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.

Joburg’s inner city has a reputation. Crime, decay, broken buildings and abandoned dreams. That’s the story most of us believe. On Monday, I discovered another one.

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 March 2026) – I stood in a kitchen, in the middle of the inner city of Joburg, where everything is “broken”. Crying. I was trying to hold it back. But it wasn’t working. Hope is contagious.

In the middle of a conversation with Chef Anthony, standing in a massive what-used-to-be corporate kitchen, listening to what they do. I cried. Robbie Brozin (who was standing next to me) hugged me. Ja, the co-founder of ‘Nando’s’ and the founder of ‘Jozi My Jozi’ could see (and feel) what was going on. And he comforted me.

The work that I do takes me to places that move me. Often. Our emails overflow with good news, but in equal measure, we receive daily messages from people in need. We connect them with the people who can help them. That’s exactly why we created ‘The Helpers’. Our “sister” platform. A place that connects South Africans with the help they need. And connects the helpers with South Africans (so that we can help them). And it’s working. The platform is busy. It’s connecting people. ‘The Helpers’ is helping.

But the work I do also takes me to places, physically.

Robbie has been trying to get me to come see what they are doing at ‘Jozi My Jozi’. He is so passionate about fixing the inner city. If you haven’t watched my poddie with him, please do. It’s such an important conversation.

And even though I sat in a room with him, talking about the work he is doing, I didn’t fully understand it.

I do now.

Hope is contagious.

So, we set a date. “Meet me at 44 Main, Marshalltown, on Monday”. This Monday. Last Monday. It’s taken me a while to process. But sitting here this morning, after MCing a three-day conference, watching the sunrise on a Saturday, I’m ready to tell you a story.

I wrapped up at eNCA on Monday morning and made my way to 44 Stanley. Ja, that wasn’t a typo. I instinctively thought I was going to that beautiful little shopping centre in Braams. Like, we were going “for lunch”, so it made sense. I had my birthday there a couple of years ago. At the brewery. It’s the cutest. You must go. But I was wrong. 44 Main is in the middle of the CBD.

I HATE the middle of Joburg. It scares me. It’s filled with crime. And you have to be on super-alert all the time. It’s dirty. And falling apart. Nothing works there. Everything is broken.

But when Robbie asks you to go to lunch, you go where he tells you.

I changed the address and followed my WAZE. It took me to a multi-storey parking. A massive plaque said “Anglo American Only”. I explained that I was there for ‘Jozi My Jozi’ and the security guard, with the biggest smile, welcomed me. I parked, and he explained that I needed to cross the road, walk down a block, then turn left to see the entrance.

WALK?!?! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JOBURG CBD?!?!?

Verkeerde WhatsApp-groepie, Maritjie.

But it wasn’t. And I had to.

I took a deep breath. Shoved my phone deep into my pocket. And started walking.

There were security guards on every corner. And it was clean. And the gardens were so beautiful. There were people everywhere. Walking around. Corporates, students, tourists, and everything in between. At one point, I saw a ballerina, in full garb, drinking an iced coffee, walking like she was in the middle of New York.

I wish I had taken a picture.

A young lady, dressed in her ballet kit, walking in the inner city without a care in the world. Her hair looked like it had been glued back, with the most perfect bun I have ever seen. With one hand, she was sipping her coffee; on the other, she had a bag loosely hanging over her shoulder. Not clutching it in fear of anything. Confident as all hell. Walking in the middle of Joburg’s inner city.

This is not the Joburg I carry in my mind. This is not the Joburg anyone would imagine. But it is real. And it is true.

The entrance to the building was unreal. No, the entire building is unreal. Anglo American built it in the 1930s. It was, and still is, an absolute marvel. It was their headquarters for almost 100 years. But they left seven years ago. The building sat empty. They were trying to sell it. To leave the city, like so many have. “No one wants to be in the Joburg CBD.”

Robbie stepped in a couple of years ago and suggested that they don’t. His belief is that the Anglo building was one of the first in the city, and it needed to be steadfast. It needed to stay. And become something else. It needed to be the thing that helps rebuild the city.

Mal, I know. This guy is nuts. But it’s the “crazy” ones that get things done.

They trusted him and in just two short years, the plan started to take shape.

