Accomplishments List 2025

South Africans have earned more than XXX wins, awards, and international accomplishments this year, and we couldn’t be prouder!

South Africa (XX December 2025) –

In 2019, we started listing every accomplishment earned by South African winners, and readers loved it, so we decided to turn it into an annual tradition. Over the years, we have loved seeing just how much South Africans get up to. This year is no different; in fact, at the time of publishing, we have hit just over XXX accomplishments!

Many South Africans have done incredible things, and the team at Good Things Guy spent the year capturing those stories by highlighting all the awards, accolades, accomplishments and winners. Every accomplishment is worthy of celebration.

We rise by lifting others, and so many South Africans keep helping us and each other rise. This is yet another year of unbelievable pride in our country.

As always, it is tricky to list every single accomplishment, but we like a challenge, so we decided to sift through all the stories featured on Good Things Guy this year and put them into one giant list. And with your help – in case we missed a few – we might be able to create a complete list!

So if you see something missing or believe that someone belongs on this list, please email us at stories@goodthingsguy.com.

We have separated them into a few different accomplishment categories, like sports, lifestyle, education, musicals, and others. So let’s get started.

These are all the winners who flew the South African flag high in 2025 (and made us all feel proudly South African in the process). PS, we will keep adding to this accomplishments list until the 31st of December 2025.

Business

DKMS Africa Get Major Nod At The Marketing Achievement Awards. Read more here.
South Africa’s Waterfall City Wins World’s Best Masterplan. Read the story here.
South African Company Create World’s Best Hotel Restaurant Interior! Read the story here.
14 South African Entrepreneurs Win Prestigious Forty Under 40 Africa Awards! Read more here.
Celebrating South Africa’s Brightest on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 List. Read more here.
Cape Flats Water Plant Wins Top International Architecture Honours. Read more here.
South Africans Rank #1 As World’s Most Entrepreneurial Nation. Read the story here.

Education

Local Education Initiative Wins UN-Affiliated Award! Read the story here.
Two Remarkable Women Honoured by UJ for Changing Lives and Inspiring Generations. Read more here.
James Bloom Wins Literacy Foundation Award For Building Libraries and Bringing Books To SA Kids! Read the story here.
South African Platform For Neurodivergent Children Wins Global Award. Read more here.
South African Teacher Honoured With Global STEM Innovation Award! Read more here.
Linden Library Assistant Honoured on World Stage for Greener Library Concept. Read more here.
South African-Born Professor Makes History as UK’s First Female Astronomer Royal. Read more here.
SA’s Himla Soodyall Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more here.

Environment

South Africa’s Garden Wins ‘Grand Gold’ at Flower Show! Read the story here.
The New York Times’ Must-See Gardens List Includes a South African Gem! Read the story here.
South Africa Strikes Gold Again at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show! Read more here.
SA Scientist Honoured Among “50 People Changing the World” by The Explorers Club. Read more here.
SA Scientist Named National Geographic Explorer for Groundbreaking Fossil Research. Read the story here.
South African NPO Nominated for a 2025 Earthshot Prize. Read more here.

Entertainment

Short Film ‘The Last Ranger’ Scoops Oscar Nomination! Read the story here.
South African Charity’s Short Film Wins Award for International Impact in London! Read the story here.
Local Film, Global Impact: Venda Movie Claims International Award! Read the story here.
South African Designers Gave the Met Gala Extra Flair. Read the story here.
Tyla is Hosting the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards! Read more here.
Zoalize’s Protea-Inspired Dress Wins World Designer Award at Miss World! Read more here.
Leleti Khumalo and Anant Singh Lead SA to Historic Win at “Television Oscars”. Read the story here.
From Cape Town to Cannes: South African Documentary Takes Top Honour at Cannes Indie Short Festival. Read more here.
‘Caleb: Beyond the Bite’ Wins Gold at International Tourism Film Festival Africa! Read more here.
Stellenbosch University Choir Dominates in Denmark with 3 Golds. Read the story here.
SA Producer Robert Ford’s “Super/Man” Doccie Redefines Heroism, Earning Emmy Nominations! Read his story here.
Cape Town Performer Smashes Global Competition, Earns New York Scholarship! Read the story here.

