You might think you know Hillbrow… but after listening to Tebza’s story on this week’s podcast, you’ll realise there’s so much more to see.

Johannesburg, South Africa (08 April 2026) – We talk a lot about changing narratives… and this week’s podcast does exactly that.

In the latest episode of ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque‘, Tebogo Mabye, or Tebza as he prefers to be called, sits down for a conversation that feels like an invitation into his world. It’s honest, and layered, and it’s deeply rooted in Hillbrow… a place he still calls home and one that continues to shape everything he does.

Tebza’s journey didn’t start with opportunity laid out in front of him. Growing up in Hillbrow, he faced real challenges, including time spent in shelters, navigating an environment that demanded strength from a young age. But what comes through so clearly in our conversation is not the difficulty, it’s the perspective he’s chosen to carry forward. He speaks about his upbringing with pride, about the people who shaped him and about the belief that where you come from can be the very thing that drives you forward.

That belief turned into action when he launched Hillbrewed Coffee Co., a business he built without formal training, relying on instinct, curiosity and a deep desire to create something meaningful in his community. The coffee shop became a space that created opportunities for others and showed that something special could exist right in the heart of the inner city. Even after losing it during COVID, Tebza didn’t step away from the dream, he evolved it, leaning further into food and the passion that had always been part of his story. That passion would take him onto MasterChef South Africa, where he brought his self-taught skills and personal story into kitchens watched by the entire country. But that was never the final destination. Tebza has continued to grow, stepping into modelling, pursuing sport as a kickboxer and building a life that reflects every part of who he is.

Today, he is also part of Jozi My Jozi, where he leads a Walking Tour, guiding people through Hillbrow in a way that challenges perceptions and opens eyes. It’s not about painting a perfect picture, it’s about showing the real one… the culture, the energy, the people and the stories that often go unseen.

If you’ve ever needed a reason to believe in the good things again, this poddie will give you that… and so much more.

Watch and listen to the episode on all our social platforms (like all of them).
New episodes drop weekly.
Powered by BetterBond. Filmed at Primedia Studios.
Stories that matter. Conversations that count.

Sources: Good Things with Brent Lindeque

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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

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

The post From Hillbrow to Headlines: Tebza’s Story is Changing How We See Joburg appeared first on Good Things Guy.

More South Africans are trading international postcodes for local ones again, choosing family, lifestyle and belonging over staying abroad for good.

South Africa (04 April 2026) – Ask any South African who’s lived abroad and they’ll tell you… you never really stop being South African. No matter how long you’re gone, there’s always a part of you that’s waiting to come back. And right now, more people are doing just that!

A growing number of South Africans who built lives and careers overseas are returning home, bringing with them something incredibly valuable… international experience, global networks and a fresh perspective on what it means to live and work here. New research from The TEFL Academy’s Reverse Emigration Among South Africans report shows that this shift is gaining real momentum, driven by something far more meaningful than just money or career moves. It’s about lifestyle, connection and designing a life that actually feels like yours.

But we’ve known this for a really long time. Good Things Guy has often reported on the “homecoming revolution“, and this new report, based on a survey of 173 South Africans who have lived and worked abroad, cements these findings. It also highlights just how transformative those years overseas can be. Respondents consistently shared that their time abroad broadened their worldview and strengthened their adaptability, with personal development scoring an impressive 4.41 out of 5. Many also recognised the value of that global perspective when returning to South Africa, seeing it as a powerful professional advantage.

While the world may shape you, home is what grounds you.

When asked what they missed most, the answers were overwhelmingly human. 77.46% longed for time with family and lifelong friends. 66.9% missed South Africa’s humour, warmth and social culture. More than half spoke about the outdoor lifestyle and climate, and many highlighted the deep sense of belonging that only exists here.

“There is nothing quite like landing at the airport and hearing our accents again. You don’t realise how deeply home lives in you until you’ve been away. South Africa has so much soul… it’s in our language, our humour, our breathtaking land, and our resilience. It simply cannot be replicated anywhere else”, one of the respondents said.

“Like any other country, we have our drawbacks. It took me a lot of patience to readjust to our systems here that don’t always run as smoothly. But here is what outweighs that for me.

