What do a security officer, a superstar singer, a teenage lifeguard and a man in blue undies have in common? They’re all part of another incredible week of South African good news! Grab a coffee, get comfortable and enjoy a little sunshine for your soul.
South Africa (17 October 2026) – I’ve spent the last 11 years telling South Africa’s good news stories, and if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that this country is filled with people who really care about each other. We see it every day at Good Things Guy. But I’ve also noticed that there are so many South Africans who want to help and just… don’t know where to start. And I get it. Our country’s problems can feel too big and incredibly overwhelming. It’s easy to wonder what difference one person can actually make.
Well, this week, we decided to do something about that! Good Things Guy and The Helpers have officially launched 1 Million Good Things Before Christmas, a national campaign challenging South Africans to collectively complete one million acts of kindness before Christmas Day.
The idea is simple. Help a neighbour, volunteer at a charity, buy someone a coffee, donate something you no longer need or check in on a friend who’s having a tough time. It doesn’t need to cost money or take hours of your day. Every act of kindness counts, and through The Helpers platform, we’ll be tracking our progress towards that magical one million. We’re building towards World Kindness Day on 13 November, but the campaign will continue through Christmas, and we hope families, schools, businesses and communities across the country will get involved.
I know kindness won’t magically fix everything that’s wrong with South Africa. But I also know that a small act of kindness can mean everything to someone who needs it. We might not be able to change everything overnight but we can change something for someone.
Imagine what we could achieve if a million South Africans decided to do just one good thing for someone else? That’s the South Africa I believe in. And that’s the South Africa I want us to keep building, together.
So please, join us! Visit The Helpers to get involved, find opportunities to help and be part of something really special.
Oh, before you run away (to do some good), we’ve got your Saturday Good News Wrap Up, where we celebrate the people and stories from the last week that reminded us why there’s still so much to love about South Africa. All of these articles were featured in our weekly newsletter, sent every single Friday to 100,000 South Africans. You can subscribe by clicking here. But to give you a taste of what you might find in your inbox, here are a few good things!
Durban Security Officer Gives Away His Last R100 to Help a Family
Goodson Mseleshe, a 49-year-old security officer in Durban, had just finished a night shift when he spotted a mother and her two young children stranded on Sarnia Road. Their car had run out of petrol, and to make matters worse, it had stopped on a dangerous bend.
Goodson could have continued home. He was tired, his shift was over, and the family’s predicament wasn’t his responsibility. But he couldn’t leave them there. So he took the last R100 he had in his pocket and bought them petrol. And when the mother offered to pay him back, he refused. All he wanted was to know that she and her children had made it home safely.
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South African Singer Belinda Davids Lands the Role of Her Dreams!
Imagine being six years old, growing up in Gqeberha, singing along to Whitney Houston songs and dreaming of one day becoming a singer yourself. Now imagine growing up, building an international career performing those very songs and eventually being cast in the iconic role Whitney Houston made famous.
That’s exactly what’s happened to South African superstar Belinda Davids!
Belinda has officially been announced as Rachel Marron in the international musical The Bodyguard, which will make its South African premiere in March 2027.
And this is HUGE!
Belinda has spent years travelling the globe with her acclaimed tribute production, The Greatest Love of All, performing to sold-out audiences and earning international recognition. She was a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020 and received a Golden Buzzer on Spain’s Got Talent: All-Stars in 2023.
Read all about Belinda’s exciting new role here (and watch some of her incredible videos):
Vredendal’s Hero in Blue Undies Strikes Again!
Earlier this year, Chris Barnard became something of a local legend in Vredendal after rescuing a dog named River from floodwaters in a vineyard. The rescue was dramatic, the dog was saved, the story went viral and Chris became famous for something rather unexpected… his blue underwear.
Yup, Chris stripped down to his undies before heading into the water and the internet loved him for it.
Well, this week, he did it AGAIN!
Chris spotted another dog struggling in a canal, fighting against the current. And once again, he didn’t hesitate. Off came the clothes, into the water he went and out came one very lucky dog. I think we may have found South Africa’s most unlikely superhero. And apparently, his costume hasn’t changed.
SPAR Hero of the Week: A 14-Year-Old Who Became a Lifesaver
Nathan qualified as a junior lifeguard at Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club in June this year. He was still waiting to complete his first voluntary duty when an ordinary day at the beach suddenly turned into something far more serious. While surfing at Milnerton Beach, Nathan spotted a young woman struggling in crashing waves approximately 75 metres offshore. What happened next required an enormous amount of courage, especially from someone so young.
The club has since praised Nathan for his quick thinking and the actions that helped prevent what could have been a devastating tragedy.
Read about Nathan’s extraordinary moment of bravery here.
Our Children’s Story of the Week: The Long Walk for Snapper
This week’s children’s story is about a man named Adam, a very sick puppy called Snapper and a journey that reminds us just how much we love our animals.
Snapper was only 7 months old when she became seriously ill. Adam knew she needed veterinary care, but the nearest animal clinic was more than 10 kilometres away, and he had neither a car nor money for transport. So he found a crate, made it comfortable for his little dog, lifted it onto his shoulder and started walking. He even packed a tin of dog food in case Snapper got hungry along the way.
It’s a beautiful story about love and the special place our pets hold in our lives.
Partner Story of the Week: Giving Domestic Workers the Recognition They Deserve
Domestic workers play an enormous role in our homes and families, often spending years helping raise children, caring for elderly relatives and keeping households running. But for many, the administrative side of employment, including contracts, payslips, leave records and UIF registration, hasn’t always received the attention it deserves.
That’s where AskMandla is making a difference.
Through a simple WhatsApp platform, employers can manage these important responsibilities while giving domestic workers easier access to their own employment information.
The article shares the experiences of several South African households, including Beauty Mhleba, who has worked for Durban resident Tinky Oosthuizen for 10 years. Beauty says she appreciates being able to access her payslips independently and knowing that she’s registered for UIF.
I LOVE this time of year. South Africa has an energy that’s hard to explain unless you live here. It’s the sunshine, the people, the laughter, the music, the smell of a braai somewhere in the neighbourhood and that feeling that the best days of the year are still ahead of us. And with our 1 Million Good Things Before Christmas campaign officially underway, I’m hoping we can add even more goodness to all of that summer magic.
So whatever you’re getting up to this weekend, I hope it’s bladdy awesome. I hope you get some sunshine on your face, spend time with people who make you happy, eat something delicious and find a reason to laugh until your tummy hurts. And while you’re out there enjoying this beautiful country of ours, please do one kind thing for someone else. It doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to cost a cent. Just something that makes another person’s day a little better.
Imagine how lekker South Africa could feel if we all did that?
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