‘There are moments when you’re carrying everything on your own and feel like you’re running out of options…and then suddenly people show up for you in ways you didn’t expect.’

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 March 2026) – Last week, Rosie made a post on Facebook. A humbling one.

She had managed to gather enough to buy her daughter a dress and a pair of shoes for her matric dance, but was battling to cover the rest.

Vulnerability isn’t easy, but for the sake of making her daughter’s day a special one, she placed her hope in kindness and turned to the people in her community.

All that was needed to make her daughter’s dream night complete was transport to and from the venue and make-up. With just days to go before the farewell, she humbled herself.

“I’ve tried my best but I’ve come up short, so I’m putting my pride aside and asking for help,” she wrote in her neighbourhood Facebook group. “I truly just want to make her dream of attending her matric dance come true.”

The Randburg community saw a mother desperate for help and didn’t hesitate. Rosie says she’ll never forget the incredible wave of kindness that followed.

“After I put the call out, people from the Randburg community reached out offering all kinds of help. Some donated money, others offered make-up and other items, and one woman arranged an Uber Black to get her to the venue and back.”

People gave what they could, whether big or small. Enough to make a young lady’s dream night a reality.

That kindness extended to Rosie as well. People recognised the vulnerability she had shown, the guilt of not wanting to disappoint her child, while knowing she couldn’t do it all alone.

“There were messages of encouragement and kindness that really carried me through that time,” Rosie says.

It hasn’t been an easy three years. After suffering a stroke in 2023, Rosie has had to adjust to life with a disability, unable to earn a proper income.

“I needed just this one moment of happiness for my child,” she says. “As a mother, the kindness we received was overwhelming in the best way. There are moments where you carry everything on your own and feel like you’re running out of options – and then suddenly people show up for you in ways you didn’t expect. It reminded me that I’m not alone, even in my most difficult moments.”

She says her daughter’s matric dance was everything she had hoped for and more. For one night, she was able to be a young lady celebrating a big milestone without a worry in the world.

“Watching her smile, seeing her feel beautiful and appreciated. That alone made everything worth it,” she says. “It also showed her that there is still kindness in the world, that people can come together for you even if they don’t know you personally. That kind of lesson stays with a child.”

Later, Rosie returned to that same Facebook group, this time to share her gratitude for the strangers who had shown up for them.

“I watched her smile with so much joy that night…and I know it’s because of all of you. I will never forget what you’ve done for us,” she wrote.

Sources: GTG Interview. 

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 Community’s Incredible Kindness Helps Struggling Mother Give Daughter a Matric Farewell appeared first on Good Things Guy.

South Africa met Rudolf Lakay standing at a taxi rank with a tray of sweets. Today, he’s stepping into a future shaped by opportunity, education and belief.

South Africa (01 March 2026) – When Rudolf Lakay first appeared on our timelines, he wasn’t asking for sympathy or shortcuts. He was doing what so many South Africans do when faced with a challenge: waking up early, showing up and putting in the work. Before the school bell rang, the Florida High matriculant could be found at the Mitchells Plain town centre taxi rank, selling sweets to commuters with one clear goal in mind… to pay for his matric dance and help his family at home.

That moment struck a chord across the country. A young man choosing effort over excuses, pride over pity and action over waiting for something to change. When the video of Rudolf’s early morning hustle made its way onto social media, South Africans responded with the kind of generosity that reminds you why this place still surprises you in the best ways.

A crowdfunding campaign launched by Renaldo Gouws set out to raise R10,000. Within 30 minutes, it had already passed R35,000. By the time the donations slowed, more than R80,000 had been raised.

Renaldo summed it up simply at the time, “Let’s show this young man that hard work is rewarded and that there are many kind souls out there who will always assist those who are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel.”

The support meant Rudolf could attend his matric dance with dignity but the ripple effects went far beyond one night. That early act of backing a determined teenager opened doors that are now reshaping his life.

Those early mornings eventually caught the attention of Raa-iq Solomons, Senior Student Advisor at Emeris, who saw more than a side hustle. He saw a young man with drive who needed guidance and access.

“When I first came across Rudolph, I could see the sincerity and determination of a young man who didn’t grow up with much. Reaching matric is already a huge milestone in our communities,” Solomons says.

That conversation became a turning point. Through mentorship, advice on study options and help navigating bursary opportunities, Rudolf’s path shifted from survival to strategy. A collaboration between Emeris and the Alfeco Foundation followed, ensuring that financial barriers would not stand in the way of his next chapter. The Alfeco Foundation committed to covering 50% of his tuition, study materials, accommodation and food expenses for the next three years, while Emeris stepped in to cover the remaining costs. Together, they backed more than a degree; they backed potential.

Rudolf is now enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce in Strategic Management at Vega School at Emeris Cape Town City. The programme blends academic rigour with practical projects, giving him the tools to sharpen his ideas and test them in the real world. True to form, he hasn’t waited to finish studying before applying what he’s learning. Alongside his coursework, he continues running small ventures, using each project as a classroom of its own.

“I plan to use my practical experiences while studying by applying the knowledge I learn and approaching projects with my problem-solving skills,” he says.

At the heart of it all is a promise he made long ago.

“Growing up, I could never ask my mum for things like new shoes or gifts, but I promised myself that one day I would buy her everything she wished for,” Rudolf shares.

He also carries a hope that reaches beyond his own story.

“I want to see the youth of Mitchell’s Plain not be ashamed of where they come from and prevent their circumstances from determining their future,” he says.

This story began before sunrise at a taxi rank but it is clearly headed somewhere much bigger. With education, support and an unshakable work ethic behind him, Rudolf is no longer just chasing dreams… he is building them, step by step, with intention and purpose.

