When good people fall, the best of humanity rises to meet them.

Brackenfell, South Africa (02 April 2026) – Time and again, we’ve seen it happen. A family reaches a moment they simply cannot get through alone, and they’re left with no other option but to ask, and hope, for help.

Somehow, through the kindness of strangers, the generosity of communities, and the miracle of people choosing to show up, they find a way through their darkest hours.

We have seen it here on Good Things Guy more times than we can count. And we believe, with everything we have, that we are about to see it again. This time, it’s for Jacques.

Jacques is the husband of Bianca, dad to their daughter Charnè. When his diagnosis of high-grade bladder cancer and kidney cancer came, it turned their small family’s life upside down.

And then, the road become even steeper. His initial bladder surgery was followed by a serious complication of Klebsiella septicaemia, a bloodstream infection that hit his already-weakened body.

Time is working against the family.

Jacques needs robotic surgery to remove the kidney cancer, a specialised procedure that gives him the best chance of saving the kidney and stopping the disease from spreading. That surgery is scheduled for 8 April 2026, just a week from now. It’s the only window he has.

Once Jacques begins his bladder cancer treatment on 4 May 2026, his immune system will take a severe hit, making further surgery too dangerous. That treatment will run for six weeks, then repeat every three months for years to come. The kidney surgery has to happen first. Before the treatment starts and before the window closes.

That’s how little time they have.

The toll this has taken is immense. With Jacques unable to work, the financial pressure on the family has grown to a point that’s becoming impossible to manage alone. Their medical aid doesn’t cover the full cost of the robotic surgery, and with specialist visits, hospital stays, medication, and ongoing care, the numbers quickly become overwhelming.

Hope is the most tangible thing they have right now.

Bianca has made a humbling, and heartbreaking, cry for a help.

“I serve as a criminologist and the national coordinator for Missing Children South Africa. My work has always been protecting vulnerable children and supporting families in crisis. My husband has stood by my side through it all, often stepping in to keep others safe. For years we’ve helped people through their darkest moments. Now we face one ourselves.” Bianca shares.

An online crowdfunding campaign has been set up to help cover the cost of Jacques’s robotic kidney surgery, his bladder cancer treatment, and the many medical expenses that come with a battle this long and this complex. So far, R22,910 has been raised toward a goal of R200,000.

With Jacques’ surgery scheduled a week from now, the family needs their miracle.

“It is incredibly difficult to ask for help, but as family we will do anything to give Jacques the chance to fight, to heal, and to continue being the person we love so deeply.” shares Bianca. “Every single donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to making this life-saving treatment possible.”

To support Jacques, visit this link.

Sources: Linked above.

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

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

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

The post Bianca’s Urgent Call for Help as Husband Jacques Battles Two Forms of Cancer appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A team of Cape Town specialists has just marked a groundbreaking medical first for the country – one that could change how certain cancers are treated going forward!

Cape Town, South Africa (27 March 2026) – Doctors at UCT Private Academic Hospital have just performed an incredible medical milestone!

Dr Gercois Human, Dr Jateel Kassim, Dr Gareth Bydawell and the Cape Town Interventional Radiology team successfully used cryoablation to treat cancer that had returned after surgery.

It’s the first time this technique has been used locally for this type of cancer spread.

Cryoablation, in simple terms, uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze and destroy cancer cells. Guided by advanced imaging, doctors can target tumours with precision, without the need for major surgery.

In this case, the patient had previously undergone treatment for papillary thyroid carcinoma, a common form of thyroid cancer. While the original tumour had been removed, the cancer later returned in the form of secondary tumours elsewhere in the body, a process known as metastasis.

Using cryoablation, the medical team were able to directly treat these tumours by freezing them, offering a less invasive option with the potential for faster recovery and fewer complications.

It’s a significant moment not just for the team involved but for cancer care in South Africa as a whole!

Treatments like this are changing what’s possible, especially for patients facing recurrence,
where options can often feel limited.

While this is just one case, it opens the door to broader use of cryoablation in treating the spread of certain forms of cancer locally, giving patients access to groundbreaking care without needing to look abroad.

Sources: Linked above.

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

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

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

The post First in South Africa as Doctors Freeze Cancer Cells in Breakthrough Procedure appeared first on Good Things Guy.