I met Robbie in his office. Right next to the original Oppenheimer office. Every corner of this building carries history. You can see it. You can feel it. The wooden panels, the windows, the thick carpets, the furniture, the art. Every single surface holds a story. I told Robbie, while looking out his window, “you would swear you were in New York. Or London. Or Paris.” It’s unreal.

We chatted for a while and then Robbie took me on a tour of the building. The Dr John Kani Performing Arts Academy has moved in. And the Joburg Ballet school (hence the ballerina walking the streets like she owns the place).

He took me to a floor to meet an organisation that is changing the way we address homelessness in the city. We went deep into a conversation about how they are breaking the cycle with real, sustainable tools. There are no “real” stats on the homelessness crisis in Joburg. The numbers sit anywhere between 8,000 to 30,000, depending on who you ask. But this organisation is physically changing that. They are getting people off the streets. And helping them restart their lives. They aren’t just talking about what they do. They are doing it.

It was at this point that I could start to see what Robbie is creating. The vision. The mission. The action. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. One of the buildings. One of the projects.

Robbie then told me that we had to visit the building across the road. On the way there, he pointed out other buildings. And what was going on behind the facades. Wits Business School is moving in there. All seven storeys. “MIT” is moving in there. Ja, a play on the words of the famous MIT. A school for information and technology. And that building is where the new clinic and pharmacy are going.

This all feels so hopeful. So… not broken.

The Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII) is where we eventually landed up. A school and university that has around 3,000 students. Kids from the hardest backgrounds. All getting an education thanks to Dr Taddy Blecher.

The MII gets its name from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Indian teacher who founded Transcendental Meditation. The “Maharishi” part is simply a nod to him and the philosophy that inspired the school, while “Invincibility” comes from his idea that education should help people develop such strong inner confidence, clarity of thinking and personal capability that they become “invincible” in life. It’s not about being physically unbeatable, but rather about building the kind of mindset, skills and self-belief that help someone overcome obstacles and succeed. The institute adopted the name because its model blends academic learning with personal development and meditation, with the belief that when students strengthen both their education and their inner resilience, they’re far better equipped to navigate the real world.

We walked through the halls and classrooms. State-of-the-art facilities. Computer labs. And meditation rooms. And classrooms that look like they should be in a private school. There’s even a “tinker room”… a place filled with LEGO and motors, and connections to teach the kids about robotics. Robbie tells me that they are entering the Robotics Olympics this year.

One of the many, many floors is dedicated to “security”. Kids getting the skills to become professional security guards. It’s a three-year course. And all the third-year students have to do “practical”. Most of the security around the area are these kids. Even the person who signed us into the school is part of the programme.

Robbie explained that MII identifies gaps in the employment sector and then provides kids with the education they need to get jobs. They even have contracts with massive corporates to upskill these kids, and then give them guaranteed employment. 95% of their students leave MII and get jobs.

This is goosebump stuff. Life-changing.

Robbie tells me that the kids come from terrible circumstances. But this is giving them an opportunity. It’s hope in action. Before leaving, we walked through a massive quad in the middle of the building. It felt like I was in Stellies. Students sitting around. Chatting. Singing. Eating lunch. Being students.

The quad led to a huge canteen. And behind it, a kitchen that used to feed all the Anglo employees. It’s now the heart of this incredible space.

We chatted with a student from the culinary school, doing their “practical” in the kitchen. Lunch is over. And the kids have all been fed. His smile is contagious. His love for this school is infectious.

He tells us that he is enjoying what he is learning but it’s the sport he loves the most. I would later learn (after meeting Kristen Scott) about Maharishi Park. A modern sports clubhouse and multi-purpose fields for basketball and soccer that work together with MII’s top-tier fitness centre, all designed to support physical well-being, academic success, and personal growth. Kristen tells me most of these kids have only played on dirt fields. Now they get to experience world-class facilities. Changing their “normal”.

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”

Kristen and the team at MII understand this.

Robbie asked the student to call the head chef. Anthony Morris. We waited a minute and a man dressed in his double-breasted chef’s jacket popped out the back. He gave me a hug, then explained that the kitchen feeds all the students. Every day. The passion in his words made me so happy. And so sad. They have a lunch programme. And a breakfast programme. And a dinner programme. They allow the students to bring Tupperware, in case they need to take food home for their families.

I need you to read that again.

Chef Antony tells me that the school holidays are the hardest for him. Because he knows that many of the kids would go hungry. And so would their families.

I was completely overwhelmed.