Sources: Rudolf Lakay 

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 a Tray of Sweets Changed Rudolf Lakay’s Future! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

What began as a modest R20,000 goal on the 31st of January has grown into R600,000, built largely from small donations by ordinary people determined to honour David Sejobe’s life.

Johannesburg, South Africa (12 February 2026) – It has been nearly 2 weeks since David Sejobe tragically passed away and what has unfolded since then is something few could have predicted. What began as shock and heartbreak has grown into one of the most moving displays of collective kindness South Africa has seen in a long time.

The crowdfunding campaign set up with a modest goal of R20,000 to assist David’s family with funeral and memorial expenses now stands at R602,000. The speed at which it grew was remarkable. The way it continues to grow is even more telling. This is not a total driven by a handful of large donors. It has been built steadily from R10s, R20s and R50s… from people who felt compelled to do something, however small, to honour a man whose daily presence meant more than many realised at the time. In the days after his passing, South Africa responded with an outpouring of love. Motorists hooted as they passed the gate where he once stood. Candles and flowers were placed near his post. His name trended across social media. And his story made front-page news. But beyond the public tributes, it has been the personal reflections that reveal why this has resonated so deeply.

“We didn’t all know your name, but we knew your smile,” one message read. Another urged, “If you can be anything in this world, be a David Sejobe.”

People shared how he brought lightness to traffic-heavy mornings, how he remembered cars and faces and how he greeted each day with energy that felt genuine.

Some comments have been deeply reflective. “Let’s give people their flowers while they are still alive,” one person wrote, acknowledging the lesson embedded in this loss. Another said simply, “The good we do lives on after us.” In many ways, that sentiment has become the heartbeat of this moment.

David was not a public figure, a community leader or a household name… he stood at a gate. He greeted people warmly and he showed up with dignity and care. Yet in his passing, it has become clear that those small, consistent acts carry enormous weight. They shape routines and create connections in spaces where we least expect them.

The money raised so far will provide meaningful support to his family during an unimaginably difficult time. But the deeper significance lies in what the number represents. It reflects a country choosing empathy over indifference. And it reflects thousands of people recognising kindness and deciding to respond in kind.

The organisers of the crowdfunding campaign have shared the following update:

“We would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support.

Contact has been made with Mrs Sejobe and the campaign has been set up to provide direct support to her and her children, who are the identified beneficiaries of the fund. All proceeds raised will be paid directly to Mrs Sejobe and used for the care and future needs of her and the children.

We humbly ask that you continue sharing the campaign as we work together to honour and grow the legacy of Ntate David.

Thank you for the continued prayers, generosity, and understanding during this difficult time.”

Sources: Multichoice Press Release | Crowdfunding Campaign | Social Media Comments on 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 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 Over R600,000 Raised in David Sejobe’s Name as SA Continues to Honour Him appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When the wheels stopped turning for a Cape Town small business owner, two strangers showed up with jumper cables and a reminder that kindness is what drives South Africa forward.

Franschhoek, South Africa (11 February 2026) – When your business runs on four wheels, it’s never ideal when those wheels stop turning.

Cape Town-based chaperone service owner Athol Williams’ night started on a promising note with business in Franschhoek, but things quickly turned pear-shaped, into a late-night standstill.

“My Chaperone Service that began with promise in Franschhoek quickly took a turn for the worse when my vehicle’s battery gave out at 22:30 on an eerily quiet Huguenot Main Street.” he shared on Facebook. 

Athol tried everything he could to revive the battery, but he couldn’t. The stress of running a small business in service delivery started to set in well and properly. Then kindness showed up and flipped the odds over.

“Despite my best efforts to revive it, the car remained lifeless. Just as I was starting to feel desperate, Terry and Given arrived like a breath of fresh air,” shared Athol. “These two heroes, still in their work clothes, jumped into action and breathed life back into my vehicle with their jumper cables.”

Two men – who had likely just come off a long shift, also in service delivery – noticed Athol stuck and desperately needing help. The decision to act on that observation is what makes them good people.

“What struck me most was their unwavering kindness and refusal to accept any form of gratitude beyond my heartfelt thanks.”

If you’ve lived in South Africa long enough, you’ll know this story isn’t unusual. South Africans operate on an unspoken culture of kindness. That doesn’t mean we don’t have our problems, but we do show up for each other.

Stories like this one keep the good going and remind us that kindness is a choice that anyone can make.

It’s in the shared nod. The jumper cables at 22:30. The stranger who won’t take your money because helping was the point.

Athol has since encouraged anyone passing through Franschhoek to stop by and thank Terry and Given in person.

“If fate takes you to Franschhoek, do visit Franks Corner and thank these extraordinary people.”

Sources: Linked above. 

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 Business on the Line and Battery Flat…Then Came Terry and Given appeared first on Good Things Guy.

This February, a single bicycle will carry far more than a rider from Clarens to Cape Town; it will carry stories of loss, gratitude and a deep belief that midlife can be the beginning of something extraordinary.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (10 February 2026) – There are people who chase finish lines and then there are people who chase meaning. Gordon “Lucky Gordy” Reid sits firmly in the second camp.

In a few weeks’ time, he’ll clip into his pedals in Clarens and point his bike towards Cape Town, taking on an 881km ride over 8 demanding days. It’s big, it’s bold, and, like everything Gordy does, it’s about far more than the kilometres on the road.

