From viral moments that made us laugh to quiet acts of compassion that restored faith, 2025 delivered more good news than we could ever fit into one year. Good Things Guy Wrapped captures the highlights that mattered most.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 December 2025) – South Africans have a remarkable ability to rise, to care, to innovate and to lead… often quietly, often without applause but always with heart. From everyday kindness to world-class achievements, 2025 reminded us that we really are champions at what we do. And that is something worth celebrating, loudly and proudly.
So, just like Spotify does a “Wrapped” every year, we decided to do the same.
Welcome to Good Things Guy Wrapped 2025.
This idea first came to life back in 2022 as a way to pause, reflect and properly look back on the year that was. Each year since, it has grown… just like our community.
Our Wrapped isn’t about vanity metrics. It’s about meaning. What stories were read the most? Which conversations sparked comments, debate and emotion? What gave us goosebumps? And which reader reminded us why this platform exists at all?
We’ve broken it all down into 10 categories, capturing the moments, people and stories that shaped 2025 on Good Things Guy.
Story of the Year
Choosing just one story was no easy task. Throughout 2025, Good Things Guy shared thousands of powerful stories, many of them reaching millions of readers. From a petrol attendant who quietly changed a family’s life and touched a nation, to a South African teen becoming one of the most sought-after young footballers in the world, the year was filled with moments that mattered.
But one story rose above the rest… not just in readership but in how deeply it resonated.
The most read and loved story of 2025 was about Roxanne Koorts, Christine Marthinus, Samantha Hendricks and Johanna Keever. Four women who helped deliver a baby on a moving train.
It began like any other weekday commute. Gospel songs hummed through the carriage. Coffee cups were clutched in tired hands. The morning moved quietly along… until just before 7am, when a young woman went into labour.
On a train.
What followed was extraordinary. Without panic or hesitation, four strangers stepped forward, becoming unexpected midwives in one of the most beautiful, human moments imaginable. It was compassion in action. Community without question.
South African of the Year
This is always our most prestigious category. And we believe every South African who made it through 2025 deserves recognition. Getting through the year alone is an achievement. But one person didn’t just shine, they dominated headlines and carried South Africa with them wherever they went.
After a unanimous vote, 2025 belonged to Tyla.
Not only because of her global success, but because of how she carried South Africa along for the ride… proudly, joyfully and without apology. Every win felt shared. Every milestone felt national.
From chart-topping hits to sold-out performances, international awards and cultural moments that rippled far beyond music, Tyla didn’t just open doors; she kicked them down. Just this week, she made history again, breaking the record for the most solo song entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 by any African female artist, a record that had been held by Miriam Makeba for more than 56 years.
That’s not just a career highlight. That’s legacy-shifting.
SPAR Hero of the Year
Every Friday, our newsletter lands in inboxes across the country, wrapping up the good things that happened that week. And every week, we honour a SPAR Hero of the Week . Everyday South Africans doing extraordinary things.
In 2025, those heroes included 12-year-old Vinoshan Naidoo, who brought neighbours together by cooking rotis and sharing stories with isolated pensioners, Matthew Du Toit, who ran 100 km from Macassar to Green Point and back to support families of children with cancer and Kimita Pather, who reimagined estate agency to ensure families never had to choose between homes and pets.
There were so many. And each story mattered. Deeply.
But one hero stood out, perhaps because he never wanted recognition at all.
Daniël du Plessis simply shared his lunch with a homeless man on a rainy day. That was it. No cameras. No agenda. Just kindness. When the moment went viral, Daniël almost didn’t want the attention. For him, this was normal. And that’s exactly why it mattered so much.
Moment of the Year
South Africans are exceptionally good at giving us “all the feels”. And in 2025, those moments arrived in unexpected ways (and bucket loads). Students surprising a lecturer with heartfelt gratitude. A Lebanese bakery receiving overwhelming support after a small spelling error turned into a symbol of inclusion. An elephant seal casually strolling through a Cape Town suburb before being gently guided home.