We are the rainbow nation for a reason. There is something profoundly grounding about belonging to a place where your cultural references make sense, where your jokes land, neighbours greet you, and where your public holidays feel meaningful. Watching a Springbok game hits differently when you’re surrounded by people who feel it in their bones. Hearing isiZulu, Afrikaans, isiXhosa and English flowing together in one queue at Checkers reminds you that diversity isn’t a concept here… it’s a part of our daily lives.

We underestimate the warmth of family connection when we desire to move abroad. Being present for milestones, Sunday braais, and ordinary Tuesday evenings with people who’ve known you since childhood. Those memories can’t translate across time zones.

The skills you’ve gained abroad are gold in South Africa. It gives you a newfound purpose when you come back and there is deep fulfilment in knowing you are contributing to the growth of your own community.

South Africa is not perfect, but it’s ours. You can build a meaningful life here that has a healthy work/life balance. You can build something powerful from your own roots.

If you’re feeling the pull, listen to it. Sometimes growth isn’t about staying away… sometimes it’s about coming home where your heart belongs.”

That return to connection is doing more than filling hearts… it’s improving well-being too. Many respondents reported feeling more socially connected after returning to South Africa, along with a noticeable lift in their mental and emotional state. It turns out that proximity to your people, your culture and your roots carries a weight that no spreadsheet can measure.

Of course, the decision to come home isn’t always straightforward. Some returnees find that their international skills aren’t immediately recognised or fully utilised in the local job market, and there can be a period of adjustment. But even that landscape is shifting.

Remote work has opened up a completely new way of living.

More South Africans are choosing to return home while continuing to work for international companies, earning in stronger currencies while living locally. It’s a model that allows people to keep their global careers while embracing the lifestyle, community and sense of belonging that South Africa offers. For many who started their journey by teaching English abroad, that flexibility continues long after they return. Online education has made it possible to teach students across the world from right here at home, blending international opportunity with local living in a way that simply wasn’t possible before.

“For many South Africans, teaching English abroad is one of the most accessible ways to gain international work experience. What we often see is that people spend a few years overseas building confidence, saving money and developing global skills before returning home. Increasingly, those teachers are able to continue working with international students online while living in South Africa,” Rhyan O’Sullivan, Managing Director at The TEFL Academy, explains. 

More than half of the respondents have already returned home, while many others are planning their move back. Broader data supports the trend, with nearly 28,000 South Africans returning in recent years, and recruitment firms reporting a surge in enquiries from expats exploring the idea of coming back, particularly from countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. South Africans are stepping out into the world, gaining experience, building confidence and then bringing all of that back home, where it can make a real difference. They’re contributing to businesses, communities and conversations with a perspective shaped by the world, but rooted in something deeply local.

South Africa isn’t perfect but it’s incredibly beautiful in ways that are hard to explain until you’ve been away. And maybe that’s why so many are finding their way back. All we can say to anyone returning is… welcome home.

Sources: TEFL Academy’s Reverse Emigration Among South Africans report 

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 More South Africans Are Choosing to Come Home… And Bringing the World With Them appeared first on Good Things Guy.

What should have been a devastating medical emergency turned into a story of rapid recovery, thanks to quick thinking, expert care, and being in the right place at the right time.

Western Cape, South Africa (01 April 2026) – Una van Rhyn didn’t have time to second-guess herself. One moment her husband was resting on the couch, the next he was lying on the floor, unable to move. Minutes later, behind the wheel with everything on the line, she made a call that would change the outcome of that day… and the days that followed.

When Una found Andrew face down on the living room carpet last November, she knew instantly that something was terribly wrong. The 65-year-old contractor from Melkbosstrand had been resting just moments earlier and now his right side appeared paralysed. It looked like a stroke… and every second suddenly mattered.

What followed, in Una’s words, was “an absolute stroke of luck, and God sent”.

“We were driving towards another hospital where Andrew’s regular doctor practised when he suffered what appeared to be a second stroke right there in the car. As his body went limp beside me, I made the decision that I believe saved his life – I pulled into the nearest hospital instead,” she recalls.

That nearest hospital turned out to be exactly where they needed to be. Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital had only weeks earlier become the first hospital in the Western Cape to achieve World Stroke Organization Essential Stroke Centre certification. It is one of just two hospitals in Africa to hold this distinction, alongside Netcare Garden City Hospital in Gauteng. In that moment, none of that was front of mind for Una. She just knew she needed help. What she found was a team ready to act with urgency, skill and care.