‘My greatest fear is not the illness itself, but the thought of not having enough time with my children – not being there to guide them, support them, and watch them grow into who they are meant to be.’

Fourways, South Africa (25 March 2026) – A mother of four and a woman whose heart, by all accounts, is made of gold, is fighting for her life. The people who love her – and strangers who don’t even know her – are fighting right alongside her.

In October last year, Kate was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and colon cancer.

“Since then, life has become a constant balance between fighting for my health and trying to hold my family together.” Kate shares.

Family is everything. Kate’s purpose is to create a safe and loving home for her four children. One that she has kept on fighting for, even through a life-altering battle with cancer.

“I am a mom to two incredible children and a proud stepmom to two more. Our home is filled with love, laughter, and the beautiful chaos of raising four kids together. Every day, my purpose has been simple, to give them a safe, happy, and stable life, and to be there for every moment that matters.”

Through all the fear, the fatigue, and the fog of uncertainty that the illness has cast upon her, Kate has just kept going.

“I have undergone six cycles of chemotherapy, and through it all, I have continued working whenever I can. Becoming a single income household with four children is not an option so there simply isn’t room to stop… even on the days when getting out of bed feels impossible.”

The fight got even harder recently, when the chemotherapy stopped working, and her oncologist shared the difficult news that time may be more limited than anyone had imagined.

“As a mother, there are no words for what that feels like. My greatest fear is not the illness itself, but the thought of not having enough time with my children – not being there to guide them, support them, and watch them grow into who they are meant to be.”

Hope shows up in glimmers, and Kate has caught one of her own.

Her oncologist is applying for approval for a HER2 blocker treatment that could give her more time.

“But there are no guarantees. Medical aid may not approve it, and even if they do, the co-payments are far beyond what we can afford.”

Sadly, financial burden often stands between families navigating illness and the path forward. We see it often. We also see that when fighters have the courage to reach out and ask for help, they rally armies of compassion.

“Asking for help is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. But I am holding onto hope and doing everything I can to keep fighting, not just for myself, but for my family, and for the life we have built together.” she writes.

Kate has turned to online crowdfunding, asking others to hold onto this glimmer with her.

“Through this BackaBuddy campaign, I am hoping to raise funds to help cover medical expenses and shortfalls, to access this potential treatment if it is approved, and to support my family during this incredibly uncertain time.” 

The campaign, which has a goal of R500,000, has already seen 82 donors come forward, raising over R123,000 in just two days. That’s the full cost of one blocker treatment covered already.  Helpers are showing up, but more support is still needed to give Kate more time with her family and to face the uncertainty that cancer brings.

“More than anything, your support would give me the gift of time – time to focus on my health, and time to truly be present with the people I love most.”

The right person seeing a story at the right moment is what changes everything. If you would like to support Kate and her family, follow this link.

Sources: Linked above. 

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

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

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

The post South Africans Answering Kate’s Call for Help – ‘I Am Not Ready to Say Goodbye’ appeared first on Good Things Guy.

As World Social Work Day is observed, CANSA highlights the essential role social workers play in supporting patients and families through the cancer journey.

South Africa (19 March 2026) – Across South Africa, the quiet work of social workers continues to make a powerful difference, often behind the scenes. However, most importantly, it’s never unnoticed.

This week, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) took a moment to shine a light on these everyday heroes, marking World Social Work Day on 17 March and honouring the vital role they play in supporting individuals, families and communities.

Celebrated under the theme “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society,” the day highlights the importance of unity, compassion and collective action. These are also values that social workers bring into their work every single day.

Within the cancer journey, that role becomes even more significant. From the moment of diagnosis, patients and their loved ones are often faced with emotional, financial and practical challenges. This is where social workers step in. To offer counselling, guidance and support, while helping families navigate treatment, access resources and cope with the realities of the illness.

At CANSA, social workers form a core part of the organisation’s care and support services, walking alongside those affected by cancer and ensuring that no one has to face the journey alone. CANSA has long been at the forefront of the fight against cancer in South Africa. Through its work in research, education, advocacy and patient support, the organisation continues to drive its vision of a cancer-free society, while supporting thousands of South Africans along the way.