Lifestyle

South African Photographer Wins Global Acclaim with Breathtaking Penguin Shot. Read more here.
South African-born Chef Wins Michelin’s Young Chef Award. Read her story here.
SA’s Culinary Elite Sizzle at 2025 Luxe Restaurant Awards. Read more here.
In Celebrating World Whisky Day, An SA Brand Named World’s Best Blended Whisky. Read the story here.
South African Olive Oil Awarded Amongst World’s Best. Read more here.
SA’s Sizzling Success: Two Local Steak Spots Named Among World’s Best! Read the story here.
Tretchikoff and Dumas: A Double Victory for South African Art on the World Stage. Read the story here.
Blaauwklippen Raises the Bar as Best Heritage Wine Estate in the World. Read the story here.
Best Book in The World! SA’s Favourite Cookbook Queen Brings Home Another Global Title. Read the story here.
Three Cape Town Restaurants Named Among the World’s Best in 2025! Read the story here.
Local Winemaker Johan Jordaan Named Global Chenin Blanc Master Winemaker. Read the story here.
Cheers to Big Wins! SA Wine Earns 2 Trophies at 2025 International Wine Challenge. Read the story here.
Glasses Keep Clinking, Another Win in SA’s Wine World, This Time a Local Best! Read the story here.
South Africa Dominates 2025 African Beer Cup with Record Wins. Read the story here.
SA’s Leah van Deventer Earns Place on BarWorld 100 List. Read her story here.
Siba Mtongana Cooks Up Global Acclaim, Named Top 20 Trailblazer at Canadian Global Awards! Read the story here.
Alexander Fahrenheim Puts SA Mixology on the Global Map. Read the story here.

Medical

SA Professor Wins Global Award for Revolutionising Hearing Care. Read more here.
SA’s First Robotic Kidney Donor Surgery Successfully Performed in Cape Town. Read more here.

Music

Wouter Kellerman Adds Another Grammy to His Tally! Read the story here.
Local Music Education Platform Wins International Accolade! Read the story here.
Tyla Surpasses One Billion Streams for ‘Water’; Becomes First African Solo Artist to Do So! Read the story here.
Tyla Takes Another Triumph: Hello World Artist of the Year! Read more here.
South African Band Wins Wacken; Prepares for Global Takeover. Read more here.
Lusanda Makes History with South Africa’s 1st Spotify Single! Read her story here.
Mzansi Youth Choir Golden Buzzer Moment Named One of the Greatest in AGT History. Read more here.
Cape Town Breaks World Record with the Biggest Marimba Ensemble Ever! Read more here.

People

“Order of the British Empire” Awarded to 2 South Africans! Read the story here.
Kirsten Neuschäfer Honoured with The Duchess of Kent Trophy. Read her story here.
Tshego Gaelae Becomes The 1st South African to Win Mrs World 9 In Years! Read the story here.
Former Miss SA Shudu Musida Named UNFPA Global Champion for Women and Girls! Read the story here.
14-Year-Old Caleb Becomes International Master of Chess! Read the story here.
Limpopo’s Own Pearl Mathebula Crowned Miss Teen Model International 2025! Read the story here.
South African Wins Global Photography Prize with Heartbreaking Tribute. Read his story here.
Bianca Edwards is The New “Royal International Miss”. Read her story here.
SA’s Doron Claxton Rolls into Backgammon History. Read the story here.
SA’s Heilie Uys Enters the World Transplant Games Hall of Fame. Read the story here.

