From a petrol attendant whose heroic actions inspired a wave of generosity to a lion receiving a CT scan, these are the stories that reminded us why good news matters.
South Africa (13 June 2026) – It’s been a tough week. And I’m not even referring to the hardest headlines. The police bribe for R2,000, the Phala Phala saga, the Madlanga Commission, crime, corruption, the conversation around illegal foreigners… I could keep going. The news is always newsing.
But the biggest conversation this week was about Bafana Bafana.
We take our sport seriously in South Africa. We wear the shirts, book the tables, shout at the televisions and invest our hearts in the outcome. So when Thursday night’s World Cup opener didn’t go the way we had hoped, it hurt. Most of us knew the odds were stacked against us. We hoped anyway.
The headlines were brutal. Social media was worse. After about two minutes on Twitter (X), I decided my mental health deserved better and went looking for perspective instead.
I found a piece by an ESPN journalist describing the joy of being a Mexican supporter in the stadium. The anthem, the sombreros flying through the air, the goals, the hugs, the celebration. And suddenly I wasn’t thinking about the loss anymore. I was thinking about 2010. I was thinking about fan parks, vuvuzelas, flags hanging from every balcony and a country that smiled for an entire month. We only played three matches but the memories lasted far longer.
So yes, I’m gutted for Bafana. But I can also be happy for Mexico. We know exactly what that feeling is like. And while the result hurts, we still have two matches to play (and I believe our team need the backing more than ever right now). More importantly, we qualified. Not every World Cup story ends with a trophy… sometimes it’s about earning your seat at the table.
I shared these exact thoughts to my socials. That perspective seemed to resonate with many of you There were so many positive comments! Although one person did call me “Blindekoei” (Blind Cow), which is one of the more creative insults I’ve received. It even rhymes with Lindeque. A for effort.
But I have to ask… what did you expect from me? I’m the Good Things Guy. If you’re looking for the outrage, there are plenty of places to find it. This little corner of South Africa exists for something different. It exists for the stories that remind us who we are, even when we lose.
And that’s exactly why our newsletter exists too.
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For the past 11 years, every single Friday, we’ve sent a newsletter to our readers. Every week. Through load shedding, technical issues, busy weeks, difficult weeks and wonderful weeks, we’ve never missed one. Today, more than 100,000 South Africans receive that newsletter. Every week, we publish around 110 stories on Good Things Guy, the newsletter is where we handpick 15 of our favourites and package them into one easy read. You see, while the headlines may often lean towards the negative, there are always good things happening too. And this is where you will find it!
What I love most about our Newsletter… are the replies. Every Friday, without fail, we get replies from readers thanking us for helping them end the week on a positive note. Some tell us they read it over coffee, others forward it to friends and family and many say it’s become part of their Friday routine.
This weekly Saturday wrap-up is a little sneak peek into that newsletter.
One of the stories that captured South Africa’s heart was that of 21-year-old Chevaan Abrahams, the petrol attendant from Kuils River who helped deliver a baby while working a night shift. The act itself was remarkable but what moved people even more was learning that helping others in emergencies has always been his dream.
Chevaan wants to become a paramedic.
When South Africans heard that, they rallied behind him. A crowdfunding campaign launched to help him pursue his studies quickly surpassed its goal and when we published our article, it had raised R62,000. That number is now R76,000! What started as an extraordinary act of courage has become an opportunity that could change the course of a young man’s future.
Another story that had the country smiling involved a rather unusual patient at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital. A lion undergoing a CT scan is not something most of us expect to see while scrolling social media but that’s exactly what happened.
The hospital’s social media post introduced followers to a majestic visitor at the OVAH Wildlife Clinic, where a lion had been referred for a comprehensive diagnostic workup that included an ultrasound and a CT scan. The images immediately captured attention online, with thousands of people stopping to admire the magnificent animal and the incredible veterinary team working behind the scenes to care for it. And, of course, the jokes followed soon after.
“Putting a whole new meaning on getting a CAT scan,” one commenter joked, earning plenty of laughs from fellow animal lovers.
Beneath the humour was a fascinating glimpse into the incredible work being done by veterinarians, students and wildlife specialists who dedicate their lives to caring for South Africa’s animals.
We also shared the inspiring story of Lucky Themishi Maebela, a gardener at the University of the Western Cape whose journey is about far more than maintaining beautiful grounds.
Many students, staff, and visitors at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) know Lucky as the friendly face tending to the campus gardens. He is often spotted in his brown overalls, caring for the grounds that thousands cross each day. But what many might not know is that as soon as he clocks out, another shift begins – one where Lucky swaps his gardening tools for textbooks and lecture notes.
According to UWC, the 29-year-old gardener is a postgraduate student, pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Child Studies after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Psychology, Philosophy and English. His dream is to one day earn a PhD and create opportunities for young people facing challenges similar to those he has overcome.
Our SPAR Hero of the Week was Dr Ané Büchner, a paediatric oncologist and palliative care physician who spends her days caring for some of South Africa’s sickest children and supporting families carrying unimaginable burdens.
This weekend, she takes on her eighth Comrades Marathon, raising funds for the Hamba Nawe Paediatric Palliative Care Project, which has already helped hundreds of children and their families navigate incredibly difficult journeys.
Over in our Kids’ Storybook section, readers met Adam and his puppy, Snapper.
When Snapper became seriously ill, Adam didn’t have transport and couldn’t afford a lift to the nearest animal clinic. Instead, he carefully placed his beloved dog into a crate and carried her more than 10 kilometres to get the help she needed. It’s a beautiful reminder that love often shows itself through effort, sacrifice and simply refusing to give up.
Our Oneplan Pawsitive Story this week celebrated the remarkable recovery of Jess the K9, who was diagnosed with cancer and faced a difficult road through surgery and chemotherapy.
Jess was diagnosed with mammary gland cancer, and the diagnosis set off a host of compassion, care and a fighting spirit within Jess’s community. The incredible hound received the best care anyone could hope for, and recently celebrated her last chemo session.
Thanks to an incredible network of veterinarians, specialists and supporters who stepped forward to help, Jess is now back on duty protecting South Africa’s wildlife.
As I sit writing this, I’m reminded once again of a Keeynote I gave recently: two things can be true at the same time.
We can be disappointed by a football result and still hope for the best for our team. We can feel exhausted by the headlines and still be inspired by the people around us. We can acknowledge the challenges facing our country without allowing them to become the only story we tell about ourselves.
While the news will always be newsing, there will also always be people helping strangers, chasing dreams, caring for animals, supporting families and showing up for one another when it matters most.
Those stories deserve to be told too. And thankfully, South Africa gives us plenty of them every single week.
Have a beautiful weekend, South Africa.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
by 