You see, it’s not just about the food. Or the love that Chef Antony has. Or what the school is doing. Or how this part of the city is coming back to life. Or the fact that there are plans to do more. Or that it is actually happening.

It’s that it is also helping.

Jozi My Jozi’s plan is working. It is changing the inner city.

And that’s when Robbie hugged me.

I get it now my friend. I understand what you have been working on.

Hope… is contagious.

We left the building and walked down Main Street. Passed more buildings with more plans. Passed more people walking around. Carrying their laptops. Drinking their coffees. Chatting to friends and colleagues. Eventually we landed up at Sadie’s Bistro. A beautiful restaurant. In the heart of the city. With tables in the street.

It feels like this little gem should be in Sandton, or the Parks… or even Paris. But here it is, in the middle of Jozi.

The owner, Julian Ribeiro, tells me that he left his very fancy corporate job, went to culinary school and opened Sadie’s Bistro in 2022. He knew that he wanted to open a restaurant. And he knew that he wanted it to be in the middle of the city.

He believes that is how we fix Joburg… by leaning in.

The restaurant, named after his grandmother, who gave him his passion for cooking, sits right next to the old JSE building. Julian took us into the reception where old photos hang on the walls, showing traders “back in the day”. The “Closing Prices” dated the 7th of December 1978 is still there, all written on a massive chalkboard.

Back at the restaurant, there is a buzz. It’s packed. People having meetings. People having lunch. And it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. We sat chatting about the private tour Robbie just gave me. The insight into how this little part of the city is changing. And how that change is contagious.

When I walked back to my car, I felt less scared. My phone wasn’t as deep in my pocket. I looked around at how life is returning here. At how “not broken” this place is. At how this could possibly be the thing that turns Joburg around.

And yes, it’s just a small part of the city. And it’s absolutely crazy to think that this may be the start of a revolution.

But there is hope here.

And hope… is contagious.

Sources: Brent Lindeque OpEd 

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 is Contagious! The Joburg CBD Story We’re Missing! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

GroundUp’s favourite photos of 2025 show South Africa as it really is… battered in places, brilliant in others and always worth fighting for.

South Africa (29 December 2025) – South Africa’s story is not a single narrative; it is thousands of moments happening at once. GroundUp’s favourite photos from 2025 reveal those moments with honesty and empathy.

GroundUp, a South African non-profit news agency, publishes human-rights-focused, public-interest journalism. Their stories are free to read and republish, and Good Things Guy is one of the platforms that proudly syndicates their work (with permission), bringing their reporting and photography to our audience. It is journalism driven by impact and integrity.

Not sensationalism. Not clickbait. Just real humans and what happens in their lives.

As GroundUp explains, “GroundUp’s work is inspired by the human rights in the South African Constitution, including housing, education, health, safety, justice, food and dignity. These rights remain out of reach for most people in our country. With dwindling budgets, newsrooms are shrinking, especially at the community level. As a result, the stories of everyday South Africans and their struggles get lost. We aim to fill the gaps. Our journalism shows the reality of human rights in daily life. Our reporters across the country highlight the most pressing issues faced by vulnerable people and underreported communities. We report on the work of activists who go against the grain. We investigate and expose the state and private-sector failures that impact people’s rights.”

Every year, GroundUp compiles a photo series of moments that shaped their reporting. Not the loudest or neatest moments but the meaningful ones. The ones that show who we are, what we are up against and how people respond.

This year’s selection spans everything from rescues and rebuilds to protests and performance.

You’ll see rescue, eviction, homelessness, environmental strain, community care and livelihoods under pressure. There are protests, marches, service delivery struggles, small businesses holding on, families seeking justice and people rebuilding what they can. And there are gentler moments too… creativity, curiosity, nature, heritage and everyday life unfolding in quiet ways.

If you needed a reminder that there is heart here, that progress has a pulse, and that people are still choosing each other, look no further than this annual photo series.

GroundUp provides independent news about events and people in South Africa. If you would like to support the work they are doing, you can donate here, visit the website here or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Source: GroundUp News 

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 is South Africa: GroundUp’s Most Powerful Photos of the Year appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Ubuntu, faith, forgiveness and stubborn hope… these are the ingredients helping South Africans rise, according to the Global Flourishing Study.