Sports

Global Kiteboarding Awards Hits Cape Town Today For The 1st Time Ever! Read the story here.
SA Junior Aces Serve Gold in Namibia! Read the story here.
Lifesaving Star Kendra du Toit Breaks Records and Inspires at 21. Read the story here.
Dricus Du Plessis Defends His Throne – Still the UFC Champion! Read the story here.
SA Team “Amagombinyoni” Return with Top Honours from International Blind Football Tournament. Read more here.
Yusrah Du Toit Dominates Western Cape Aquatics Championships with 3 Gold Medals! Read more here.
South African Rider Ruche Moodley Makes History, Joining Moto3 Championship. Read more here.
Mzansi Celebrates Prudence Sekgodiso! Wins SA’s 1st Women’s World Indoor Gold in China. Read the story here.
Capetonian Sailor to Lead Crew Around the World for Clipper Race! Read the story here.
Rising Star Kyle Armdorf Secures Victory for South Africa at President’s Cup Regatta! Read his story here.
South African Robotics Team Leaves Global Mark at World Championships! Read the story here.
South African Gymnast Duo Scoop Silver at African Champs. Read more here.
Kira Bester Claims 3 Wins Across 3 Oceans in 7 Days. Read the story here.
South Africa’s 4x400m Dream Team Bring Home Gold. Read the story here.
Ryan Sandes Completes Toughest Race Yet, Earning Second Place, Too! Read his story here.
4x400m, 1 Bronze Medal And A Whole Lot of South African Heart. Read the story here.
Watch: Simbine Leads South Africa to World Relay Glory. Read the story here.
Caleb Swart Dominates at African MMA Champs, Bringing Home Gold for SA! Read the story here.
“We did that!” Reyaan Traut Clinches Gold at the African Track Champs. Read the story here.
Rayno Nel Crowned World’s Strongest Man… Africa’s First Ever Champion. Read more here.
Local Talent Leads the Charge at South African Safari Rally. Read the story here.
Mthi Mthimkulu Shares Insights into Record-Breaking SA Relay Triumph in China! Read more here.
Jordy Smith Does It Again With His Second Win of the Season. Read more here.
Zakithi Nene Storms To Victory In Under 44 Seconds, Sets New World-Leading Time! Read more here.
Nikki Caromba Conquers World’s Toughest Mudder for 2nd Year Straight! Read the story here.
Naveen Daries Grabs Silver at Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Uzbekistan! Read the story here.
Catherine Stefanutti: SA’s 1st Female Triple Crown Swimmer Conquers Icy Waters and Makes History! Read the story here.
Zain Potts Shines as World Karate Silver Medalist! Read his story here.
Springbok Women Crowned African Champs with Commanding Victory. Read the story here.
Proteas Make History! South Africa Crowned World Test Champions. Read the story here.
SA’s Thomas van Tonder Won The Inaugural Red Bull Rancher Strong. Read the story here.
Kgothatso Montjane Claims 4th Grand Slam, Donald Ramphadi Takes 2nd at Roland Garros. Read more here.
South African Brothers Crowned Champions in World’s Top Hockey League. Read the story here.
Rodney Moses Didn’t Just Earn Gold for SA, He Earned 2 Golds! Read his story here.
Lauren Terras and Roelof Kotze Earn Places at World Deaf Rugby. Read the story here.
South Africa Dances into the Global Top 4 at World Cup Finals. Read more here.
Luke Thompsson’s Historic Ballito Pro Win Ignites National Pride! Read more here.
South African Netball Team Crowned World Champions in Historic Win. Read the story here.
South Africa Shines at U17 Pentathlon World Championships. Read the story here.
Coetzé Claims Gold as Team SA Shines at World Champs. Read the story here.
SA Bags 19 Medals at the FISU World University Games. Read more here.
Jessica Harcus Strikes Gold at Lifesaving Championship. Read her story here.
SA Dominates Again at African U18 and U20 Champs. Read more here.
Alexia Easom Glides to Double Gold. Read her story here.
South African Fly Fishing Teams Reel in Bronze. Read the story here.
Junior Springboks Crowned World Champions After 13-Year Wait. Read the story here.
South Africa Strikes Gold in World Karate Debut! Read more here.
Craig Bouwer Makes History with Gold at Commonwealth Debut. Read his story here.
South African Water Polo Youngsters Strike Gold in Spain. Read more here.
South African Dancers Earned 57 Medals in Spain This Past Week… And Counting! Read more here.
SA’s MMA Brings Five Medals from IMMAF World Championships. Read the story here.
SA Claim Bronze in Mixed U20 Clash at Atlantic Youth Touch Cup. Read more here.
South Africa Secures Four Medals in Singapore. Read more here.
Matthew Hörter Comes in Hot with Podium Finish at Tour of Assen. Read more here.
Hamish Lovemore Bags Two Medals for SA at World Games! Read the story here.
South Africa’s Young Tennis Stars Shine in Mozambique. Read the story here.
Saood Variawa Claims First Rally-Raid Win at Vaal 400. Read more here.
Jeandré Makes Splash at World Transplant Games with Gold Win. Read the story here.
Kris Mihaylov Strikes Gold as SA Juniors Shine in Otopeni. Read the story here.
SA’s Sibusiso Kubheka Breaks Barriers with 100km World Record Run. Read more here.
Minke Leads SA to World Record Glory at Virtus Championships. Read more here.
Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Mark Proud Moment for SA. Read the story here.
Hamish Lovemore Keeps South African Paddling on the Podium. Read more here.

Travel

Cape Town Back on Top as the World’s Best City Per Time Out List! Read the story here.
Cape Town Ranks as One of the Best Cities For Digital Nomads. Read the story here.
Mother City Deemed Best Long-Haul City Break in the World! Read more here.
Two South African Coffee Shops Named Among World’s Best! Read more here.
South Africa Just Made a Global Top 3 List… And We’re Here for It! Read more here.
Cape Town Named One of the Most LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the World 2025. Read the story here.
South African Beach Lodge Wins at 2025 World Travel Awards. Read the story here.
South Africa’s Travel Gems Recognised on Global Stage. Read the story here.
Boulders Beach Makes the World’s Top 50 Beaches, Penguins Included (of course). Read more here.
Mother City Named Best City in the World for 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards. Read more here.
Cape Town Sails into the World’s Top 15 Most Beautiful Cruise Ports. Read the story here.

Other

‘Yoh’ and Several Other SA Words Join the Oxford Dictionary! Read more here.
SA’s Accent Voted The 2nd Sexiest In The World (Again). Read more here.
SA’s Most Agile Pooches Set To Shine in Sweden for World Championships. Read the story here.

Sources: Various – Linked Above

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