By recognising World Social Work Day, CANSA celebrates the profession but also acknowledges the human impact behind the work.

Their contribution serves as a reminder that community still sit at the heart of meaningful change.

Sources: CANSA (The Association of Cancer South Africa) 

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 CANSA Shines a Light on Social Workers Making a Difference in Cancer Care appeared first on Good Things Guy.

For weeks, a little boy counted down the days on a handmade calendar until his mom could ring the bell. On Tuesday, they finally got there.

KwaNgwanase, South Africa (16 March 2026) – There is a copper bell that hangs in treatment centres around the world. It represents hope. Ringing it marks the ‘finish line’ for people who’ve spent months, sometimes years, fighting for their lives.

It says ‘you’ve made it.’

On a Tuesday that Yvonne will never forget, surrounded by her husband, her young son, and the medical team who had walked the journey with her, she reached up and rang that bell three times.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

After 425 days of her world being turned upside down, Yvonne was – and is – finally, officially, a cancer survivor.

She went for a routine mammogram in July almost two years ago, just as a sensible precaution, as she approached 40. The results came back clear. There were some benign fat tissues in her left breast, nothing to worry about, and a recommendation to return for another scan in a year.

So when a small bump appeared in that same breast just a few months later, in November, she wasn’t overly alarmed. It was probably just the tissue the scan had already flagged. It was probably nothing.

Then the lump started hurting.

She booked another mammogram.

“From that moment on everything went quickly. The lump was removed and so were 9 lymph nodes of which 5 had cancer in them. After the cancer was removed I got to meet my oncologist for the first time and the hardest shock of all was the stage I was at. She told me I had HER2 positive stage 3.” Yvonne tells us. “That was one big slap in my face. I was on top of things, how was it possible to go from no problems to stage 3 in only 6 months?”

It was a shock to discover the cancer had advanced so far, especially since the previous mammogram had come up clear, just months ago. The treatment plan came as an even worse blow. Everything seemed impossible.

“I felt I couldn’t do it. The oncologist told me I needed 14 months of treatment. Six rounds of chemo, 18 target treatments and 20 rounds of radiation, four weeks in a row Monday to Friday. She told me I would feel more horrible than I could imagine, I would lose my hair and honestly she lost me there. My mind was spinning and couldn’t keep up.”

Yvonne and her husband Leo live on a game reserve in rural South Africa, three hours one way from the nearest cancer treatment centre. Their son Owen, then only six years old, was being homeschooled at home. There was no nearby family to call on, no help around the house, and no simple way to make any of it work.

“It was one big nightmare especially with the radiation. I couldn’t drive 5 days a week for 6 hours 4 weeks in a row. South Africa doesn’t have special leave for when your spouse is ill so it was honestly too much to handle. I didn’t even have time to register that I had cancer. There were too many logistics to sort out and on top of that the insurance didn’t want to pay for a very expensive and important treatment.”

On top of all the logistics, the finances, and fear, she barely had a moment to stop and absorb the fact that she actually had cancer at all.

“I honestly have never felt more hopeless and terrified as after that first talk with my oncologist, but here I am at the other side and we made it through.”

If chemotherapy was brutal, radiation brought total exhaustion. She had been warned it would be tiring. Nothing prepared her for what it actually felt like.

Running underneath everything was something that hurt her in a different way entirely. The guilt of not being able to be the active mom she once was.

“Guilt towards my son has been a huge part of the journey. Owen was absolutely sweet and amazing and he was fine being less active…but it made me feel so guilty.” says Yvonne. “I did manage to keep the playdates going throughout the journey. Most weeks he still saw friends, but I lacked a lot of other things, the active mom and son things we used to do every day.”

Owen was extraordinary throughout. He was patient and happy to swap his usual busy days with mom for quieter ones when she needed rest. Still, 14 months is a long time for a little boy, and as the journey wore on, the questions came more and more frequently.

“He kept asking how many more treatments and when I could run around with him again.” she says. “As a mom it broke my heart and he kept asking more frequently when we were done. We decided to make a countdown calendar together that marked the trips left to the city and we ended it with a bell.”

After 425 days of fighting, that day finally arrived last week, on Tuesday. The last day of their calendar. The big bell. It was one of the most joyful.