At 52, Gordy is an endurance athlete, a serial philanthropist and a Discovery Financial Advisor but labels only tell part of the story. His journey has been shaped by setbacks, sharp turns, and a deep belief that life is meant to be lived fully, generously, and with gratitude. This Trans Karoo Spirit Ride, organised by the Zululand Rotary Club, will end with the Cape Cycle Tour, bringing his total distance to a hefty 990km in just 10 days. It’s not just another adventure, it’s a mission with heart.

We sat down with Gordon to chat about the ride, the road that led him here, and the meaning behind the name that’s become synonymous with purpose-driven endurance: Lucky Gordy.

So, first things first… why “Lucky Gordy”?

Well, the proudly South African athlete says that “givers gain” is part of his moral code. Lucky Gordy believes that the luckier you think you are, the luckier you become… and it all starts with gratitude.

“I’ve lived an extraordinary life, filled with opportunities, adventures, and incredible people. At 52, if I died tomorrow, I’d go knowing I gave it my best shot,” he explains. 

“I call myself Lucky Gordy because I am lucky. Lucky to be here, lucky to be healthy enough to take on these challenges and lucky to be able to give back. My mission is simple: inspire people to support the causes that matter to them. If my story inspires even one person or sparks one moment of change, then my job here is done.”

That outlook didn’t come from an easy chapter. At 40, Gordy’s life took a sharp detour through hospitals and operating theatres.

“My five operations in one year were: two sinus operations, followed by two more surgeries to remove and biopsy suspicious tissue around my kidneys. And, just to add to the chaos of that year, I very nearly cut my own hand off in a signage accident with a box cutter. Not my finest year by far but that was the start of my ‘Healthy Midlife Crisis’.”

From hospital beds to covering more than 9,000km across some of South Africa’s toughest events, the shift didn’t happen overnight but there was a moment that changed everything.

“My wife and two beautiful daughters are my daily motivation. They push me to be better and to lead by example. But the true turning point came in 2013, shortly after my operations. I attended The Cows KZN launch party and, in a moment of pure impulse, signed a serviette committing to do a Half Ironman. Their message was simple: Do something you never believed you could do.”

At that stage, I wasn’t a runner or a swimmer (not even close) but that single signature marked the beginning of a completely new journey.”

Since then, Gordy has taken on the Comrades Marathon, multiple Dusi Canoe Marathons, Run for Rangers, Amashova in just about every form imaginable, Wines2Whales and more than ten Midmar Mile swims. Along the way, he’s helped raise millions for charities and shown that midlife isn’t an ending; it’s often a beginning.

He’s passionate about reframing how we see that chapter of life.

“Life is precious, and the old saying ‘you only live once’ isn’t true. The truth is: we die once, but we get to live every single day. It is never too late to make a change,” he tells us.

If you’re unhappy with any part of your life… your career, fitness levels, relationships, or even how you feel about yourself, take a bold step. Commit to change. Tell people what you’re planning, so they hold you accountable. Then start. Anything is possible.”

Gordy only began exercising seriously at 40. He says that he almost lost everything during COVID at 46. He changed careers at 47. And then started rewriting his story.

But this particular ride carries extra weight because of who it supports. Gordy is riding to raise R40,000 for the Rotary Club of Empangeni, with funds going to The Butterfly Home, the first and only registered children’s hospice in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

“Our country faces enormous challenges, but we’re blessed with extraordinary people and resources. Your work as ‘The Good Things Guy’ showcases that daily… ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things through kindness and purpose.”

I’ve felt the weight of loss deeply. I lost my mum, my niece and several close friends to cancer. Holding my mum’s hand in a hospice in the UK as she took her last breath, ten years ago this month, changed me forever. Watching my niece, Paige Desaunois, go from a healthy 17-year-old to passing away just seven weeks after her first headaches showed me how fragile life is, and how essential love, dignity, and peace are at the end of life.”

Those experiences shaped him, and they guide him. They pushed him to help in the way he knows how.

For Gordy, The Butterfly Home represents compassion in action, providing paediatric palliative care to orphaned and abandoned children with severe disabilities and life-limiting conditions.

“The R40,000 I hope to raise will help them buy a vehicle for their outreach programme, a practical, life-changing tool that will allow them to reach more children, more families, and more communities who desperately need support. One act of kindness. One child at a time. One brave step forward into something better.”

When the road stretches long and the legs start to burn between Clarens and Cape Town, Gordy knows exactly what keeps him moving.

“I write the names of the people I’ve lost to life-limiting illnesses on my arms. It keeps them with me. I picture my mum, and my niece Paige. I also picture the children we’re riding for: abandoned or orphaned kids facing their final days with severe disabilities and life-limiting conditions. Imagining them being loved, held and given dignity at the end of life is what carries me up the hills and through the toughest moments.”

This ride is a celebration of distance travelled in every sense of the word… from recovery to purpose and from challenge to contribution. Gordon “Lucky Gordy” Reid is proving that age is not a limit, that giving back can be woven into even the hardest pursuits and that choosing gratitude can turn effort into impact.

You can follow Lucky Gordy on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok or LinkedIn. Or donate to his cause by clicking here.

Sources: Interview with Gordon “Lucky Gordy” Reid 

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 Lucky Gordy is Cycling 990km to Prove Midlife isn’t the End of the Road appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When Ben West shared an update saying “it worked”, he wasn’t talking about reach or growth, but about a single message that confirmed a stranger had found enough hope in a letter to keep going.

Global (06 February 2026) – When we shared the story of “Reasons to Stay” just over a week ago, it was already clear that something special was unfolding. The platform had only just launched, yet thousands of people around the world had already written letters for strangers who were struggling, choosing to offer empathy, warmth and connection at moments that matter most.

What we didn’t know then was just how important those letters are!