South Africa (29 December 2025) – The Global Flourishing Study, one of the biggest well-being studies on the planet, shared its findings this year. More than 200,000 people across 22 countries were surveyed, and the results show something South Africans have always known deep down: we are tougher, kinder and more hopeful than the headlines ever give us credit for.

Despite the daily realities of corruption, inequality, and pressure on households, the study shows that South Africans are holding steady. Our levels of happiness and life satisfaction sit almost shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of the world… a 6.95 out of 10, compared to the global average of 7.00. And it’s not just one metric. Across more than 30 different measures of well-being, from sense of purpose and social belonging to gratitude, general health and everyday optimism, South Africa consistently aligns with global norms.

So yes, even though we’ve got things to fix, the data confirms that we’re not defined by our problems.

In fact, South Africa was ranked among the top five countries. The study highlighted areas where South Africans truly stand out:

• Hope for the future is stronger here than in many countries.
• Inner peace shows up more often than expected, even in noisy seasons of life.
• Forgiveness scores are among the highest in the world.
• Faith and spirituality remain a powerful anchor for many people.
• Community strength and belonging are steady, even when the economy isn’t.

In short, we show up for each other. We find joy in small things. We repair, rebuild and try again. And that is something that truly counts.

Another global report this year named South Africa the most generous country in the world, based on empathy, kindness and everyday humanity. Not donations or money but humanity.

We see it in all the stories we write.

It’s the neighbour helping a community, like when an 83-year-old took to the streets of Pennington to fill potholes and restore hope in his community. Or a teacher who gave a former pupil a second chance at life by donating a kidney. Or the quiet dedication of Bohlale Mphahlele, the schoolgirl-turned-safety pioneer, building a safer South Africa. Or the hero on board who assisted a FlySafair crew during a mid-flight emergency. And it’s the everyday kindness of people like Officer Tony Pietersen, Paarl’s unsung hero of positivity, who build a nation from the inside out.

If flourishing has a flavour, in South Africa, it tastes like Ubuntu.

But the Global Flourishing Study doesn’t shy away from the gaps. Financial strain, trust in leadership, personal safety and inequality still weigh heavily on South Africans. Vulnerable communities carry the biggest load. Those are real problems and they deserve real solutions. Instead of framing them as signs of failure, the researchers call them opportunities: places where support, policy and community innovation could change lives; areas where improvement would lift the nation’s well-being as a whole.

It’s a list of what to fix, not a verdict.

Flourishing isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about recognising what’s working, nurturing it and using it as fuel for what comes next. South Africa’s strengths, our generosity, our optimism, our sense of meaning and our ability to forgive, are not small things. They are foundations. They are starting points. They are proof that our story is not stuck. If we can invest in the places where people are struggling, protect the bonds that hold communities together, and build systems that match the spirit of the people they serve, then the numbers in the next year’s study will not just hold steady… they’ll rise.

Flourishing is not out of reach. It’s already happening in pockets and households and hearts across the country. The task now is to widen the circle, so more of us get to feel it.

Source: Global Flourishing Study

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 We’re Happier Than The Headlines Say: South Africa’s Flourishing Story appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A festive-season slip could have ended in stress and loss but one man’s choice to care turned a crisis into a moment of connection that Lee says she will carry for life.

Western Cape, South Africa (28 December 2025) – It could have been just another stressful festive-season mishap: coffee, errands, tourists, distractions… and then the sinking realisation that a purse was gone. Instead, what happened to Lee den Hond became a lesson in empathy, presence and the extraordinary difference one stranger’s decision can make.

It started on a busy morning in Cape Town. Kloof Street was buzzing with holiday energy, tourists flowing in and out of cafés, locals squeezing in errands before the next stop. Lee and Lisa Greenberg grabbed a quick coffee before heading out again, juggling bottles of water, taking a phone call, thinking ahead to the next shop before it closed.

Minutes after leaving, Lee reached her next stop and realised the unthinkable: her purse was missing.

“My ID, bank cards, and a few important personal notes were in my purse. Fear of accounts being accessed and the result of that. The thought of blocking the cards, and then applying new ones … all just shouted out massive inconvenience at this time of year when all you should be doing is chilling!” she told Good Things Guy.

Like many of us would, panic was the first reaction. The noise of everything that could go wrong grew louder than the festive traffic. But Lee and Lisa refused to give up, heading back to Kloof Street to retrace their steps. A call to the café brought no answers. It seemed impossible.