“On my final treatment day I could feel the joy all over the treatment centre. It seemed like everyone was aware of my special day and that made my joy even bigger.” says Yvonne. “I have a friend who really stood up during my cancer journey and has been there every step of the way. She had one last surprise on the final treatment day, and that was showing up with her kids, a balloon and a follower of my page, who made this beautiful cake for me. It was such a fun surprise and made the celebration even better.”

Friends came to give hugs. The phone went off endlessly with happy calls and messages. Then came the moment.

“Surrounded by my husband, son and all the staff that cared for me so well I got to ring the bell and hearing those 3 dings were just the best sound ever.”

In the days since, Yvonne has been open about the complicated emotions that come with reaching the finish line. The joy is enormous and real. But so is the uncertainty, and she holds both with honesty.

“I fought this breast cancer so hard but I learned that there still is a little chance that cancer is still in my body. I figured if I get it again it will be new cancer and I struggle with the thought that the cancer I fought so hard to get rid of might still be inside my body at the moment. Just waiting to start up again.” she says. “So the final day of treatment and ringing the bell was absolutely amazing, but it’s a weird thought that the cancer I fought so hard for is still in my body. Not huge chances, but still it is a possibility and I find myself struggling with those thoughts at the moment.”

For now, the focus and hope lie in her recovery.

“At this point the only thing we are really focusing on is my recovery. I still have a very long way to go until I feel more or less like myself again. The scars will never disappear, my body will never look the same and my energy levels will most likely never return completely, but there is a lot we can do to improve my health and that is what we are focusing on now.”

Throughout this life-altering journey, Yvonne has shared parts of her journey openly and honestly on Facebook. There were times when she felt she couldn’t – or shouldn’t – but ultimately, she wanted to create more awareness in the world.

“I was only 37 when I got cancer and back then my odds of getting it were only 4-6% and yet I got it. I felt that by sharing my story other women might go for a mammogram as well and if I can only save one woman it would be enough.” she says.

Along the way she learned that sharing her journey also helped in other ways, for different people.

“Other cancer patients found recognition in my post and I helped those who haven’t dealt with cancer personally understand it better. Even people who work at cancer treatment centres thanked me for my post as it gives them a bit of a better insight in how their patients feel.”

The reach of her words turned out to be wider than she had imagined. In return, she found a sense of community – one that celebrated the loudest last week on Tuesday, when Yvonne finally got to post that she’s now a cancer survivor.

“Sharing the great news on my page was the biggest explosion ever. I still can’t believe how many people celebrated with me.” she says. “Besides amazing support from all over the world, I also learned that others have experienced the same. There were moments during this journey when I felt like I was failing and couldn’t do it. Sharing that and hearing that others felt the same somewhere during their own battle helped me a lot. It was really really hard…”

Follow Yvonne’s ongoing journey on Facebook at Yvonne in the Bush.

Sources: GTG Interview.

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

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

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

The post Ding Ding Ding! ‘Yvonne in the Bush’ Rings the Bell appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A sunset drive in a Mustang, with the person he loves beside him, made Donavan smile. When life’s hardest battles hit you, little things let the light in.

Johannesburg, South Africa (11 March 2026) – When Donovan recently received devastating news about his health, the team at Cupcakes of Hope wanted to give him something different to hold onto, a moment of joy. So they planned a surprise he’d never forget.

Knowing Donovan’s love for Mustangs, the team arranged for him and his girlfriend to take a sunset drive in his dream car before heading out for a special dinner together. A simple gesture, one special evening away, gave the pair a chance to pause, breathe and enjoy being together, away from the storm.

Moments like these, that organisations like Cupcakes of Hope and Reach for a Dream create, don’t erase hard diagnoses or make battles disappear. But they do remind a person that they are seen, loved, and worth celebrating, especially on the days when life feels heaviest.

“After the devastating news Donovan recently received, we wanted to create a moment he could simply enjoy.” the organisation shared. “Knowing how much he loves Mustangs, we surprised him with a sunset drive in his dream car, with his girlfriend by his side, on the way to a special dinner…”

The evening was made possible thanks to the kindness of several people who stepped in to help make the surprise a reality. Franco’s in Vanderbijlpark hosted the couple for dinner, while photographer Charmaine Wagenaar captured the special moments so Donovan can hold onto the memory forever.