This week, Ben West shared a video update that has left us all in tears. In it, he spoke honestly, and with visible emotion, explaining that someone had written to him with words that carried extraordinary weight. They told him that because of his website, they had received a letter and, because of that letter, had chosen to stay.

“It worked,” Ben said.

“Reasons to Stay” was launched in honour of Ben’s brother, Sam, who died by suicide in 2018. Built over two years, the platform was designed to reach people at difficult moments through anonymous letters written by volunteers. Every letter is written by a real person and delivered at random to someone visiting the site. Each one is moderated by a team of volunteer clinical professionals to ensure it is safe for people experiencing suicidal distress. The intention was simple but profound: to remind people that they are not alone, even when it feels that way.

At the time of our first article, the site already featured more than 10,000 letters from people in over 100 countries, read by more than 160,000 visitors. Since then, the response has grown far beyond what anyone could have anticipated. Thousands more people from around the world, including South Africans, have taken time to write letters filled with warmth, understanding and lived experience. Those letters have now been delivered to almost half a million people, reaching individuals at moments where everything feels overwhelming and heavy. Each letter is different, but the message at the heart of them remains the same: you matter, and staying is possible.

@iambenwest♬ The View Between Villages – Noah Kahan

Ben’s update marks a turning point. The platform and its purpose were confirmed in the most real way imaginable. One person read a letter at the right moment and that moment mattered. But the reality is that this website has helped so many more people. Since sharing the update, social media has filled with messages from people who felt moved by the project. Some had written letters. Others had found the site while struggling themselves. Many simply wanted Ben to know that what he created was making a difference.

“I left a letter on your site. You are an amazing advocate for your brother. Keep making a difference, and if there is anything I can do to help, just shout huge respect,” wrote one commenter.

“Ben your doing something that is going to help so many people. Sam will be looking down and so proud of you. You are such a beautiful soul ,” another wrote.

For others, discovering the site arrived at a time when they needed it most.

“Dear Ben, THANK YOU for all your hard work! As someone struggling with mental health myself, I came across your post, and your website and it really struck a chord! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart ”

These messages reveal something important. This platform is not just about reading or writing letters. It is about people recognising themselves in one another. About strangers choosing to show up with honesty and care, even when it would be easier to scroll past.

South Africans have played a meaningful role in this global response, contributing letters shaped by empathy, reflection and understanding. It is a reminder that kindness does not need proximity to travel far, and that connection can be felt deeply, even across continents.

When Ben says “it worked”, what he is really saying is that someone chose life because another human being chose to care. And sometimes, that is how the biggest impact is made. One letter, one reader, and one moment of connection that helps someone stay.

Sources: Reasons To Stay | Ben West 

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 “It Worked”: A Stranger Read a Letter and Chose to Stay! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When illness separates people from their families and familiar comforts, the smallest human connection can mean everything. HospiVision has spent nearly three decades making sure no one has to face those moments alone.

Pretoria, South Africa (05 February 2026) – Public hospitals can be overwhelming places. Long corridors. Hard news. Too much time alone with your thoughts. For many South Africans, being admitted means being far from home, separated from family who cannot afford to visit, or carrying fears they don’t know how to voice. And then, often when it is needed most, someone pulls up a chair, asks how you are really doing, and stays.

That is where HospiVision steps in.

Founded in 1997 by a small group of churches in Pretoria who simply decided to show up, HospiVision has grown into a national force for care within South Africa’s public healthcare system. This year, the faith-based non-profit passed a remarkable milestone, having supported more than 201,000 patients, families and healthcare workers across public hospitals in Gauteng and the Western Cape. In 2025 alone, their teams reached 45,605 people at facilities including Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Karl Bremer Hospital, and Vredenburg Hospital.

We spoke to the HospiVision team, who are present in these hospital corridors every day and a clear theme emerged from every conversation. When families cannot be there, and medical staff are under immense pressure, what patients need most is someone who will stay, listen, and treat them with care. That presence often comes through the simplest acts, a chair pulled closer, a question asked with sincerity or a moment of undivided attention that reminds someone they still matter.

Christel Kloppers, HospiVision’s Finance and Marketing Manager and a former volunteer, explains that many patients are far from home, with families who are working, cannot afford to visit or live too far away.

“Many patients are far from home,” she explains. “Families are working, can’t afford transport, or live too far away. Some patients also face stigma that keeps loved ones at a distance. When people become ill, they often carry questions that aren’t purely medical. They ask why this is happening, what will happen to their families, or what they did wrong. We don’t have the answers, but we are there to listen.”

That listening matters. Volunteers offer conversation, a hand to hold, and the simple dignity of being seen. They also provide practical comforts like toiletries, clothing, books, or magazines.

“Those small acts of presence can turn a hospital stay from something to endure into something bearable,” Christel says.

Behind the milestone of 201,000 lives touched are stories that linger long after the hospital visit ends.

Gawie Le Roux, HospiVision’s Vredenburg Coordinator, recalls sitting with an elderly woman who was anxious and desperate to go home.

“We sat with her and listened, and by the end she was calm,” he says. Another moment involved a man awaiting an amputation, terrified of losing his independence. “We couldn’t change his situation, but we could make sure he didn’t face it alone. That’s what we do. We show up when people need it most.”

For Christel, one memory from her time as a volunteer changed how she understands care entirely.

“I realised how much I had underestimated the power of simply being with someone in a time of need. You see a patient who looks utterly hopeless, and when you leave, something has shifted, just because someone sat with them. It’s hard to put into words, but it changed how I see what presence can do.”

She believes South Africans often overlook the impact of small moments.

