Turning green into gold, entries to this year’s Eco-Logic Awards have opened.

South Africa (07 April 2026) – Heads up to all eco-innovators, sustainability champions and earth-kind heroes across South Africa – the Eco-Logic Awards 2026 are officially open for entries!

Now in their 15th year, the Eco-Logic Awards are South Africa’s most loved celebration of the people, projects and businesses finding smarter, kinder and better ways to look after our planet. From water-saving technologies to circular fashion and community-driven conservation, these awards exist to find the change-makers and make sure their work gets the spotlight it deserves.

Africa’s social impact economy is currently worth an estimated $96 billion annually and supports around 12 million jobs, with South Africans playing a huge role in driving that forward. Every innovative solution, every community project, every eco-conscious business is part of something far bigger.

Last year, Pure Flow Amanzi took silver for a gravity-fed water filtration system, bringing clean, safe drinking water to rural communities. Up-Cycled Cloth Collective took gold for transforming discarded textiles into fashion that people love. More on that here.

Backed over the years by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and a host of leading corporate partners, the awards recognise Gold, Silver and Bronze winners across 12 categories including Climate Change, Water Conservation, Circular Economy and Waste Innovation, Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle, Eco-Innovation, and Eco-Communities.

Entry is completely free and open to individuals, organisations, businesses and community groups. Submissions close at the end of June 2026, and this year’s celebration takes place on 5 October (World Habitat Day) at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, with the brilliant Themba Robin back as MC.

If you’re doing the work, go show it off. Head here to enter or find out more.

Sources: Eco-Logic Awards.

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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. 

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There was a meter of synthetic string wound around its beak and inside its mouth.

Gansbaai, Western Cape (07 April 2026) – Cape gannets are generally much too fast for human hands to catch. They’re built for speed with sharp eyes and razor beaks. They can outsmart even the quickest flick of a fish. This gannet, on the other hand, didn’t put up a fight when its rescuers drew closer. That’s when the crew of the Dream Catcher knew that something must’ve been awry.

The Marine Dynamics Marine Big 5 Tour vessel had been out with guests on the water near Gansbaai when the crew spotted the bird flying low, trailing what appeared to be a length of synthetic string. It landed on the surface without diving or taking off. It just sat there as they inched closer.

Crew members Zwelandile Matiwane, Admire Kuseka, and Leon Kriel reached for the net kept on board for these moments and scooped the bird from the water. When it didn’t resist and didn’t so much as snap, they understood how close to the end it really was.

“It was as if it was saying: ‘I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to eat for days… maybe months. Help me.’”

Working with gentle hands, the three used a sharp knife to remove a metre of synthetic string wound tightly around the bird’s beak and lodged inside its mouth. It had likely been there for weeks or possibly months. Unable to open its beak properly, the gannet would have been unable to feed.

“Clients on this tour witnessed something I have never seen in my 25 years of marine conservation. I have seen many entangled seabirds, even gannets, but it is nearly impossible to catch and help them. This was truly amazing — but also incredibly sad that this bird was so weak we could literally scoop him up.” said Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics & Founder, Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

The Cape gannet, or ‘malgas’, is endemic to southern Africa and listed as endangered. A healthy population of gannets (like the growing colony on Bird Island) is considered a good indicator of a healthy ocean, so their steady decline over recent decades, driven by overfishing and shrinking prey stocks, is a story the sea itself is telling us.

Already nutritionally stressed, Cape gannets like this one are far less equipped to survive an additional threat like entanglement in ghost fishing gear.

“Yet, like the critically endangered African Penguin, their populations have declined dramatically due to reduced prey availability, driven by overfishing and changing environmental conditions. Forced to survive on less nutritious fishery discards, many are already weakened — making threats like plastic entanglement even more deadly.”

Chivell, who founded the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, and has spent 25 years working these waters, says this rescue was both remarkable and a reminder of the saddening reality his teams encounter regularly.

“It is heartbreaking to witness the suffering caused by entanglement. We see seals with plastic cutting through their skin and flesh – literally suffocating these animals. It is a slow, horrific death.”

The Trust has spent decades fighting back against ocean pollution through stormwater catchment programmes, education, and training crews like this one never to look away from an animal in need. That culture of readiness is what gave this seabird (and many others rescued) a second chance.