Moments like this are at the heart of what Cupcakes of Hope does.

Founded over a decade ago, the local non-profit supports children and families facing childhood cancer by helping cover medical expenses, providing nutritional support and offering emotional care during incredibly difficult times. Through community-driven initiatives and fundraising campaigns, the organisation has been able to support more than 10,000 young patients and their families across the country.

While much of their work focuses on practical support, the team also believes deeply in the power of small moments that remind families they are not alone.

“Sometimes it’s not about changing the journey, but about filling it with unforgettable moments along the way.” shares Cupcakes.

Sources: Linked above.

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

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

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

The post Cupcakes of Hope Gives Donovan a Sunset Memory He’ll Never Forget appeared first on Good Things Guy.

From the heart of Pretoria to the global stage, Dr Keamogetswe Ramonaheng is rewriting the rules of cancer treatment, and the world is taking notice!

Pretoria, South Africa (05 March 2026) – Dr Keamogetswe Ramonaheng, an esteemed lecturer at the University of Pretoria, has been recognised for her work advancing this rapidly developing area of cancer treatment.

A proud recipient of the prestigious Saul Hertz Award at the 8th Theranostics World Congress (TWC 2026), Ramonaheng was honoured for her contributions to theranostics – an emerging field where diagnostic imaging and radionuclide treatment are combined into a single, highly targeted process to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

Receiving an award named after Dr Saul Hertz, widely regarded as the founder of theranostics, was described by Dr Ramonaheng as both humbling and profoundly meaningful.

The recognition honours research that advances patient-specific dosimetry (the calculation of absorbed radiation doses tailored to individual patients) to improve the safety, effectiveness and personalisation of radionuclide therapies.

“This award honours the origins of the field while recognising those shaping its future,” Dr Ramonaheng said.

The moment was made even more significant when the award was presented by Barbara Hertz, daughter of Saul Hertz, who shared a personal message.

“As an African woman and a nuclear medicine physicist, you are using your blessings to improve the human condition,” Ms Hertz said.

Dr Ramonaheng’s award-winning research builds on foundational principles established in the 1940s, when radioiodine therapy first demonstrated the link between radiation dose and biological response.

Today, her work advances patient-specific dosimetry for emerging theranostic radionuclides, enabling clinicians to:

• Perform image-based quantification of novel radioisotopes.
• Determine organ-specific absorbed radiation dose.
• Tailor radionuclide therapies to individual patients.
• Improve treatment safety and effectiveness.

By integrating next-generation imaging technologies with quantitative dosimetry frameworks, the research directly advances personalised cancer care and supports safer, evidence-based treatment planning.

It also has a strong academic impact, as reflected in the high-quality work of her students, whose projects have achieved recognition through awards in this domain.

Dr Ramonaheng’s research includes organ-specific dosimetry for alpha-emitting radionuclides in the treatment of metastatic cancer.

Ultimately, it contributes to precision oncology by providing evidence-based methodologies that improve therapeutic efficacy, patient outcomes, and quality of life.

Only a small number of centres worldwide have established expertise in alpha-therapy dosimetry, positioning the University of Pretoria and its partners among a select group advancing this specialised field.

The awards also reflect the strength of multidisciplinary collaboration across the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, NuMeRI, and national and international.

“This recognition demonstrates that South African research and clinical practice are globally competitive,” Dr Ramonaheng said.

“It showcases our ability to bridge foundational science with practical clinical applications that benefit local communities.”

Sources: University of Pretoria

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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 Pretoria Scientist Honoured with Global Award for Advances in Cancer Treatment appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A few weeks ago, Jason stood on the ice in Antarctica – a place he’s been dreaming about since he was a little boy…

Western Cape, South Africa (04 March 2026) – Just over a year ago, he was fighting for his life.

In 2024, Jason Keymer was diagnosed with a Germinoma brain tumour. His family says it’s the moment that split their world clean in two, ‘before’ and ‘after’ diagnosis.