“We tend to chase big differences, but it’s often compassion and understanding that truly matter. As a nation, we have so much to give. Retirees can offer time. Those with resources can offer practical support. Volunteering doesn’t just change the lives of others, it changes your own view of the world.”

That sense of care extends well beyond hospital beds. At Tshwane District Hospital, HospiVision employee Jabulile Shabangu volunteered her services to the burial support team, facilitating dignified funerals for more than 20 unclaimed individuals. People who might otherwise have been forgotten were laid to rest with respect and care.

Phakama Magadla, HospiVision’s Karl Bremer Hospital Coordinator, shares a moment that stayed with her.

“A patient once said to me, ‘It’s nice to have someone who cares.’ That showed me how powerful presence and listening can be, and how pastoral care restores dignity and humanity in healthcare spaces.”

Simphiwe Leshabane, Grant Administrator, remembers visiting a young mother who felt overwhelmed after giving birth and feared she would never complete her matric exams.

“She contacted me later and sounded full of hope and determination to sit for her finals,” Simphiwe says. “That shift stayed with me.”

At Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Training Manager and Coordinator Tessa de Bruin notes the impact on hospital staff too.

“Doctors and nurses thank us as soon as they see our tags. Volunteers become a family and we work together.”

Amy Julies, HospiVision’s Tygerberg Hospital Coordinator, describes one of her earliest group sessions.

“At first, patients had faint smiles. Through conversation, presence, and shared stories, those smiles grew. By the end, they were smiling fully. It showed me how offering time and listening can change someone’s day.”

HospiVision’s reach also includes rebuilding lives beyond illness. At the De La Porte Oasis centre, 131 people completed skills training last year in baking, sewing, needlework, and digital literacy. Their soup kitchen served 4,343 meals in 2025, with women making up nearly three-quarters of those supported.

Skills Development Coordinator Takalani Murulane beams when he speaks about one baking student.

“She started her own business and is now a well-known baker on TikTok as Ntanga Bakery. Every time I see her, I feel proud. That’s what skills can do.”

HospiVision is also investing in the future of mental and spiritual care. Through a partnership with the University of Pretoria, they offer online courses in spiritual care, pastoral counselling and trauma support. This year marks the launch of a two-year, full-time Hospital Chaplaincy Programme, the first SAQA-registered NQF Level 5 qualification of its kind in South Africa, developed with support from the John Templeton Foundation.

For Christel, the reason this work matters is simple.

“Illness doesn’t only affect the person in the bed. Families carry guilt when they can’t be there. Hospital staff are stretched thin. When we show up, we fill gaps that would otherwise leave people unseen. Healing is not only physical. It’s knowing someone cared enough to be present.”

HospiVision’s journey proves that you do not need medical training or large budgets to make a meaningful difference. You need willingness. Willingness to sit, listen, care… and once you experience what it means to be truly present for someone in their hardest moment, that instinct to care has a way of following you far beyond the hospital ward.

HospiVision is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO 016-668). To learn more or support their work, visit www.hospivision.org.za. Or you can find them on The Helpers.

Sources: Interview with the HospiVision team 

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 Hope Has a Human Face in South Africa’s Public Hospitals appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When news of David Sejobe’s passing broke, it spread far beyond those who knew him, touching people who recognised something familiar in his kindness.

Johannesburg, South Africa (04 February 2026) – David Sejobe was not famous. He did not hold power or position. Yet his passing has united South Africans in a way that few stories ever do, reminding us that the people who shape our days are often the ones we pass in the street.

David tragically passed away on Friday. When the news broke on Saturday, it landed with a weight that rippled far beyond his family, friends and colleagues. It felt as though the country collectively stopped for a moment, trying to understand how the loss of one man could feel so personal to so many people. Some knew him well. Others only knew his smile. Many didn’t know his name at all, but they knew his presence. Since then, David’s story has moved from daily conversations into the national consciousness. His passing has made front-page news, and his name has trended across social media platforms as South Africans share memories, tributes and reflections. It is rare for a man who lived such an “unassuming” life to be spoken about so widely, and yet it feels entirely fitting. The attention has not been driven by spectacle but by recognition.

By Saturday afternoon, grief had already begun to turn into action. A crowdfunding campaign was launched by colleagues, hoping to raise R20,000 to help support David’s family. The intention was simple and practical: to assist with funeral and memorial expenses, and to offer immediate financial support as his loved ones faced the shock and pain of losing him. No one expected what would follow.

By Sunday, the total had climbed to R170,000.

On Monday, motorists, pedestrians and colleagues gathered outside MultiChoice’s offices in Randburg. Cars hooted. People whistled. Voices called out in celebration of a life that had become part of their daily rhythm. Candles and flowers were placed at the entrance, near the gate where David would normally stand, often jumping into the air as he greeted passing cars and people with unmistakable joy.

Rest in peace, David. Your smile and laughter will be missed by your Fidelity colleagues. For 12 years as a Security Officer, your positivity brightened our days.

Our condolences to David’s family, friends, and colleagues. #DavidSejobe #RestInPeace #Fidelity pic.twitter.com/2OEy4a3L4s

— Fidelity Services Group (@Fidelity_Secure) February 2, 2026

On Tuesday, a billboard went up across Bram Fischer Drive in his honour. Later that afternoon, MultiChoice staff and Randburg residents gathered outside the building, singing and cheering for passing traffic. Hundreds of motorists responded with hoots of their own, turning an ordinary weekday into a shared moment of remembrance.

The teams held a memorial for David Sejobe, celebrating and remembering his life, kindness, and the joy he brought to others. Donation to his family can be made here https://t.co/SG1GDHZYGB #davidsejobe pic.twitter.com/iu3kfUSycP

— Brenda (@b_dizzy) February 3, 2026

By Wednesday morning, the nation woke to the news that the crowdfunding campaign had reached R400,000.