The gannet was released, if it’s spotted again showing signs of distress, it will be taken to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary for further care.

Thousands of tour guests pass through Gansbaai every year to see the ocean’s wonders. On this trip, they also got to see what it looks like when the people who love our oceans refuse to turn away from the cost of our plastic habit. A habit that quite literally kills.

“This gannet was given a second chance. But how many others are out there, suffering unseen? It doesn’t matter where you live. Every river leads to the ocean. Every piece of litter has the potential to become a death sentence for marine life.”

Sadly, not every bird will have a Dream Catcher nearby. A fisherman leaving a bit of line behind, a child tossing a wrapper out the window instead of in the bin…nobody thinks their small bit of carelessness is the problem. That’s what we need to work on changing. Stories like this one can spark that awareness – even if only reaching one person. Responsibly discarding your rubbish matters!

Sources: Dryer Island Conservation Trust. 

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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 Unusually Weak Cape Gannet Rescued by Dream Catcher Crew appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The dwellings were occupied in the early 1800s by families fleeing the Lifaqane wars.

Lesotho (07 April 2026) – Ntefane Ntefane lives high in the sandstone cliffs of rural Lesotho.

“I was born in this house in 1983,” he says, seated next to a round, mud-plastered dwelling carved into the hillside. “I have never lived anywhere else.”

While other families have long since moved out and built modern homes, Ntefane remains the last resident of the historic Kome Caves, located in the Berea district, 25km east of Teyateyaneng town.

The caves, now a tourist attraction, are managed by the local Ha Kome villagers in partnership with the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation.

The caves were occupied in the early 1800s by families fleeing the Lifaqane wars and famine. Also known as the Mfecane, Lifaqane was a period of intense warfare, forced migration, and state formation in Southern Africa roughly from 1815 to 1840.

The last resident

Ntefane lives alone in the cave.

“There were five of us in our household,” he says. “But my parents and my three siblings have all passed away. I am the only one left.”

His father, Lebaka Ntefane, and a generation before him lived in the same cave house. Then interior is divided according to clan lineage, he explains, these being the Bataung, Batlokoa and Basia families, who once shared the caves.

Their descendants have moved out, building modern homes in the nearby village of Ha Kome.

“I don’t have money to build up there,” says Ntefane. “But even so, I am comfortable here.”

His life revolves around livestock – herding animals, rotating grazing areas, fetching water, and tending to his fields.

There is no electricity in the caves. At night, he relies on candles for light and cooks on a Primus stove. “I am used to this life.”

A refuge from war

According to local tour guide Motlalepula Kome, around 1824, Teleka Kome fled the Lifaqane wars in Matatiele in South Africa’s Eastern Cape with his brothers, Sootho and Makhokolo.

Initially, they settled in open areas, but constant threats, including attacks and cannibalism, forced them to seek better protection.

“They first stayed in a nearby village above the caves called Ha Mateka,” Kome says.

They then moved to Malimong Ha ‘Matjotjo. “While at Malimong Ha ‘Matjotjo, they were close to caves used by cannibals. They then left and came to settle here at Ha Kome, inside these caves.”

“They built these round houses, which we call Libopi, shaped like ovens,” Kome says. “They hid here.”

Local belief is that Teleka Kome, a traditional healer, used medicinal charms to protect the settlement.

Over time, others joined the settlement, including Moteletsane Khutšoane from Thaba Nchu in the Free State, and later Ntefane’s grandfather who is also his namesake from Mokhotlong. He was fleeing the fight between Basotho founder Morena Moshoeshoe I and Batlokoa led by Manthatisi.

The caves also bear older markings of human presence. Faint rock paintings, believed to have been made by San people, remain on the cave walls.

“They were the first people to live here,” says Kome. “They hunted, and when the animals became scarce, they moved on but left these paintings behind.”

Community survival

The Ha Kome caves is managed by the local community in partnership with the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation. A committee oversees operations, including tour guides and security staff.

“The money we collect helps the community,” says Kome. “It is used for development and to assist families during times of funerals.”

Part of the income is also shared among five descendants of the original cave dwellers, including Ntefane. “Sometimes we receive M200 (M1 = R1), sometimes M500, sometimes M800,” he says.