Cancer treatment is gruelling. Following the diagnosis, Jason braved months of aggressive radiation treatment and everything that went with it. He battled exhaustion so heavy he could barely get through a day. At night, he couldn’t sleep. A loss of appetite so severe that eating became a daily struggle.

When Jason’s treatment finally ended, the journey had just started. His body was weak, his strength and nutrition shot, and his body felt like it belonged to someone else. For a young teenager – and in fact, any adult – the period after radiation treatment can be one of the most difficult.

LeAnne – Jason’s mom – says that their community in the South Peninsula became their ‘healing mecca’. A place where people showed up in ways they will never forget.

Oxygen therapy was part of how Jason’s body started rebuilding again, and Wings Hyperbaric Centre in Noordhoek became a place of healing they’d regularly visit. An angel called Letitia showed up every week with high-dose IV infusions. When Jason could barely eat, a local nutritional scientist named Heidi found ways to get nourishment back into his body.

And the thing that gave Jason the most peace was spending time with horses at Solara’s Wings in Noordhoek – just being around them, in the quiet, is how he found some stillness and calm in a chapter when he still felt like a stranger in his own body.

The kindness was never-ending. Neighbours dropped off food. Friends kept checking in, even when they didn’t know what to say. Doctors went further than the call of duty to make sure that Jason would bounce back.

“We have been carried by this community,” says LeAnne. “From medical professionals to friends who simply checked in or brought meals — every single act mattered. When you’re in crisis, you realise how extraordinary ordinary people can be.” says LeAnne Keymer.

The biggest surprise came just a few weeks ago.

Long before any of this, visiting Antarctica was one of Jason’s biggest dreams. The owner of White Desert Antarctica, after hearing Jason’s story, made it come true. He generously sponsored the trip for Jason and his mom to visit the ‘bottom of the world.’

And so this teenager, who a year ago was struggling to get through a single day, boarded a flight to one of the most remote places on the planet.

“Antarctica has always represented something wild and extraordinary to Jason,” says LeAnne. “To see him standing there, healthy and strong after everything he’s endured, was overwhelming. It reminded us that even after the harshest seasons, life can still be beautiful.”

Antarctica is often described as one of the harshest environments on Earth, yet life exists there in remarkable ways. When Jason stood on that ice alongside his biggest supporter – his mom – it became symbolic of everything he has overcome in his few years.

Recovery is never linear, and LeAnne is honest about that. There are still hard days, and energy comes and goes. But Jason is recovering, and the dreams he had before the diagnosis have already helped lift him up again.

After his hardest battle, he got to stand at the bottom of the world and realise a dream.

Sources: Supplied.

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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 Jason’s Dream Trip to the ‘Bottom of the World’ After Beating Brain Cancer at 14 appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A very special place, in honour of a very special woman, is opening at the Bloemfontein SPCA in March. It’s going to help hundreds of kitties and bring comfort to many people, too.

Gauteng, South Africa (20 February 2026) – On 6 March, what would have been Marnelle Van Rooyen’s birthday, the Bloemfontein SPCA will officially open the doors to Marnelle’s Catio, a play and social space for cats and kittens waiting for adoption.

March is also World Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, an appropriate time to honour Marnelle’s life and the brave battle she fought with cancer, as well as raise awareness around the importance of cancer screening.

Marnelle was a psychologist, artist and devoted animal-lover who battled stage four bowel cancer for a decade before she passed away on 15 July 2025. Throughout her illness, cats were always her favourite.

“She loved all animals, but cats were her constant companions throughout numerous rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and finally, her death bed,” her friend Angie Vorster shared when launching the project.

Marnelle had long dreamt of starting an NGO to house feral and rescue cats and help them find loving homes. She became too ill for that dream to take shape, but before she passed, Angie made a promise.

“When I had the privilege of greeting her for the last time, I promised to create a space to commemorate her in a way that would be truest to her spirit. Which is a space for cats in need of a home.”

That promise has now come to life with Marnelle’s Catio.

“The goal was to raise R60, 000 to build a large catio at the Bloemfontein SPCA where cats and kittens can spend time in a home-like environment with visitors in order to help socialise them and make their chances at adoption that much better. Also to give people a space where they can come and spend time with cats and kittens whenever they feel the need – especially the elderly and students,” shares Angie.

