Kindness matters. Good people matter. And this week, South Africans gave us plenty of reasons to believe in both.
South Africa (03 October 2026) – There is a lot happening in South Africa. A lot to process, a lot to talk about and, on certain days, a lot that can feel incredibly heavy. But every single week, while the big headlines compete for our attention, thousands of good things are happening too.
People are helping strangers. Communities are rallying. Animals are finding homes. South Africans are stepping up, showing up and choosing kindness. And that is exactly why this wrap-up exists. Welcome to the Saturday Good News South Africa Wrap Up… a little corner of your weekend dedicated to reminding you that there is still so much good happening around us.
Be a Little More KY-ND
What if we were all just a little more careful with each other? A little more thoughtful with our words, a little quicker to check in and a little more willing to sit beside someone who might need us? On this week’s “Good Things with Brent Lindeque” poddie, I sat down with Jen Rowe, whose life changed forever on the 9th of August 2022 when her son, Ky, died by suicide.
Good Things Guy first shared Jen’s story in January, introducing South Africa to KY-ND, an initiative created from unimaginable heartbreak but driven by love and purpose.
“Since Ky died, I have had a deep sense of wanting to honour his life and legacy by trying to reach out and help others who may be feeling alone and unworthy as he did in his life.”
It started with a bench at Ky’s school. Jen would sit there during break, available to any learner who needed someone to talk to. The idea was beautifully simple… if you see someone sitting alone, go and sit next to them. Since then, KY-ND has grown into T-shirts, more benches, conversations between strangers and more than R55,000 raised for Operation Smile South Africa. But the message at its heart remains incredibly simple. Words matter. Kindness matters. People need to know that they matter too.
“There is darkness and pain, but there is light and love too… In the morning, the sun rises, the loss hits, but the birds sing, the friendships hold us and we take steps in KY-NDness.”
We may never know what someone else is carrying when we pass them on the street or scroll past their name on our phones. But we can check in. We can make the call, choose our words with care and we can all be a little more KY-ND.
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Our Good Things Guy newsletter has been part of what we do for 11 years now. We’ve never missed one. We publish around 110 good news stories every week, and every single Friday, we choose 15 of those stories to add to our newsletter. 100,000 people subscribe to our “newsie”, with that number growing every week! To give you a glimpse into that newsletter (and the week that was), we share this article.
Think of this “Saturday Wrap Up” as a sneak peek into all the good things that happened in the past week. So, if you need a little goodness this weekend, here are a few stories worth catching up on.
A Night Patrol That Ended With a New Life
Sergeant Jo-Ann Benn started her shift expecting the usual demands of police work. Instead, shortly after 2am, she found herself helping bring a baby girl into the world.
The Knysna police officer was approached by a desperate grandmother whose daughter was in advanced labour and unable to reach an ambulance. Benn went with her, stepped in and safely delivered the little girl, whom she named Nolitha. Mom and baby were later transferred into the care of emergency medical personnel and have since been discharged from hospital.
It was policing of a completely different kind… and you can read that full article here.
Border Collie Rescue Needs South Africa Right Now
For almost 30 years, Border Collie Rescue SA has given unwanted, abandoned and surrendered dogs another chance. Thousands of collies have passed through its care and gone on to loving homes.
Now the organisation needs rescuing.
The boarding kennel that has housed its dogs for more than two decades has been sold, and Border Collie Rescue needs to move around 40 dogs by 19 December. There is a possible temporary property in Midrand, but it needs fencing, kennels, shade, storage, repairs and funding before it can become home.
The good news is that South Africans have already started rallying. And you can help too! Just click here.
Ndlovu Youth Choir Just Sang Bohemian Rhapsody With Queen!
Last year, the Ndlovu Youth Choir reimagined one of the biggest songs in rock history, translating Bohemian Rhapsody into isiZulu and giving the Queen classic a distinctly African heartbeat. This week, that journey went somewhere none of us could have predicted.
The choir performed their version at the Roundhouse in London alongside Queen drummer Roger Taylor… and then Brian May joined them for a surprise performance.
“What an incredible and special night in London!” the choir shared afterwards.
And the relationship isn’t ending there. Ndlovu Youth Choir has confirmed that it will also collaborate with Roger Taylor on his new album.
SPAR Hero of the Week: Caitlin Simply Wanted to Help
In 2022, Caitlin was studying towards her Master’s in Historical Studies at the University of Cape Town when a friend told her about stem cell donation. So she registered.
“When I googled, DKMS came up, and I could not think of a good enough reason not to register. I registered online, did my cheek swab test and went back to my studies.”
She never expected anything to come of it. Then the call came. Caitlin had been identified as a potential match for someone desperately needing a stem cell transplant.
“I never expected that I would ever match with someone.”
There were nerves and questions but Caitlin ultimately realised that a few uncomfortable hours could potentially save another human being’s life. You can read her full story here.
For Our Little Good Things Guys: The Doctor Who Let People Pay What They Could
Our kids’ storybook feature this week takes us to Bloemfontein and introduces young readers to Dr Paulo, a doctor who decided healthcare should work a little differently.
There was no set consultation fee at his practice. Patients simply paid what they could afford. If they could pay the full amount, wonderful. If they could only afford a few rand, that was okay. And if they had nothing, Dr Paulo still helped them. His story is about trust, dignity and putting people first, and it is a beautiful one to share with the little humans in your life.
And Finally… Meet Anele and Baba
We’re ending with our OnePlan Pawsitive Story because it’s guaranteed to make your Saturday better.
When Anele spotted a sick kitten stranded on the streets of Kwazakhele in Gqeberha, he picked her up and rushed her to Newton Park Animal Hospital. The kitten needed treatment and spent two nights in hospital. Anele visited her every day. Once she was well enough, he took her home and named her Baba.
A week later, when flooded roads meant he couldn’t get her to a follow-up appointment, Anele phoned the hospital in a panic. He was standing at their door first thing the following morning. By then, Baba had doubled in weight, taken over his home and apparently developed a fondness for sleeping on his head.
“These actions may not mean much to the outside world, but to us it remains a privilege to witness the bond between them,” the Newton Park Animal Hospital team shared.
We know you love a good animal story… you can read the full article here!
Kindness is such a simple thing but I think we sometimes underestimate just how powerful it can be. A kind word can change the direction of someone’s day. A phone call can remind someone they are loved. Checking in can make someone feel seen. Sitting beside someone can make them feel less alone. And choosing our words with a little more care can change far more than we will ever know.
So this weekend, be the person who checks in. You may never know how much someone needed it.
Just be KY-ND.
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