Chris Lomas joined me in studio to talk about Hope4’s global impact, its growing work in South Africa and the belief that lasting change only happens when dignity and community are placed at the centre of every solution.

Johannesburg, South Africa (28 January 2026) – Hope is a word we use often, but this week’s episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque explores what it looks like when hope is backed by real action, accountability and a deep respect for human dignity.

Chris Lomas is the founder and CEO of Hope4, and after connecting on LinkedIn, we jumped onto a Zoom call to talk about the work they have been doing around the world. Somewhere halfway through that conversation, I stopped him and said, “This can’t just be a Zoom. You have to come into studio”.

Some stories deserve more time, more space and a proper microphone and Hope4 is one of them.

On this week’s poddie, Chris joins me to unpack the incredible impact Hope4 has had internationally and, excitingly, right here in South Africa too. Guided by compassion and a deep respect for human dignity, Hope4 works in communities affected by poverty, human trafficking, conflict and natural disasters, offering both immediate relief and long-term, sustainable solutions that help people move from crisis to resilience.

What stood out for me is how grounded their approach is. Hope4 believes that every person deserves dignity, security and a real opportunity to build a stable life, and they back that belief with transparency, strong local partnerships and community-driven action.

As Chris explains, it is never just about aid, it is about empowerment, trust and lasting change.

There is also a very special announcement in this episode. Hope4 is heading to Kilimanjaro, turning a tough climb into a powerful platform for hope, awareness and impact, and if you know anything about me, you know that mountain already has a special place in my heart.

This conversation is full of heart, purpose and perspective. Watch it below:

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Sources: Good Things Guy | Good Things with Brent Lindeque 

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

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Meet Chris Lomas: The Hope4 Founder Bringing Dignity, Action And Impact to Communities appeared first on Good Things Guy.

This isn’t just a press release. It’s a deeply human moment… and a reminder of the power of compassion in unexpected places.

Johannesburg, South Africa (05 August 2025) – Most mothers wish for their children to be happy. Some wish for safety, or for opportunities, or for good health. But Rahab Phoshoko, a tables inspector in Johannesburg, had one very specific wish: to hear her little boy say “Mama” for the first time.

It’s something so many parents take for granted. But for Rahab, it became her most urgent dream.

Her son Zani was born in 2021, bright-eyed and full of promise. But when milestones came and went without speech, her instincts told her something was wrong. And she was right. Zani was eventually diagnosed with hearing loss and underwent surgery. Then came another diagnosis. Autism.

“Nothing could have prepared us for what we heard next, that Zani had lost his hearing,” she shared.

“Watching my son prepare for surgery, so small yet so strong, was one of the hardest moments of my life. And yet, it was also the beginning of our journey toward understanding – not just his needs, but his incredible resilience.”

But resilience needs support. And therapy, the kind Zani urgently needs, comes at a cost that many families simply cannot meet. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, neurodevelopmental support… these are often out of reach, especially in a country where access to specialised care can feel impossibly unequal.

So Rahab did something brave. When her company opened up its annual call for employee wishes – a simple initiative asking, “how can we help?” – she shared her heart. She didn’t ask for anything for herself. She asked for her son. At just three years old, Zani had never said “Mama.” Never said “Dada.” But Rahab believed he still could, if given the chance.

And then something beautiful happened.

Her company’s leadership chose her wish: a call for therapy support, as this year’s top priority. And just like that, Zani’s journey shifted. The therapy he needs is being funded. The care he deserves is now within reach.

But this isn’t just a story about one little child and his mom. This is a story about how things should be. It’s a reminder that behind every name tag, every payslip, and every shift, there’s a human being. A parent. A caregiver. A person carrying the weight of life while showing up and giving their best. And when companies meet that humanity with compassion instead of cold policies… that’s where real change begins.

“I want to thank God for answering my prayers,” Rahab said. “Thank you for granting my wish, for stepping in during a time of need and providing us with the support that will give Zani the chance to improve, grow, and thrive. You didn’t just give a helping hand — you gave a little boy hope, and a mother peace.”

Her words are a challenge to the rest of us.