The project quickly took shape after Marnelle’s passing and blossomed into something she would be so proud of.

The community’s support was absolutely incredible. When they heard about the cause, businesses offered discounted labour. Community members donated furniture, scratching posts, toys and even bunting and dreamcatchers to decorate the space. Friends and strangers gave what they could.

Now, the catio is almost ready for launch on March 6th.

“There won’t be a grand opening – because we want this project to be more than a building, it must serve the community, our animals and create an ongoing source of fund raising and support for the excellent work our SPCA does,” Angie shares.

Marnelle’s Catio will encourage continued adoptions by allowing the public to visit and bond with the animals. It will also create support for the SPCA’s work caring for roughly 150 cats and kittens who pass through their doors each month.

“In the end this project, as with all things related to Marnelle’s life, is about something greater than her. It is about the power of love to keep changing the world even after death. Let’s prove that cancer can be transformed into something healing and good.” shares Angie.

It’s a wonderful way to honour a woman who cared deeply about animals in a way that will also create real support for hundreds of cats and kittens – all of which Marnelle would surely adore.

Pop in at the Bloemfontein SPCA and ask to spend some time with cats and kittens in the catio any day from 6 March 2026. Share and tag if you do!

“It has been astounding to see how much positivity and hope this project has engendered in so many people – and it has been incredible to see the good in people. Faith in humanity restored.” shares Angie.

Sources: Linked above.

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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 Catio Comes to Life in Honour of Late Animal-Lover Marnelle Van Rooyen appeared first on Good Things Guy.

An art auction in March will support one of Cape Town’s most respected fynbos conservationists, who is currently facing a difficult battle with cancer.

Cape Town, South Africa (15 February 2026) – Dr Caitlin von Witt has played a huge role in how the Western Cape understands and restores its natural heritage.

A botanical ecologist, founder of Muizenberg-based NPO FynbosLIFE and long-time advocate for indigenous restoration, Caitlin has spent most of her life fiercely protecting the Cape Floristic Region, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

Her work has helped rehabilitate landscapes threatened by urbanisation, inspired communities to plant indigenous gardens, and even contributed to the declaration of the Moutonshoek Protected Environment after she uncovered an endangered plant species new to science. She considers that discovery her proudest moment, protecting a spectacular natural area from mining.

An endangered species, Diascia caitliniae, has even been named in her honour.

Caitlin’s love for fynbos was handed down from her mom, Jane, a long-time environmental educator and volunteer garden guide at Kirstenbosch, who first nurtured that passion. Through FynbosLIFE, Caitlin now carries that same legacy, promoting rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of Fynbos across the region.

Sadly, at just 45 years old, Caitlin was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and Serrated Polyposis Syndrome.

Since then, she has endured months of chemotherapy and nine surgeries, including major procedures affecting her colon, liver and lungs. She has been strong, but faces ongoing treatment and the difficult reality of a genetic mutation known as BRAFV600E.

A specialised personalised peptide vaccine trial in Germany now offers a real chance for her, but the cost is approximately €85,000 (around R1.7 million) and far beyond what Dr Caitlin can manage alone.

So the community she works alongside has stepped up to help her.

On Tuesday, 24 March 2026, the Nassau Auditorium at Groote Schuur High School in Newlands will host a fynbos and botanical art auction in Caitlin’s honour. The event will be hosted by comedian Nik Rabinowitz, celebrating art and community in a mission to raise the necessary funds needed for Dr Caitlin’s treatment.

More than 50 artists have committed to donating work, including renowned South African and UK artists, with several contributors linked to the Grootbos Florilegium. The calibre and diversity of the pieces promise a truly special catalogue.

Tickets are R50, which includes a glass of wine and a raffle entry. Every cent goes directly toward funding Caitlin’s vaccine.

If you’d like to attend, you can RSVP via this link.

A crowdfunding campaign was launched in October last year and has already raised R667,080, which covers 39% of the R1.7 million goal, including R403,000 in offline donations generously given by Caitlin’s loving parents, Bob and Jane von Witt, as well as close supporters. If you’re unable to attend the auction, the campaign is still open, and every contribution helps.

Sources: FynbosLIFE.

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 Art Auction for Fynbos HERO Battling Cancer appeared first on Good Things Guy.