“Andrew was unresponsive when we arrived at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital’s emergency department. When he finally came to, tears were streaming down his face. He kept trying to speak but could not form the words. I could see him struggling, desperate to say something,” she says.

It was a frightening scene, made heavier by Andrew’s medical history. He had experienced a mild stroke in 2020 and had been living with serious endocrine issues for nearly four decades. This time felt different. More severe. More uncertain.

And yet, within that uncertainty, something remarkable began to unfold.

“The entire emergency team was incredible. Dr Charl Carstens and the unit manager, Claudette Lotz, kept me fully informed throughout. When their shift ended at 7 pm, no one left. The whole team stayed until Andrew was stable and transferred to the ICU. That level of dedication made all the difference – healthcare professionals don’t get nearly enough recognition for this sort of commitment,” Una adds.

Under the care of neurologist Dr Dinita Devchand, Andrew’s treatment followed internationally recognised protocols designed for exactly these kinds of critical moments. Stroke care is measured in minutes, and the systems in place ensured that every one of those minutes was used effectively.

Dr Devchand explains it clearly: “When blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, brain tissue can no longer get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die – a reality captured by the saying ‘Time is brain’.”

“This critical neurological damage makes acute stroke a medical emergency where every second counts, and it is this urgency that drives every aspect of our treatment protocols, from the moment a patient enters through our emergency department to their recovery.”

In South Africa, that urgency carries even more weight. Around 75,000 people suffer strokes each year, with 25,000 cases proving fatal. Survivors often face long-term challenges, with an estimated 95,000 collective years lived with disability. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest stroke incidence rates in the world.

Which is why access to the right care, at the right time, can change everything.

The World Stroke Organization certification represents a comprehensive system of care, from rapid assessment protocols and specialist stroke teams to advanced imaging, treatment options and rehabilitation services. According to Sr Sylvia Ninham, nursing services manager at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, these standards directly influence patient outcomes.

“Quicker treatment times, access to the latest therapies, and teams equipped with proven protocols can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent disability,” she explains.

For Andrew, it meant something extraordinary. His previous, milder stroke in 2020 had kept him in hospital for over a week. This time, despite the severity, he was back at work in just ten days.

“I know it sounds strange to say this about a stroke, but the whole experience was actually as positive as something like this could turn out to be. The entire team was simply fantastic. They made all the difference,” says Una.

There is also a message here that goes beyond one family’s experience. Up to 90% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, reducing stress and going for regular check-ups all play a role.

“Stroke is often called a ‘brain attack’ because it closely resembles what occurs during a heart attack. The same lifestyle changes that protect your heart can also help safeguard your brain,” adds Dr Devchand.

At its core, this story is about a moment. A decision made under pressure. A turn into the nearest hospital instead of the familiar one. A team that showed up and stayed. And a system that worked exactly as it was designed to.

Sources: Netcare 

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 Life-or-Death Moment, a Quick Decision, and a Recovery Few Could Believe appeared first on Good Things Guy.

From a story that united a country to a book that gives back, Bronwyn Laird is showing how even the hardest moments can become something that helps others.

Johannesburg, South Africa (25 March 2026) – Eight years later, the story of baby Eden still lives in the hearts of South Africans… but this time, it’s being told in a way we’ve never experienced before.

We recently welcomed Bronwyn Laird back onto Good Things with Brent Lindeque, revisiting a moment that once gripped the entire country. The podcast touches on those days we all remember… the fear, the waiting, the miracle of Eden being found. But what stood out most in our conversation wasn’t just the past… it was everything that came after.

Bronwyn has written a book. Finding Your Eden is not a retelling of headlines. It’s not just the story South Africa followed in real time. It’s the story behind the story… the one that unfolded long after the cameras moved on and the news cycle shifted. It’s deeply personal, incredibly honest, and rooted in a perspective that only someone who has lived through the unimaginable can share.

Back when Bronwyn first joined me in 2018, she said something that has stayed with me ever since:

“We’ve seen miracles happen and prayers answered.