Alongside the donations came an outpouring of words that revealed why David’s story has touched such a nerve.

“We didn’t all know your name, but we knew your smile.” Another simply said,

“The good we do lives on after us.”

Again and again, people spoke about how David made their days lighter, not through grand gestures, but through consistency, warmth and genuine care.

Some messages came from those who had known him for years.

“I walked past him every morning and afternoon to and from work,” one person shared. “His warm smile was consistent every single day. He had his own struggles, but still managed to make other people’s days better with his energy and positivity.”

Others came from people who had never met him but felt compelled to respond.

“I never knew David,” one comment read, “but I am glad his family is continuing to feel his impact.”

One particularly powerful message spoke about how far that impact has travelled. It described David as someone whose very existence sent ripples through society, reminding people to care, appreciate and gather together as one. The writer thanked him for helping people remember the good that exists among us, often unnoticed, often unsung. That is perhaps why this story has resonated so deeply. People who knew David say he was kind. People who didn’t know him are being moved to be kinder. His life has become a mirror, reflecting something many South Africans recognise and long for: a sense of connection that doesn’t rely on status or recognition.

South Africa has united in grief, but also in intention. To remember to be kinder to everyone, to greet one another and to acknowledge the humanity of all South Africans.

As one message urged, “Let’s turn his memory into a movement. Spread kindness. We need it more than ever.”

David’s story is tragic and heartbreaking, but it’s not about tragedy alone. It is about what happens when a life lived with generosity leaves a space that others rush to fill with care. You don’t need fame or power to change the tone of a nation. Sometimes all it takes is showing up with a smile, day after day, and meaning it. And in the way South Africa has responded, it’s clear that this kind of kindness does not disappear. It carries on… in all of us.

If only you were here to see this all, David. South Africa is a country that can many times feel divided, but you, your kindness, and your story have united us all.

Please click here to support the family with a donation.

Sources: Multichoice Press Release | Crowdfunding Campaign | Social Media Comments on 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 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 R400,000 Raised as South Africa Mourns, And Honours, David Sejobe appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Across the world, people are opening a website and finding words that feel as if they were written just for them, offering warmth, understanding and a reason to keep going. This is what the internet was made for.

Global (28 January 2026) – Ben West didn’t set out to chase numbers or build something that would go viral. He set out to honour his brother and to create a place that could reach someone at the exact moment they needed to feel less alone.

Just a week after launch, that intention has turned into something extraordinary, with a simple idea now touching hearts across the globe, including right here in South Africa.

Eight years ago, Ben lost his brother Sam, who took his own life. That loss never really leaves you, but it can take on different shapes. For Ben, it became a determined effort to build something meaningful, something that could offer comfort in moments that feel unbearable. The result is “Reasons to Stay”, a suicide prevention project built on one of the most human gestures we have: writing to another person because you care.

When you visit the site, you don’t sign up, you don’t explain yourself and you don’t need to have the right words. You are simply given a letter, written by a stranger, chosen at random. Every letter was written by a real person, somewhere in the world, who sat down and decided to offer warmth, hope and connection to someone they will never meet. Every letter is carefully moderated by a team of volunteer clinical professionals to ensure it is safe for people experiencing suicidal distress. The space exists as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are not as alone as we think.

@iambenwestThis is me, and this is what I do ♬ original sound – Ben West

In just seven days, more than 10,000 letters have been written by strangers from over 100 countries, and those letters have already been read by more than 160,000 people. Among them are messages like this one, written from a place of survival and hard-won perspective:

@iambenwestAn update ♬ original sound – Ben West

I sat down with Ben to talk about the initiative and the response has been overwhelming, even for someone who spent two years building it before launch.

“I’ve been working on this website for around two years now. I’ve known for a while that it was something that was needed,” he shared.

“When we talk about mental health or suicide, there’s a tendency to talk about the responsibility of others. We talk about the government not investing enough or healthcare not being good enough. Both of those things are largely true around the world, but the conversation about mental health becomes very negative. And if you’re trying to give people hope that things will get better, on some level, this is a little counterproductive! Necessary conversations, but only when balanced with some positivity. That’s where Reasons to Stay came from, it is a uniquely positive project where everyday people can feel like they’re playing a positive role in suicide prevention.”

Reading through the letters before they reach the moderation team has given Ben a window into what people truly value when everything else falls away.

“What I’ve found so interesting is reading through the letter submissions before they go to my team of clinical professionals to be moderated and checked. You start to get a picture of what people truly value in life,” he explained.

“In over 10,000 letters we’ve received so far, material items are never mentioned; they don’t talk about what car you drive or where you live. No one has said anything about being proud of how much you make or your job title. Almost exclusively, they talk about valuing yourself and the importance of the loved ones around you. When it comes down to it, and strangers are pressed to give people a reason to stay, it turns out that what matters most is loving what makes you unique and being around your family and friends. A profound reminder for us all.”

At the heart of the platform is Sam, and the work he never got the chance to finish himself.

“Out of the two of us, Sam was the first to be a mental health campaigner. He badly wanted for people to be more aware and educated on mental health, and he desperately wanted support to improve. If Sam had survived, I’d have no doubt that he would be writing the words you’re reading now, he would be doing the work I’m doing, and I would be the proud older brother. Sadly, Sam never got the opportunity to get better and do these things. But I feel a very strong sense of responsibility to continue the work he started and do my absolute best to make a change so that other people do have that opportunity to get better.”