“It depends on how many tourists come that month. I know I will not go hungry because of it … I can buy soap, paraffin, candles and all the things I need at home,” he says.

The community also uses the tourism income to maintain the steep, rocky road to the caves, a job they do entirely by hand, according to Kome.

Workers earn about M100 a day. “Many visitors turn back when they see how bad it is,” says Kome. “Small cars cannot reach the site.”

Kome says another challenge is the lack of electricity, which discourages overnight stays. “People want to charge their phones, to use their devices,” she says. “When they can’t, they leave.”

Despite these challenges, the caves continue to attract visitors. GroundUp’s visit coincided with a visit by a couple from Australia.

But the future of the site depends on whether interest in the caves can be sustained and whether infrastructure improves.

For now, life at Ha Kome exists in a delicate balance between preservation and change.

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.

Sources: GroundUp 

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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 Life in Lesotho’s Historic Kome Caves appeared first on Good Things Guy.

An opportunity for us all to do a little something that turns hope into action on Friday, in honour of one of the world’s most respected visionaries.

South Africa (02 April 2026) – On Friday the 3rd of April, the world marks the first official Jane Goodall Day, proclaimed by the Jane Goodall Institute to be celebrated annually on what would have been her birthday. It’s a date for reflection, and for action.

Jane Goodall passed away in October 2025, at 91, peacefully in her sleep while still on the road. She died doing what she loved – sharing hope and urging people not to give up. Right until the end, she logged around 300 days of travel a year. She was abosutely extraordinary like that.

Gill Simpson, Executive Director of Wild Rescue – a registered nature reserve and animal sanctuary in the Western Cape – has been thinking about what this day means, and what Dr. Goodall leaves behind for us to hold onto.

Hope.

“In today’s world with its wars, destruction and economic gloom it’s tempting to get lost in despair and feel like our problems in society are just too large and insurmountable,” says Gill. “But Dr. Jane Goodall taught us that we have the ability to make extraordinary changes and reforms, to pull back from the brink of disaster and navigate towards a better future, and it all begins with the small everyday acts and choices made by every individual on the planet.”

That was always her message, and that’s what Jane Goodall Day is about.

People often tell themselves the story that alone, their impact could never be great enough. That just isn’t so. If we all chose to bring a little bit of light into the world, in small ways, it would be a better place. Your ‘little light’ might look like a litter clean-up, a tree planted, a meal that’s plant-based. A kind act extended to someone who needs it. All of it makes a difference.

The Institute is inviting people worldwide to mark the day in whatever way is accessible and meaningful to them, and to share it under #JaneGoodallDay.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference through the cumulative effect of small ethical actions.” once said Goodall.

One of Jane’s most enduring gifts she left to the world is her four pillars of hope. It’s the framework through which she understood people, nature, and the possibility of a better future for all.

The first pillar is the resilience of nature. Land recovers. Soils regenerate. Species return. If given the space and the care, ecosystems can and do come back. That is hopeful.

The second is the power of the human mind. The same intellect that drove industrialisation, pollution and habitat loss is also capable of the ingenuity that reverses it.

“Wisdom involves using our powerful intellect to recognize the consequences of our actions and to think of the well-being of the whole,” Dr. Goodall once said.

The third pillar is the energy of young people. Dr. Goodall’s Roots & Shoots programme, now active across more than 62 countries and 12,000 groups since 1991, is proof of what happens when young people are trusted with real problems and given a platform. South Africa is part of that network. It matters.

And lastly, the indomitable human spirit. History is full of people who kept going when the odds were impossible. That persistence and refusal to stop is something Dr. Goodall practiced until her very last day.

“We cannot give up. We all have the power to uphold her remarkable mission and Dr. Goodall’s four reasons for hope remains one of her greatest legacies.” says Gill.

Dr. Goodall was careful to say that hope isn’t passive. It’s not wishful thinking. The world needs to be reminded of that.

“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement. Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so. Hope does not deny all the difficulty and all the danger that exists, but it is not stopped by them.”

Emily Dickinson once wrote that hope is the thing with feathers, the thing that perches on the soul and never stops singing. Dr. Goodall would have agreed with the sentiment, but she would have added – ‘and then it gets up and does something about it!’

This Friday, wherever you are, there is something small you can do. What will it be?