And then, a phone call… from a landline in Cape Town.

“A friendly voice greeted me as I answered, saying, ‘Hello, my name is Sam, I am calling from Virgin Active, I have the contact number of the person who has your purse.’ With great excitement, I took down the details and immediately called this person to establish their whereabouts. He told me where he was, and we proceeded to him with haste and huge relief.”

While she was searching, something remarkable had been unfolding. Gabriel, a complete stranger to Lee, had seen the purse fly off the roof of her car. Someone else had already picked it up and begun rummaging. Gabriel approached them, offered money for the purse, and they accepted.

He then drove to the gym listed on her card, stood at the front desk, and asked the staff to call her because he knew they would not hand out her number.

No shortcuts or second thoughts, just kindness and intention.

“Meeting Gabriel in person was a moment for me that will live in my heart for a very long time,” Lee shared.

“What stood out was the pure simplicity of his answer when I asked him why he had gone to so much trouble. He said this with not just a massive smile on his face but complete authenticity,” she said.

His answer? He had once lost his own purse. He knew exactly how it felt. He did what he wished someone had done for him.

“There are truly angels among us. The influence this has is the powerful ripple effect of kindness, especially between strangers, where there is no established connection, none whatsoever. One life beautifully impacting another,” Lee reflected.

That impact runs deeper than a returned purse. It shifted something in her.

“Yes, this has changed me. Each day, I am focusing on being more present and more engaged. Less digital distraction. Taking in the moments around me, and not allowing these moments to be taken from me. Better choices.”

She hopes this story reaches the man who changed her day and reminded her of what is still good and present in our country.

“I would love for Gabriel to know that I had shared his story and that what he did not only helped me but also inspired many people to follow in his steps. Thank you, Gabriel, so much more than just finding my purse.”

And if you take anything from this story, perhaps it is this… there are still people who show up, there are still strangers who care, and there are still choices being made, with kindness and generosity, that remind us who we are capable of being.

May we notice them more. May we honour them. And whenever life allows, may we be them.

Source: Interview with Lee den Hond 

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 Lost And Found: How One Act of Kindness Became a Ripple of Hope appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A tiny pangolin, stolen from the wild and hidden in a box, has been given a fighting chance at life thanks to a chain of South Africans who acted with heart, urgency and unwavering compassion.

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 November 2025) – If you ever needed proof that kindness can cut through the darkest corners of our country, this is it. A young pangolin, scared, injured and stolen from the wild, has been given a second chance thanks to a handful of people who simply refused to give up on her.

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal on earth. More than elephants. More than rhinos. Their scales, made of simple keratin, the same material as our fingernails, are wrongly believed to have medicinal value in certain markets. That belief has unleashed one of the most devastating illegal trades in the world, pushing pangolins dangerously close to extinction.

So when one is found alive… it matters.

Deeply.

During a routine roadblock outside Beaufort West, SAPS officers spotted something that didn’t sit right. A sealed box hidden in the boot of a vehicle. Inside was a tiny pangolin, terrified, dehydrated and carrying the injuries that come with being poached. A discovery like this could easily have been missed. But those officers didn’t look away. They acted.

Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH) was alerted immediately. CapeNature stepped in next, rushing the fragile juvenile to a vet in Oudtshoorn, where she was stabilised under the remote guidance of JWVH’s expert pangolin team. It was the first crucial step in pulling her back from the edge. When she was finally strong enough to travel, Airlink and Impact for Wildlife joined the effort, flying both the pangolin and her CapeNature guardian to Johannesburg. From there, she was taken straight to JWVH’s dedicated pangolin facility, a place where some of the most traumatised pangolins in the country get a real shot at recovery.

And this is where the heart of the story lives. Ordinary people, across provinces and organisations, stepping up without hesitation. Law enforcement noticing something small. Conservation professionals responding instantly. Airline teams mobilising to move a wild animal safely. Veterinarians preparing for a case that requires world-class specialist care.

The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital does remarkable work for South Africa’s wildlife. Quiet work. Consistent work. They treat pangolins, genets, owls, bushbabies, and countless injured or orphaned wild creatures, always with expertise, always with compassion and never charging a cent.

And their success stories are nothing short of extraordinary.

“She remains in a critical condition, but our team is cautiously optimistic,” JWVH said. “With time, expert care, and the resilience that pangolins so often show, we hope to return her – fully recovered – back to the wild where she belongs.”