We cannot allow what 6 individuals, 5 of whom we have never even met, what they chose to do, to affect how we see the world, how we evaluate relationships going forward or how we live our lives.

Hate just isn’t in our vocabulary. Hate changes nothing but love changes everything. Love wins.”

At the time, those words felt powerful. Now, reading her book, you realise they were also a promise… a decision about how her family would move forward.

Finding Your Eden unpacks that decision. It explores the complexity of trauma, the weight of public attention, the moments of rebuilding, and the intentional choice to lean into love when it would be easier to hold onto anger. It’s not just about what happened in May 2018, it’s about what it takes to keep going afterwards… as a parent, as a family, and as a human being.

Every single cent from the book, priced at R200 and available here, is going to Dare-2-Care. It turns an already powerful story into something that continues to give back, creating impact far beyond the pages.

The podcast offers a window into that journey, but the book is where Bronwyn truly opens the door.

Sources: Interview with Bronwyn Laird 

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 South African Author: Finding Your Eden Turns Pain Into Purpose appeared first on Good Things Guy.

There was a time when Joe Fleming didn’t think he’d make it through… today, he’s helping other men find their way back, one step at a time.

Johannesburg, South Africa (25 March 2026) – This week’s episode of ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque’ is honest, raw and filled with hope. I got to sit down with Joe Fleming… a man whose journey across South Africa has been anything but ordinary, and whose purpose today is rooted in helping others find their way back to themselves.

Joe speaks openly about a time when he found himself in what he describes as a “dark place”, a moment where everything felt overwhelming and the future felt impossibly far away. He shares how he reached a point where he tried to take his own life… and how, in that final moment, something intervened.

“I don’t know what it was,” he explains. “People call it different things… faith, instinct, something bigger than us… but something stopped me. Something gave me a second chance.”

And that second chance became the beginning of everything. Through that experience, Joe began to rebuild, not all at once, but step by step, breath by breath, learning how to be present again, how to sit with himself and how to reach out instead of withdrawing. He doesn’t romanticise or simplify it. It’s a raw, honest conversation. That realisation is what led to the creation of Recharge… a space where men can walk side by side, talk if they want to, stay silent if they need to, and simply be part of something that reminds them they’re not alone.

“Men don’t always have spaces like this,” Joe shares. “We’re taught to keep things in, to deal with it, to move on… but sometimes what you actually need is to stop, to breathe, and to walk next to someone who understands.”

Joe’s love for South Africa runs through everything he does, from the landscapes he explores to the communities he builds, and it’s clear that this country didn’t just become his home… it became part of his healing. Through storytelling, adventure and connection, he’s found a way to give back in a way that’s deeply human and incredibly needed.

Watch and listen to the episode on all our social platforms (like all of them).
New episodes drop weekly.
Powered by BetterBond. Filmed at Primedia Studios.
Stories that matter. Conversations that count.

Sources: Good Things with Brent Lindeque 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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

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

The post He Almost Lost His Life… Now He’s Helping Others Find Theirs appeared first on Good Things Guy.

As more South Africans search for stories that uplift and inspire, our “little” podcast continues to prove that good news isn’t just needed… it’s wanted.

Johannesburg, South Africa (22 March 2026) – I started podcasting before podcasting was really a “thing” in South Africa… and all these years later, it’s become one of my favourite ways to tell stories.

And now… more of you are wanting to tune in.

I’ve been getting messages asking how to follow or subscribe to the podcast (or poddie, as I like to call it), which I love, because it means you’re choosing to add a little more good into your day. So I thought I would make it easy, and also share a bit of the journey behind what has become South Africa’s longest-running “good news” podcast, brought to you by the country’s top good news site.

This all started back in 2014 at CliffCentral (ja, 12 years ago), where I spent 4 years experimenting, learning and figuring out what a good news podcast could look like in a space that wasn’t built for it yet. From there, I moved to Jacaranda FM and launched the very first podcast on Jacpod, which was a massive moment at the time. Then in 2021, I took a leap (now with a full team) and went fully independent, backing the show through Good Things Guy and building it into something that truly reflects what we stand for. In 2025, we took it one step further and added video, so you’re not just hearing the conversations… you’re part of them.