Sources: Wild Rescue.

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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 The World Celebrates the First Jane Goodall Day on Friday! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

From recycling drives and cleanup campaigns to Spekboom propagation, sustainability is the heartbeat of St Mary’s RC Primary School – an effort that has officially earned them the title of Most Sustainable School in the province!

Retreat, South Africa (02 April 2026) – At St Mary’s RC Primary School, sustainability and fostering a greener environment through education aren’t just goals. They are a top priority embedded in every learner.

It is this very dedication that has earned the school the prestigious title of Most Sustainable School in the Western Cape as part of Nature Connect’s Sustainable Schools Programme in 2025!

The exciting announcement was made at the Sustainable Schools Western Cape Rewards Ceremony, recently held in Cape Town, which marked the final event of the national rewards roadshow.

According to Nature Connect, this award recognises St Mary’s RC Primary School for its long-term commitment to sustainability, strong whole-school participation, and a culture of consistency.

Despite being a low-fee-paying school and facing ongoing challenges in securing support and resources, St Mary’s has remained committed to its sustainability journey.

The perseverance, consistency and determination shown by teachers, learners and the school community alike make this recognition especially well deserved.

Over the years, the school has shown sustained engagement across several focus areas, including Production, Consumption & Waste and Community & Social Responsibility.

One of St Mary’s long-standing strengths has been its active and well-structured Eco-Club, made up of Grade 6 and 7 learners who meet weekly and lead a range of sustainability initiatives.

These include recycling drives, clean-ups, Spekboom propagation, and peer awareness activities that help build learner leadership and shared responsibility across the school.

Supported by partners including PolyCo, the school has also developed a comprehensive recycling system and, last year, received a new recycling centre to help formalise and strengthen its recycling efforts even further.

Long-term engagement

What makes St Mary’s RC Primary School’s achievement especially encouraging is the school’s long-term commitment. The school has been part of the Sustainable Schools Programme since its inception in 2021, and its recognition as the Western Cape’s top school reflects steady progress built over time.

That progress has been shaped by passionate teacher leadership, regular participation, and a clear willingness to keep learning, growing and improving year after year.

Recognising excellence across the province

While St Mary’s RC Primary School received the province’s top recognition, other Western Cape schools were also acknowledged for strong sustainability action in specific focus areas.

These included Pinelands High School for Biodiversity, Parkwood Primary School for Health & Well-being, Silvermine Academy for Energy & Climate Action, St James RC Primary School for Marine & Coast, and Sweet Valley Primary School for Water & Sanitation.

Additional awards recognised progress and learner leadership. Bel Porto School was acknowledged for Best Progress by a New School, Harmony Primary School was named Most Improved, and John Graham Primary School was recognised for its outstanding Eco-Club.

At the heart of the Sustainable Schools Programme is the belief that environmental learning should be practical, relevant and connected to everyday realities – values St Mary’s RC Primary School has reflected strongly through a wide range of learner-led, curriculum-linked and community-connected actions.

Sources: Nature Connect

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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 St Mary’s RC Primary Named Most Sustainable School in the Western Cape! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Bridges Retreat has, through its outdoor educational camp experiences, proven that with the right environment, resilience isn’t just a trait – it’s a skill that can be taught.

Franschhoek, South Africa (02 April 2026) – When given the right tools in a nurturing and developmental environment, our children are empowered to get on the right track – and the data proves it.

This is according to Bridges Retreat, a fully funded outdoor education programme in the Franschhoek Valley that empowers learners who would otherwise lack access to such transformative opportunities. By focusing on cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth, the programme sets a foundation for lifelong development.

The numbers of a recent pre- and post-assessment of under-resourced Western Cape schools back this up, showing measurable shifts in resilience, trust, and collaboration over the course of the three-year programme.

Key Findings at a Glance

Looking at key findings at a glance, the data shows improvements in teamwork and a positive shift in friendship and social connection. Post-assessment, 64% of learners said their approach to a team challenge was to make a plan before starting, and 57% named teamwork as the single value they would carry back to school.