And that’s why this rescue matters. Because every pangolin saved chips away at the illegal wildlife trade. Every intervention proves that South Africans can disrupt the cruelty that threatens our natural heritage. And every partnership like this one reminds us just how much good can happen when enough people refuse to look away.

One rescue won’t end wildlife trafficking. But each one shifts the story. Each one proves that compassion still wins. And sometimes, that’s more than enough to change a life.

Source: Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital

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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 Kindness in Action: South Africans Unite to Rescue Endangered Pangolin appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Because where there is vision, there is hope, and where there is hope, there is always a way forward.

Johannesburg, South Africa (18 March 2019) –  It’s a story that rocked the nation. On the 2nd of May 2018, the Pink Ladies (an organisation for Missing Children in South Africa) issued a kidnapped child alert after it was alleged that a domestic worker took Baby Eden, tied on her back with a light blue blanket, for a walk… and did not return to the family home in Brackendowns, Alberton.

The nation watched with heartbreak as the minutes, turned into hours and then turned into days. South Africa had become invested in a story where everyone was waiting for some good news.

And four days later, that good news came. Baby Eden had been reunited with his family, and his story had restored hope in so many South Africans.

But on the 2nd of September 2019, another kidnapping took over our headlines. 6-year-old Amy-Lee de Jager was taken by four men outside of her school. She was returned to her parents in the early hours of the morning, but the trauma will remain forever.

Baby Eden’s mom, Bronwyn Laird, wrote an open letter to Amy-Lee’s parents, the media and South Africa giving Good Things Guy permission to publish.

Read the full letter below:

Another Monday morning, a normal routine of getting a household of six ready for the day ahead. This day, however, would take a turn we couldn’t anticipate, a day when our past would come back to haunt us through someone else’s story.

Another young, innocent child, kidnapped, ripped right out of her mother’s arms, my heart dropped to my stomach as memories of what was to follow flooded into my own mind. Was it a tough day, yes, for more than I was prepared. Yet this is not my story; it is your story; it is everyone’s story.

Wednesday the 4th of September, on my way home from work, I receive a phone call. Another reporter, this one from a reputable Media House, a familiar one for our family. “

Bronwyn, we would love you to write a letter to Amy-Lee’s mommy, something inspirational, sharing your pain, maybe some words of advice, you know, something that you feel on your heart that you would have liked to have said to her should you ever have had the opportunity”, sounds sweet, but let’s be honest here, who is this really benefitting? Our messy relationship with the media over the past 15 months has taught me so much, but one thing I learned was that I didn’t need to feel inferior or afraid anymore, if you’re giving me a platform, I get to use it right?

A Good Guy gave me the freedom to give my message the way in which we try to live out our lives, with hope and love, and I’d like to continue on that road.

So, while I sit in front of my laptop, with my message to share, I silently pray my heart is heard. I also hope the media who genuinely want to make a difference, who really want to spread awareness and hope, and also want to see a change, might adjust the way they choose to cover stories like these and help bring healing to an already bleeding people.

So here it is, a letter to a mother… and a father, a grandparent, a young adult, in fact, if you’re alive and kicking, living in South Africa and willing to make a difference, this letter is for you.

A horrific crime hits the headlines; people are reeling in shock; people are angry, demanding answers and justice. Time moves swiftly and before we know it, the angry voices have died down, the support for justice for those who have fallen victim to terrible crimes has dissipated and those who stay behind to keep fighting for the voiceless, are left to drown in the overwhelming work that lies ahead of them, case by case taking a small piece of their heart with them.

Change starts with me, with you, every mother, every father, every man, every woman, every age, every colour, every income level, every culture, every single one of us. One person cannot make a difference alone, but one person can inspire another, and then another, and another.

We are currently a Nation in pain, but let’s not allow our pain to drop us to our knees, let’s stand up and make the change we want to see, let’s find the purpose and power in our pain. Let’s find a way to break the chain of negativity and fear; let ’s stop the doubt and create a vision. Because where there is vision, there is hope, and where there is hope, there is always a way forward.

So many have doubted the power they have to make a difference, uneducated, under qualified, ill-equipped and so forth, I felt the same for so long, it took the trauma of my child being kidnapped and held for ransom for me to find the strength from my source and rise up. And we rise by lifting others; we have so many ways in which to do this, if only we choose to.