We’ve had some incredible guests join us in studio over the years, each bringing their own story, their own energy and their own perspective. From Robbie Brozin sharing insights from building Nando’s (and Jozi My Jozi), to Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp’s warmth and honesty, to Cool Story Bru (on becoming one of South Africa’s favourite TikTokkers) to Themba Robin, Joy Steffens, Professor Jerome Loveland and the wildly entertaining Suzelle DIY (aka Julia Anastasopoulos). Every single episode adds something different, but they all carry the same thread… real stories that remind us of the good that exists all around us.

The poddie is now officially sponsored by BetterBond (and filmed at Primedia Studios), and it feels like the perfect partnership. BetterBond isn’t just about helping South Africans secure home loans, they are about helping people take the next step in their lives, creating spaces where memories are made and futures are built. That belief in possibility and progress fits so naturally with what we do at Good Things Guy and it has helped us grow the podcast into something even more meaningful and far-reaching.

“Good Things with Brent Lindeque” is currently ranked 8th among the country’s top podcasts, right behind The Gareth Cliff Show, True Crime South Africa, and SMWX. And that’s only because of you. That’s every download, every listen, every share and every moment you’ve chosen to spend with us.

2026 has already come out swinging. We’ve shared conversations with Kelvin van Baalen, a South African who spent 413 days in ICU and faced a R21 million medical bill, yet still found a way to keep going and share his story. Joey Evans joined us to talk about going from paralysis to finishing the Dakar Rally, which still feels surreal when you hear it. Chris Lomas, the founder of Hope4, reminded us how powerful small acts of kindness can be when they are done consistently, and Brendan Murray from The Owl Rescue Centre showed us just how much care and compassion goes into protecting the creatures we share this world with.

And there have been so many more incredible conversations.

The real good news is that we are only getting started!!!

If you’ve been wondering how to listen, you’ve got options. You can watch and subscribe on YouTube, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok… whatever works for you, wherever you are. That’s what this poddie is really about. Making good news accessible. Making it easy to find. And making sure that whenever you need a reminder that there is still so much good out there… you know exactly where to press play.

Sources: Good Things With Brent Lindeque 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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

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

The post The Podcast Bringing South Africa The Stories it Needs Right Now appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The numbers are in, the rankings are out, and yet the most important takeaway from this year’s happiness report has nothing to do with where a country sits on the list.

South Africa (22 March 2026) – GALLUP released its annual happiness rankings this week, just in time for International Day of Happiness (which was yesterday), and while the headlines might tempt you to look north toward snowy countries topping the charts, there’s a far more meaningful story unfolding when you read between the lines… and it feels incredibly familiar to us here in South Africa.

The World Happiness Report 2026 reveals a complex global picture, where some of the most developed nations are seeing declines in well-being, particularly among young people, while other regions are experiencing a rise in how people feel about their lives. It’s not as simple as money, infrastructure or status anymore. The data is pointing somewhere deeper, somewhere more human.

At the heart of it all is connection.

Across more than 140 countries, the strongest predictors of happiness are not economic, but social. Having someone to count on, feeling supported, experiencing generosity and belonging to a community all rank among the most important contributors to how people evaluate their lives.

Happiness isn’t built in isolation… it’s built together.

@brentlindeque A little perspective on international day of happiness. #happiness #igetto #gratitude #goodthings #perspective ♬ original sound – Brent Lindeque

And that’s where South Africa enters the conversation in a way that no ranking table could ever fully capture.

While we may not sit at the very top of a global index, there is something deeply powerful in the way South Africans show up for one another. It lives in the everyday moments that rarely make headlines. The neighbour who checks in, the stranger who helps, the communities that rally around those who need it most. It lives in our humour, our shared language of kindness, and that unmistakable sense of Ubuntu that continues to define who we are.

The report also shines a spotlight on the role of social media, particularly among younger generations, where heavy usage has been linked to lower well-being in several parts of the world. But the story isn’t entirely negative. When platforms are used to connect, communicate and build meaningful relationships, they can actually enhance happiness. The difference lies not in the technology itself, but in how we use it. That insight feels especially relevant in a country where digital spaces are often filled with stories of hope, support and shared humanity. South Africans have found ways to turn online platforms into places of encouragement, celebration and collective strength, proving that connection, whether physical or digital, still sits at the centre of what makes us feel good.