“Monitoring and evaluation in this sector is a journey, and we are committed to taking it seriously. We know that resilience, trust and the capacity to work with others are foundational to whether a child succeeds – not just at school, but in life. What this data shows us is that these qualities can be deliberately built, and that the shifts are visible and measurable. That matters enormously, both for the children we serve and for the broader conversation about what education outcomes we choose to track.” Catherine Janse van Rensburg, Fundraising Manager, Bridges Retreat

Educator feedback gathered alongside the assessment data tells a consistent story.

Learners who struggle most in the classroom – withdrawn, disruptive or disengaged – frequently show markedly different behaviour at camp. Teachers across multiple schools describe children stepping into leadership roles, forming cross-cultural friendships, and developing the confidence to participate and contribute, often for the first time.

The programme grounds its approach in established research. Psychologist Ann Masten’s concept of “ordinary magic” (the idea that resilience emerges naturally in stable, supportive environments) and Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy both inform how Bridges structures the learner experience across its three-year Grade 5 to 7 journey.

The results come at a time when the education sector is increasingly grappling with how to develop and measure the social and emotional foundations that underpin academic success.

Principals from all participating schools confirmed the programme aligns directly with their school improvement priorities, with several noting its impact on discipline, leadership development and the ability of learners to resist negative community influences, including peer pressure and gangsterism.

“The camp has given our learners the ability to be more confident and to overcome their barriers – and to say no when coerced into the wrong situation,” shared the Principal of Petunia Primary School.

Sources: Bridges Retreat

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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 An Outdoor Education Programme Building Resilience in Western Cape Learners appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Have a wonderful long weekend – and if you’re near the water, be smart about it!

South Africa (02 April 2026) – If you’re planning a trip to the beach this Easter weekend, the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) has put out an important advisory.

We’re in for a full moon spring tide, peaking on Thursday 2 April 2026. What does that mean? Basically, when the sun, moon, and Earth all line up during a full moon, their combined gravitational pull on our oceans gets amplified.

That means tides are bigger, stronger, and more dramatic than usual, and the effects will stick around for the entire long weekend and a few days beyond.

So what will you actually notice at the beach?

There may be higher tides with water reaching much further up the shore than you’d expect, and lower low tides, where more of the seabed gets exposed. The gap between the two is at its widest during a spring tide, which also means tidal currents move faster, especially in narrower spots like channels and inlets.

The biggies to watch out for

Rip currents are the main one. They’re always present at beaches, but during a spring tide, particularly on outgoing tides in the late afternoon and early evening, they become significantly stronger. Rip currents are fast-moving channels of water that pull away from shore, and they catch even confident swimmers off guard.

For those who love a coastal hike, some trails near the shoreline may actually become inaccessible or unsafe during high tide in the afternoons over the weekend, so it’s worth planning your route and timing ahead of time.

And if fishing off rocks is your thing, this is a really important one. Waves can reach much further than usual, well beyond what you’d normally consider a safe zone.

With a bit of awareness, you can have an incredible weekend by the ocean. Here’s what the NSRI recommends:

• When swimming, stick to beaches with lifeguards on duty and always swim between the flags – that’s genuinely the single best thing you can do.
• Check the daily weather forecast from the South African Weather Service and look up the tide timetables before you go.
• If you’re hiking, plan around the high tide times and avoid trails that could get cut off.
• Anglers should keep a safe distance from the water’s edge, and if you’re fishing from rocks or cliffs, wear a life jacket and bring something that floats – even a 5L water bottle with a rope attached can be a lifesaver if someone goes in.
• If on the water in a boat or paddling? Life jackets on, always.
• Keep your phone fully charged and in a waterproof pouch.
• The NSRI’s free SafeTRX app is worth downloading – it lets you log your trip and call for help quickly if you need it.

A couple of other things worth mentioning – alcohol and water activities are a genuinely dangerous combination, so keep those separate. Make sure kids are always with a responsible adult near any water, not just the sea, but rivers, lakes, and dams too.

Spring tides are a natural, beautiful phenomenon, and the coast is absolutely worth visiting this Easter. The NSRI just wants to make sure everyone comes home. Stay aware, check conditions, time your activities around the tide changes, and follow local safety alerts. Find out more here.

Sources: NSRI.

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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 There’s a Full Moon Spring Tide This Easter – Here’s What That Means for Your Long Weekend! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

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.

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

The programme equips young professionals with the hands-on experience they need to lead a better, greener South Africa!