But one moment stood above the rest.
At what was meant to be a formal occasion, Grade 7 learner Abenathi Ntshotsho looked up at President Cyril Ramaphosa, smiled brightly and said, “Hello, Cupcake!” The country collectively laughed, smiled and shared the clip… because sometimes joy is simple, unscripted and exactly what we need.
Innovator of the Year
Innovation thrived in 2025. From education initiatives focused on disability inclusion to global recognition for platforms supporting neurodivergent families, South Africans continued to push boundaries.
But one story captivated the nation.
With just R700 and a second-hand computer, Marvel Shibambu and Malunghelo Mathonsi started building something special. Today, their learning app, Novar, has been downloaded thousands of times, attracted major partners and is reshaping access to education.
It’s an incredible story, one that inspired us all this year!
Sportsperson of the Year
From the Bokke to Dricus du Plessis, from endurance legends to cricketing heroes, our athletes raised the flag high again and again.
But one name stood out for us and our readers… Rayno Nel.
He’s the 2025 World’s Strongest Man and the reigning Strongman Champions League World Champion, the first African to ever claim the WSM title and now a back-to-back SCL world champ. Through all of this, he’s been rewriting record books with the Shield Carry and the Hercules Hold, casually deadlifting 490kg, and pulling a 16-tonne truck like it’s something you’d do before brunch.
He still holds the titles of South Africa’s and Africa’s Strongest Man… and what makes it all even more unbelievable is the timeline. A few years ago, he was a rugby player. Today, he’s a global powerhouse who wears resilience like part of his kit. His journey reads like a collision of grit, growth, and a nation cheering so loudly he can probably hear us from the podium.
His achievements weren’t just historic; they were deeply inspiring. Grit, discipline, and quiet determination defined his year… and that’s exactly why he’s earned our Sportsperson of the Year title.
Student of the Year
Young South Africans gave us immense hope in 2025. From students turning everyday problems into tech-powered solutions, to matric learners reminding us that resilience matters more than resources, the future looked bright.
But one student went above and beyond.
When first-year Stellenbosch University student Veer Gosai discovered a fraudulent SASSA grant opened in his name, he could have walked away frustrated. Instead, he took on the system, exposed a flaw and turned a cyber scandal into a national good news story.
That’s courage. And leadership.
Charity of the Year
Charities are the backbone of South Africa. While big names do incredible work, it’s often smaller organisations quietly changing lives that inspire us most.
This year, one name kept coming up… The Cows.
Through compassion, consistency and care, especially in their work with children facing cancer, they reminded us what community-driven charity truly looks like.
This year, South Africa lost a great man. Grant Bain wasn’t just a co-founder of The Cows; he was the heartbeat of a national movement that turned personal tragedy into powerful purpose. For nearly two decades, he dedicated his life to raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer support, supporting the efforts of the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. And in doing so, he changed lives.
So this year, our Charity of the Year is The Cows. And our hero is Grant Bain.
Animal Story of the Year
South Africans love animals… and our animal stories are among our most-read every year.
From rhino conservation to miraculous reunions with long-lost pets, 2025 delivered countless heart-warming moments.
But Betsie the pug pulled at our heartstrings and made us believe in good again!
Betsie the Pug is a heartwarming rescue story about a senior pug found abandoned in a cardboard box, whose plight sparked a massive community effort for her care, vet treatment, and long-distance travel to her new furever home with Pug Rescue SA in Benoni, becoming a symbol of hope and compassion in late 2025.
Good Things Guy Top Fan of the Year
This one is personal. Good Things Guy exists because of its readers. Every share, comment and message matters. Choosing just one supporter was incredibly difficult but one person stood out all year.
Deidre Stoop.
Thank you for showing up. For sharing. For believing in good news. For being part of this community in the most meaningful way.
And that’s Good Things Guy Wrapped for 2025.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping us prove, every single day, that good things are happening… and they are worth telling.
We’ll keep finding them. And we’ll keep sharing them.
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