There’s also an important global shift happening that deserves attention. While youth well-being has dropped in certain Western countries, many parts of the world are seeing young people report higher levels of life satisfaction than they did two decades ago. It’s a reminder that the future is not defined by a single narrative, and that positive momentum exists, even if it doesn’t always dominate the news cycle.

And maybe that’s the real takeaway this International Day of Happiness.

Not that one country is happier than another, or that happiness can be neatly ranked and measured, but that the building blocks of a good life are already within reach. They exist in connection, in kindness, in community, and in the small, meaningful interactions that shape our days.

“Happiness isn’t something we find somewhere else or wait for someday. It’s something we build, moment by moment, in the way we show up for each other. It’s in the small acts, the shared laughter, the kindness we choose… that’s where the magic lives.”

South Africans have never needed a report to tell them that.

We see it every day, in stories that remind us who we are at our best. We feel it in the way people come together, in the laughter that cuts through difficult moments, and in the belief that even when things are tough, there is always something good worth holding onto.

And if happiness really is about building what is good in life, then perhaps we’re already doing more right than we realise.

Sources: GALLUP 

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 World Measured Happiness… But This is What Really Matters appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In May 2018, an entire nation waited anxiously for news about a missing baby from Alberton. Eight years later, Bronwyn Laird joins ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque’ again to share how that terrifying chapter turned into a story of hope, healing and love.

Johannesburg, South Africa (18 March 2026) – Eight years ago, South Africa held its breath. Parents refreshed their phones, communities shared posts at lightning speed and strangers whispered prayers for a tiny baby they had never met. It was a moment when the country collectively leaned forward, hoping against hope for the ending everyone was desperate to hear.

On the 2nd of May 2018, the Pink Ladies organisation for Missing Children in South Africa issued a kidnapped child alert after it was alleged that a domestic worker had taken a baby named Eden for a walk from the family home in Brackendowns, Alberton.

Eden had been tied to her back with a light blue blanket.

She never returned.

The story gripped the nation almost instantly. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, and South Africans across the country found themselves emotionally invested in a story that felt far too close to home. Parents hugged their children a little tighter, timelines filled with messages of support and an entire country hoped for a miracle.

And then four days later… that miracle arrived.

Baby Eden was found and reunited with his family. It was good news that travelled just as fast as the heartbreak had days earlier. Relief swept across the country, and the story restored something powerful in the national spirit: the reminder that hope still exists, even in moments that feel impossibly dark.

Later that same year, Eden’s mom, Bronwyn Laird, joined me in studio on the Good Things Guy podcast to talk about the experience and the emotional whirlwind her family had been through. What she shared that day stayed with many of us long after the microphones were switched off.

“We’ve seen miracles happen and prayers answered,” Bronwyn said at the time.

“We cannot allow what 6 individuals, 5 of whom we have never even met – what they chose to do – to affect how we see the world, how we evaluate relationships going forward or how we live our lives.

Hate just isn’t in our vocabulary. Hate changes nothing but love changes everything. Love wins.”

Now, eight years later, Bronwyn joins me again on this week’s episode of ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque‘. This time the conversation is about the past but also about the incredible journey that followed. Bronwyn has written a book about the entire ordeal, sharing the raw, human experience of those terrifying days and the powerful lessons that came afterwards. In a full-circle moment, the Good Things Guy podcast and our original conversation even form part of that story.

While the chapter that began in 2018 started with fear and uncertainty, the pages that followed are filled with healing, growth and a family that chose love over bitterness.

Watch and listen to the episode on all our social platforms (like all of them).
New episodes drop weekly.
Powered by BetterBond. Filmed at Primedia Studios.
Stories that matter. Conversations that count.

Sources: Good Things with Brent Lindeque 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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

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

The post The Kidnapping That Shook a Nation and The Miracle That Followed appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Kelvin van Baalen spent 413 days in ICU, was resuscitated 9 times, had 27 surgeries and faced injuries that should have ended everything he had planned for his future. Instead, he found a way to rebuild, reframe and keep moving forward, one step (and one laugh) at a time.

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 February 2026) – The human spirit is a powerful thing, especially when it refuses to be defined by a single moment, no matter how devastating that moment may have been.