Yes, our child was taken, yes it was traumatic, I would never downplay what we endured, but I also cannot ignore the most incredible people in the most incredible organisations, who worked in the background like it was their child who had been taken.

They barely ate, they didn’t sleep, and when our child was rescued, they asked for no thanks or recognition, some simply faded away quietly, moving on to the next cry for help. There are so many organisations that have risen up, and need our help to make the change we are crying out for. In our story, organisations like The Pink Ladies, The CPF, Afriforum (a few that asked not to be mentioned) are some of the finest men and women you will come across. They didn’t just do their jobs, they sat with us, they held our hands, they dried our tears, and they brought comfort and encouragement.

Though not an NPO, I cannot send this without making mention of the SAPS and affiliations the like of the Kidnapping Division. The divisions assigned to our case were kind, sympathetic, professional and diligent, some (just like the organisations mentioned above) have become family and still message us to ask after our well-being.

A great Christian leader in our country once said “Be a thermostat, not a thermometer, because a thermometer reacts to its surroundings, but a thermostat changes the atmosphere it’s surrounded by”, let’s change the atmosphere by choosing to stand behind an organization fighting for change, challenges are opportunities to create new solutions, so choose your challenge, rise up and take a stand. CWA, Get Up Woman, Durbanville Children’s Home, Earthchild Projects, Ethelbert Children’s Home, NICRO, SA Children’s Home, Pink Ladies, Dare 2 Care, these are just a few of thousands of organisations standing to make a difference. Become a game-changer by surrounding yourself with warriors, every single person still missing, every single parent waiting for an update, every single rape victim, every victim of crime, are waiting for you to be the solution.

Add your voice in any capacity you are able, to an organisation that you feel most passionate about, and you will see change, in yourself and your community. The investment you put into a purpose today, could save a life tomorrow, never see your effort as insignificant, you are inspiring someone watching your actions and hearing your words. So be kind, be positive, be unwavering in love and watch a nation heal. It starts with me, and it starts with you.

All my love,

Baby Eden’s Mom

Sources: Bronwyn Laird | Baby Eden

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 the kidnapping: Baby Eden’s mom writes heartfelt letter to Amy-Leigh’s parents! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

13-month-old Baby Eden, who was allegedly kidnapped, is back home safely with his family again.

Johannesburg, South Africa (18 March 2018) – Baby Eden has been found after being reported as missing for over 72 hours.

The Pink Ladies, an organization for Missing Children in South Africa, issued a kidnapped child alert after it was alleged that the domestic worker took Eden, tied on her back with a light blue blanket, for a walk and did not return to the family home in Brackendowns, Alberton, at around 8.45am on Wednesday, 2 May.

He was wearing grey tracksuit pants with pumpkins on the bottoms, a vest with the words “granny sunshine” written on it, a grey-and-navy striped jersey, and navy-and-white socks with sailboats on them.

Both the Brackendowns Community Policing Forum and the Intelligence Bureau of South Africa released this statement early this morning:

“On Wednesday 2/5/2018 a 13 month old baby was kidnapped in the Brackendowns area as per Cas 05/05/2018. LtCol Jordaan was the cluster duty officer on duty and was tasked with the resolution of the kidnapping. The suspects called the parents and demanded R 6 000 000 for the safe release of the child.

After an unsuccessful money drop on the 3/5/2018 the PHO Trio Team was asked to assist with a money drop on the 4/3/2018. An operational plan was put together by the team and the money drop off was observed.

When the team had sight of the baby a tactical takedown of the suspects was executed.

The baby was safely returned to the father and taken to a hospital for a medical examination.

2 suspects were arrested at the drop off point. After further investigations the domestic worker from the baby’s parents home was also arrested with some of the earlier recieved ransom money. Further investigations led to the arrest of a further 2 suspects as well as the vehicle used to transport the kidnapped baby a red Nissan Sentra was also recovered.

All suspects will be detained at Brackendowns SAPS and FCS Ekhuruleni West Cluster will investigate the case further.”

The Pink Ladies also updated their poster to say FOUND. The moment the entire country had been waiting for:

“Kidnapped Child Found: A special group of people from Coast to Coast in South Africa have said ENOUGH!”

Sources: Pink Ladies | SAPS | Brackendowns CPF

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 13 month kidnapped Baby Eden is back home safely with family. appeared first on Good Things Guy.