Although the platform is based in the UK, its reach has been unmistakably global, and Ben is clear that this is not about borders or geography.

“No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have highs and we all have lows,” he said. “This is not a platform for British people to help British people, it is a website for humans to help humans. We all have the same basic needs, and although we may speak different languages or come from different cultures, we are the same far more than we are different.”

Messages arriving from all corners of the world have reinforced that belief.

“Since launch, we’ve received over 10,000 letters written by people from over 100 countries. Each are strangers providing enormous empathy and support to other strangers. It’s so easy to think of the world as a neatly divided grid of different people from different areas. But that sells us so short of what we really are, a group of human beings all born into life at random, trying our best to work out how to do it. When you read a letter on the site, anyone in the world could have written that to you. What a beautiful thing that is.”

For anyone in South Africa, or anywhere else, who feels moved to write a letter but isn’t sure where to start, Ben’s advice is gentle and grounded.

“If you’d like to write a letter to a stranger, that is a wonderful thing to want to do,” he said.

“What I’d say is don’t overthink it. When we study suicide prevention and what works at supporting someone through those moments of distress, telling them what to do or giving advice actually isn’t particularly useful. Neither is being dismissive or trying to persuade them to stay. What people value in those moments is acceptance, genuineness, empathy and connection. Those are very hard things to get across in a letter, but it is possible. Look at some of the letters already on the site for inspiration, and remember that anything you do write goes to our clinical moderation team before being delivered, so it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

And if you’re in need of some love and kindness during a difficult time, visit the website.

What “Reasons to Stay” offers is not answers or fixes, but presence. It meets people in the middle of their hardest moments and reminds them that someone, somewhere, has felt this too and chose to reach out. That small act of connection can be enough to slow the spiral and help someone breathe.

And maybe, just maybe, a letter from a complete stranger gives someone a reason to stay.

Sources: Interview with Ben West | Reasons to Stay 

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 A Simple Website is Saving Lives by Delivering Letters From Strangers appeared first on Good Things Guy.

2016 is trending again. And suddenly we’re all looking back like it was the last time life made sense. Foodie pics. Facebook check-ins. Blurry photos. But beyond the filter version of that year, something else was happening too… South Africans were still doing what they do best: showing up for each other.

South Africa (20 January 2026) – 2016 is having a moment again… and I totally get why. It was a decade ago. And a lot can change in 10 years. Right now, it seems to be the go-to year everyone is dragging back onto our feeds like it was the last “simple” era, when social media still felt like a fun diary instead of a full-time performance.

Back then, we’d wake up and post a photo of our breakfast, then we’d “check in” with friends at lunch (like we were celebrities on tour), and before the clock struck midnight there was always some blurry photo from a bar where someone’s shirt had gone missing and everyone looked like they’d just discovered freedom for the first time.

Or was that just me?

I’ve spent the last couple of days scrolling through your 2016 photos while trying to remember what my life looked like ten years ago, and honestly… it was pretty cool.

I was running my Marketing Agency while working at Cliffcentral, and Good Things Guy was still in its first year, brand new, still finding its feet but still proving that people actually wanted to read the good stuff. I was on stage, giving a few talks here and there, went to loads of Secret Sunrises (do you remember those), and somehow managed to fit weddings, funerals, movie premieres, and all my life into one year. I even had a little TV feature every Friday night at 6:30. I loved it because I could feel my career building in real time… but I hated it because all my friends had been at the local bar since 3pm, and I’d arrive like, “Hi guys,” and then spend the next hour trying to catch up (hence the photo of a shirtless man.. it was me).

That was also the year I went to Serbia… but decided to get there via Dubai, London and Scotland, and came back via Germany. Don’t ask. I don’t even know why we booked that way. But we did have all the fun.

Pop culture was giving us absolute gold too. Beyoncé was “Lemonading”, the Biebs was telling someone to go “Love Yourself..” and we were all “Eating Cake By The Ocean”. All while our screens were filling up with new obsessions… “Stranger Things”, “The Crown”, “The Good Place”, “Westworld” and “This is Us” all premiered that year.

I only watched “This is Us” in 2022… ja, I was late to the party but I watched the whole thing in one go. It was bladdy spectacular. I actually think I need to do it again. It’s emotions on steroids.

But if we zoom out for a second, away from music, series and social media, the world was also shifting in 2016.

The UK voted to leave the EU, Donald Trump was elected as US President, there was a bombing in Brussels, the Zika outbreak spread fear across continents and Brazil hosted the Olympics while the world watched with mixed emotions.

And in South Africa… we were going through it too.

Loadshedding became part of our reality, Zuma was told to pay back the money (has he done that yet?), the SABC was being scrutinised for censorship claims, “State Capture” entered our everyday vocabulary and the Gupta allegations reached full crisis mode. The drought also tightened its grip, while Cape Town started bracing for “Day Zero”.

So yes… 2016 was a lot of things. Social media may have felt simpler, but the world was quite messy. Looking back now and the “whole picture” feels heavy. I don’t think we can pretend it wasn’t. But we also know something else to be true… even when the news cycle feels like it’s swallowing all the happiness, South Africans still show up as helpers. As heroes. As the people who will pull strangers out of danger, protect children they’ve never met, raise each other up and remind the world that kindness doesn’t disappear just because the year is hard.

That’s why, when everyone started looking back at 2016 recently, and I was looking back at my life, I also wanted to look back through a Good Things Guy lens. So I went digging into the archives and pulled out the top 10 most-read stories from that year. And no, these weren’t the biggest headlines in South Africa. Good Things Guy was still a baby. But they were moments that made people stop scrolling and feel something good again. They were incredibly important. And they made 2016 feel pretty damn good.