Newlands, South Africa (01 April 2026) – The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in South Africa has been running its Environmental Leaders Graduate Internship Programme for 15 years now. It’s become a bridge for Honours and Master’s graduates as they move into the working world.

The twelve-month-long paid internship programme, which runs every two years, gives recent graduates the experience and professional networking they need to actually build long-term careers in the environmental sector.

The programme responds to real skill shortages in South Africa. While we usually think of conservation in a traditional sense, the programme also places interns in high-demand, emerging fields like green engineering, sustainable architecture, and economics.

By focusing on these gaps, WWF helps build SA’s next generation of green fighters who bring their skills into wide-ranging fields, ensuring we have the right people, in all the right places, protecting the environment.

Over the years, interns have been hosted at leading organisations like SANParks, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

The latest cohort includes graduates from universities all across the country currently completing their internships this month. The celebration was marked with a valedictory in the Newlands.

As the class of 2026 gear up for the next phase of their professional lives, they leave the programme equipped to protect and lead a better environmental future for South Africa! 

Sources: WWF 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 Green Careers Ahead as WWF’s Environmental Interns Ready to Soar appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Every tail deserves a wag, and every pawsome friend deserves a home. This World Stray Animal Day, FOUR PAWS is calling on communities and officials to show up for South Africa’s stray animals.

Cape Town, South Africa (01 April 2026) – In the lead‑up to World Stray Animal Day on 4 April, FOUR PAWS is sounding the alarm on South Africa’s growing stray animal crisis – an issue impacting animal welfare, public health and community safety.

Far Too Many Animals are Without a Home

Stats gathered by the global animal welfare organisation reveal a concerning reality. Just over 4 million dogs and cats in South Africa are homeless, making up roughly 22% of the country’s estimated 18.6 million companion animals (dogs: 13.4 million, cats: 5.2 million). Of this homeless population, approximately 3.4 million are surviving as strays, while 650,000 are in shelters.

This data highlights the scale of the challenge that communities face daily.

For instance, in Langa, Cape Town, a recent census revealed that nearly 90% of dogs and cats are unsterilised- the primary driver of this relentless population growth and the risks that come with it.

“Stray animal management is a One Health issue,” says Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa.

“When dogs and cats roam without care, it’s not only the animals that suffer, but communities also face increased risks of bites, disease transmission and unsafe environments. Humane, evidence-based solutions are urgently needed.”

Rabies Remains a Serious Public Health Threat

Surveillance data show human cases are confirmed annually, particularly linked to dog bites; timely PEP (post‑exposure prophylaxis) and mass dog vaccination are proven lifesaving interventions.

A retrospective, NICD-led review in Limpopo (2011–2023) recorded 98,743 animal bite cases and 32 human deaths due to rabies, with a 100% fatality rate among confirmed cases, many of whom did not complete PEP courses, highlighting the need for better awareness and access to care.

“We call on the government to embed these principles into national and municipal legislation,” Miles adds.

“South Africa has an opportunity to lead by example, ensuring that animal welfare and human health go hand in hand.”

Reproduction and Abandonment are Major Drivers of Stray Populations

FOUR PAWS advocates for responsible pet ownership, sterilisation, identification/ microchipping and vaccination. These proactive interventions are widely recognised as more effective and humane than euthanasia.

Municipal frameworks such as the City of Cape Town’s Animal Keeping By‑law (2021) include mandatory sterilisation and permitting provisions to curb overpopulation and improve community safety.

FOUR PAWS encourages authorities to scale humane, science-based interventions by enacting legislation.

Call to Action

The government is called to embed humane companion animal population management through national and municipal laws to promote responsible ownership, sterilisation, identification and vaccination.

Communities and pet owners are urged to vaccinate, sterilise, microchip and keep pets safely at home; report bite incidents promptly and seek PEP.

Civil society and experts can collaborate on data-driven interventions and public awareness to protect people, pets, and public spaces.

Join the movement

Explore FOUR PAWS’ resources and advocacy at www.four-paws.org.za and help champion humane, effective solutions for stray animals rooted in One Health and community well‑being.

Sources: FOUR PAWS

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 Why South Africa’s Stray Animal Crisis Needs Humane Solutions appeared first on Good Things Guy.