What if more companies listened like this? What if more workplaces saw their people, really saw them, and recognised that sometimes, the biggest impact they can make isn’t a big campaign or a flashy launch… it’s one act of care that changes everything for one family.

Zani’s journey is just beginning. But it’s already inspired something bigger: a conversation about what’s possible when we lead with empathy. When corporate South Africa remembers the human side of business. And if this story reminds just one more employer to pause, look up, and ask, “How can we help?”… then that, too, would be a wish granted.

Sun International’s annual Sun Wish campaign has been quietly transforming lives since 2019, offering employees the chance to ask for help with deeply personal challenges relating to education, health, food security and more. While many companies focus their resources outward, Sun Wish turns that compassion inward, towards the people who keep the business running. In a country where too many workers are seen as expendable, this programme is a powerful reminder that looking after your team is not just good practice… it’s good humanity.

Sources: Sun International 

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 Corporate Kindness in Action: One Wish, a Lifetime of Impact! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When a humble petrol attendant gave away a few litres of fuel and slipped R100 into a stranger’s hand, he never imagined that gesture would inspire thousands to do the same… and remind South Africa what it means to really care.

Johannesburg, South Africa (31 July 2025) – When Justin Roderick’s story first landed on Good Things Guy, it moved the country in a way few stories ever do.

It wasn’t just about a car that ran out of petrol, or a family struggling to stay afloat. It was about what happened next… when a stranger named Warren Bhebhe, a petrol attendant in Bryanston, stepped forward and quietly, gently, changed everything. He paid for a 5-litre bottle of petrol out of his own pocket. Then, as Justin rushed back to the car with his two tearful daughters, Warren slipped a folded R100 into his hand. No big gesture. No “look at me” moment. Just kindness… quiet, sincere and powerful.

“He didn’t just bless me with petrol,” Justin wrote. “He gave me hope.”

And from that single act of compassion… something truly extraordinary began to grow. In the days since that moment was shared with the world, Justin has been overwhelmed, not by sympathy, but by connection.

“The pain and struggle of trying to keep my family okay has been immense,” he shared in an emotional update. “There were days I felt like my body was shutting down from the internal weight of it all. Hearing my girls cry from helplessness broke me in ways no words can explain.”

But what met that pain was nothing short of a miracle. Thousands of comments, shares, prayers and messages from people across South Africa and the world. People who had also felt helpless. People who knew what it meant to be at the end of your rope. People who were moved by Warren’s gesture and inspired to go out and do the same.

“My family no longer feels alone. I feel like I have a family of thousands. We feel loved, seen, and cared for. You’ve moved me in ways I cannot fully express.”

The story has reached radio stations, newspapers and online platforms, but more importantly, it’s reached hearts. It’s changed the way people see each other at petrol stations, in traffic and at school drop-offs. It’s reminded us that we are not alone, that we are each other’s keepers.

“We’re not just sharing a story anymore,” Justin wrote. “We’re exporting hope.”

And that hope “in action” is already happening.

People have been inspired to help one another. R20. R50. A loaf of bread. A conversation. A hug. A message. All in the name of The Warren Challenge, a call to do one kind thing for someone else and share it to keep the ripple going.

“If each of us helps just one person this week,” Justin wrote, “Warren’s R100 will multiply into millions of acts of kindness.”

There are whispers of a bigger dream forming, “The Warren Effect“, something that might one day become a platform to celebrate and multiply acts of kindness. But the most important message isn’t what’s being built, it’s that none of us are alone; we are all in this together.

“To those who’ve shared their own struggles in the comments, you are not alone. Your vulnerability gives others permission to be human.”

“To my daughters, you’ve now seen that angels exist, and sometimes they wear petrol attendant uniforms.”

“And to Warren, the world may now know your name. But more importantly, they know your heart.”

So whether you help by giving, by sharing, by praying, or simply by choosing love instead of anger today, you are part of the ripple. Because this is no longer just a story… it’s South Africa, remembering itself. One act of kindness at a time.

Sources: Interview with Justin Roderick

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 Update: The Petrol Attendant Who Gave R100 Has Sparked A Kindness Revolution appeared first on Good Things Guy.