On this week’s ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque‘, we sit down with Kelvin van Baalen, an incredible South African who is a flipping inspirational human.

Kelvin survived a tragic paragliding accident that left him fighting for his life, spending 413 days in ICU, being resuscitated 9 times along the way, having 27 surgeries and facing a medical aid bill that climbed to a staggering R21 million. Against all odds, he didn’t just survive, he rebuilt his life, found joy again, and now shares his journey with humour, honesty and a deep appreciation for simply being here. He was just 21 years old.

As specialist nurse Katinka Rheeder explained at the time, “When Kelvin arrived here he had sustained severe burns to approximately two-thirds of his body surface… local trauma statistics indicated a mere 30% predicted survival rate for burn injuries of this extent and severity.”

What stands out most when chatting to Kelvin now is not the scale of what he endured, but the way he speaks about moving forward. Even after coming home, the hard work continued, one lap of the house at a time, slowly building strength and confidence again.

“I had to push myself to walk around our house, adding more laps each day. Well, it was worth it, I can now walk around the entire golf course,” he says, with a grin you can hear through the mic.

Kelvin also speaks openly about embracing his body and refusing to let scars dictate how he shows up in the world.

“I do not allow my burns to hold me back from living life to the fullest. I play golf in shorts because I want to feel comfortable and play well. You can’t change what happened, but you can embrace what you have achieved. It’s all part of your story,” he shares, offering words that will resonate far beyond burn survivors alone.

Today, Kel is back on the golf course regularly, playing to a two handicap, competing in disabled tournaments, and joking that some of the top players are starting to get nervous. More than that, he is living proof that life after trauma can still be full, meaningful and joyful, especially when you choose to show up with humour and heart.

Watch and listen to the episode on all our social platforms (like all of them).
New episodes drop weekly.
Powered by BetterBond. Filmed at Primedia Studios.
Stories that matter. Conversations that count.

Sources: Good Things With Brent Lindeque 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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

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

The post After 413 Days in ICU (And a R21 Million Bill), Kelvin van Baalen is Thriving appeared first on Good Things Guy.

For more than five decades, the 1st RandHart Scout Hall has been a place where young people learned to lead, to try, and to believe in themselves… and today that space needs support to keep those lessons alive.

Johannesburg, South Africa (22 February 2026) – A place like a Scout Hall is more than bricks and mortar. It is where confidence is built, where friendships are formed around campfires and where young people learn that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.

When those spaces are under threat, it matters because what happens inside them shapes futures.

On this week’s Good South African Series, we sit down with Kathy from the 1st RandHart Scouts Hall to talk about exactly that. It is a conversation about legacy, community and the very real challenge of keeping important spaces alive when resources are stretched thin, but it is also a reminder of why these places are worth fighting for. Built in 1968, the 1st RandHart Scout Hall has stood for decades as a home for adventure, learning and belonging. Over a year ago, tremors shook the building, leaving cracks in the walls and damage that can no longer be ignored. The roof leaks when it rains, the repairs are urgent and the funds simply are not there yet. Without support, a space that has given so much to young people risks being lost.

What makes this conversation powerful is not just the problem, but what the hall represents. Scouts between the ages of 11 and 17 are guided by the Scout Trail, an adventure-filled journey that includes hiking, camping, abseiling, swimming, survival skills, first aid and even flying. It is hands-on, outdoors and endlessly creative, giving young people the chance to build skills, meet new friends and discover the world around them while learning teamwork, leadership and confidence.

This episode is part of our Budget Insurance x Good Things Guy partnership, where we shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes you’ve nominated. Because of this partnership, we get to celebrate the organisations doing the most and give them a little love and airtime too.

Budget Insurance believes in backing the helpers. Known for offering simple, affordable cover that protects what matters, they’ve teamed up with us because they understand something really important: with Budget, good things come to good South Africans.

Watch and listen to the episode on all our social platforms.
New Budget Insurance episodes drop monthly.
Powered by Budget Insurance. Filmed at RandHart Scouts Hall.
Stories that matter. Conversations that count.

Source: Budget Insurance x Good Things Guy | First RandHart Scout Hall

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 This Scout Hall Has Given Decades… Now It’s Asking for Help appeared first on Good Things Guy.