure, draped in designer shades and a gold chain that reads “NO REGRETS.”

Jokes Aside… This Is Why Media Literacy Matters

Yes, this satire is brilliant. Yes, it’s funny that so many people fell for it. But it’s also a gentle nudge to be a bit more aware of what we’re reading, liking and sharing… especially in a time when our feeds are flooded with fake news, AI-generated slop and miscaptioned videos pretending to be breaking stories.

So to help you, we’ve listed 5 simple tips to see the real news (from the fake or funny):

Check the source

Is the article coming from a credible, known news outlet? Or is it from a site with a quirky name and a history of writing about UFOs and time-travelling meerkats?

Look for disclaimers

Satirical sites often have a disclaimer or “About” section that tells you upfront that they publish satire. In this case, the profile photo of News Vine says “Satire“. Dead giveaway.

Cross-check the story

If it seems wild, snakes in a heist truck, for instance, do a quick Google search. If no other reputable outlet is reporting on it, chances are, it’s made up.

Spot the tone

Is it written seriously, or with obvious exaggeration, puns, and punchlines? Satirical pieces are often deliberately over the top.

Reverse image search

If the story includes photos, run a reverse image search. It helps you see where else that image appears and in what context.

The most important thing is to keep our wits about us, especially when the lines between truth, fiction and “just for laughs” are increasingly blurred.

In the case of the great “snake heist” satire? We’re choosing to laugh. Loudly. Because South Africans get humour like no one else. And when the punchline involves puff adders and an imaginary snake named Rihanna, it’s hard not to appreciate the brilliance.

But the next time you read a story that makes you go, “Wait, what?”… take a second. Check the source. And maybe don’t launch a nationwide search for venomous vigilantes.

Sources: News Vine 

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 Satirical Snake Heist Story Has South Africans Hissing With Laughter… And Confusion appeared first on Good Things Guy.