Funny enough, we’ve been tagged by readers in two of these stories, which global social pages are sharing as “new” news. So it seems, 10 years later and this good news is still relevant.

10. Buzzfeed voted South Africa as one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

Not because we needed an overseas website to validate us but because sometimes we forget what we live inside of. In 2016, BuzzFeed listed South Africa among the world’s most beautiful countries, pointing to places like Table Mountain and the Drakensberg Amphitheatre… and South Africans loved it because it reminded us that our home is still extraordinary, even when the news makes it feel heavy.

This article mattered a little more back then too. It was one of the first lists we’d ever found like this. And since we were the only good news platform (in South Africa) at the time, we were also the only publication to report on it. Now these lists seem to come out weekly. We’re not complaining, though, we still celebrate them!

9. South Africans formed a human chain to help each other during the Johannesburg floods.

This article was one of those “only in South Africa” moments… where strangers literally linked arms in fast-moving floodwater, guiding people to safety and helping each other out of cars. The clip went viral, but the real story wasn’t the video… it was the instinct. That immediate decision so many people make in this country: we don’t leave each other behind.

8. Taxi drivers used their vehicles to protect an injured student after a crash.

This story still makes my heart so full. And it mattered because it challenged the way people love to stereotype. After a learner was injured, taxi drivers were among the first to act… creating a physical barrier with their vehicles to protect the student and stop things from escalating.

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t for show. It was just humans being human. And I guess South Africans being us.

7. Rudi Smit went viral… and Meghan Trainor noticed.

If you were online in 2016, you remember it. Rudi Smit and his crew absolutely OWNED Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too” with a dance routine featuring more than 27 dancers. It exploded across the internet, racking up views like crazy, and then Meghan Trainor herself responded. Like WTAF?! It was one of those wholesome global moments that made South Africans walk a little taller for a month.

6. Tracy Todd Heine reminded us to live out loud.

It was the year I met Tracy Todd Heine. And she completely changed the way I (and many readers) see life.

Tracy’s journey, filled with courage and perspective, touched thousands because it wasn’t just about surviving something difficult. It was about choosing happiness anyway. She later raised enough money through crowdfunding to publish her memoir, turning her own pain into something that could hold someone else up. 10 years later and she is still such an inspiration.

5. We met Jo Black for the first time.

This was the year we were introduced to the Afrikaans artist who was breaking every mould…. tattoos, style, edge… but also sincerity and heart. He was proof that South Africans are never just one thing, and that sometimes the people who look the toughest have the softest message.

4. Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen made history as South Africa’s first Michelin-star chef.

In 2016, Jan Hendrik became the first South African chef to earn a Michelin Star.

That moment wasn’t just about food. It was about possibility. About what happens when a South African takes the world stage and doesn’t just show up… but changes the room. Who knew that (almost) 10 years later, he would invite me to dinner at his incredible restaurant in Nice, France, and make me cry over cheese?

3. Margie Brand survived a terror attack with her baby… and still chose love.

This story wasn’t easy, but it was unforgettable. Margie survived the Westgate Mall terror attack while protecting her eight-month-old baby. And even though this story wasn’t from South Africa, it went viral here. Margie hid for hours, living every parent’s nightmare, and what stayed with people wasn’t only what happened to her… it was what she chose afterwards: messages of humanity, compassion, and hope instead of hate. That takes a different kind of strength. And was one of my greatest interviews of 2016.

2. Obakeng Seutane saved a woman’s life… and restored faith in South Africa.

Nicole Morgan believed she was going to die. Then Obakeng ran toward the chaos (not away from it), dispersed the crowd, and helped her in the moment she needed it most. It was the kind of story that made people comment the same thing over and over again: there are still good people here.

1. Allan Gray gave away his entire controlling stake to charity.

And then there was this. A story that genuinely stopped people mid-scroll. Various news outlets reported that Allan Gray and his family had donated their entire controlling stake in the investment company and its offshore partner Orbis to charity, with dividends going to philanthropic causes and the family retaining no remaining economic interest.

It wasn’t a small donation or a PR campaign… it was legacy-level generosity. Giving that will carry forward long after a trend disappears.

It’s “that” quote in action, that I always mention… and add to.

When you read these 10 stories now, you realise something. Or at least I did. They weren’t viral because they were “nice”. They were viral because people needed proof… proof that there was still goodness here, still heart here and still something worth holding onto when everything else felt loud.

And that’s what makes looking back at 2016 so interesting… it wasn’t a simpler time. It was just a different kind of complicated.

Ja, it was the era of Instagram foodie pics and Facebook check-ins at places nobody needed to know you were at. It was also a time of blurry photos, big opinions, bigger personalities and a social media world that felt more playful than pressurised. But while we were posting and laughing and living, real life was still happening in the background. With no filters.

That’s why this whole “things were better back then” conversation never really fits. It depends who you were. Where you were. What you were carrying. 10 years ago, someone was living their best year… while someone else was simply trying to survive theirs. Time doesn’t treat everyone the same and memory definitely doesn’t either.

But here’s what I do know.

Looking back isn’t about going back. It’s about perspective. It’s about seeing how far we’ve come… not only as a country but as people. It reminds us of the moments that shaped us, the chapters that tested us, the good things that were happening even when the headlines were heavy and the strength we didn’t realise we had until life forced it out of us.

I love this trend (of looking back to 10 years ago) but I don’t think it’s about missing 2016… it’s about appreciating what it made of us.

Sources: Various | All Linked 

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 2016 Was a Vibe… But the Good Things Were Even Better! appeared first on Good Things Guy.