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Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque, writes that we have an extremely complex relationship with our home, South Africa. He says while it is exceptionally difficult, we still love it and do everything in our power to make it the place we love. He looks at 10 reasons to celebrate South Africa.
Happy 1 April, South Africa!
I am so thankful that News24 has chosen to dedicate the day to Good News again and not the ridiculousness of April Fools' Day, because, let's be honest, the last few years have been pretty foolish enough. So using a whole day to share good things about our country and its people makes my heart so happy. And we desperately need it.
I recently tweeted a poll asking what the current "mood" of South Africans was, and the answers were very telling.
56% of the votes went towards being incredibly dysphoric - a state of generalised dissatisfaction, restlessness and emotional discomfort, often accompanied by feelings of sadness, anger and negativity. And that's deeply troubling. For perspective, in a room filled with 100 people, there is an excellent chance that 56 of those people (or more) are dealing with something so big, and so scary, and so distressing… but they are not saying anything about it.
Howz your mood today South Africa? Are you doing okay? I hope you’re okay. Sending you all lots of love and kindness.
— Brent Lindeque (@BrentLindeque) March 27, 2023
Because the first rule of fight club is not to talk about it. Right? Wrong!
We need to be speaking about our difficulties. We're all in this together. And the reality is that we have many challenges living in this beautiful country. Crime. Corruption. Inflation – and I'm not just talking about the price of Woolies bags here. Potholes. Poverty. Tigers on the loose. A looming Stage 11 coming this Winter, apparently. Unemployment. Water shedding – yes, this is now a thing too.
The absolute trauma of the majority of us just trying to get by every single day. It's tough. It's ugly.
We have an extremely complex relationship with our home. It's exceptionally difficult, but we still love it. And we do everything in our power to make it the place we love. You see, we cannot forget that the people of South Africa make this country so remarkably fantastic. Not the government. Not the politicians. Not the bigots, racists or those trolls on social media.
READ | Adrian Gore: My view on SA remains unchanged: We need action, not despair
It's all about the good people. The two strangers chatting in a grocery line queue. The kind South Africans crocheting blankets in the height of summer to hand out in winter. That young guy taking on the 13 peaks challenge to raise funds for his friend with cancer. The Gift of the Givers. T
he rangers looking after our rhinos. The individuals feeding millions monthly. The organisations saving abandoned babies. The groups fighting to stop GBV. The list is almost endless. The kind South Africans. The friendly, compassionate, caring humans. The hope-dealers (a term my friend, Mandy Wiener, coined). The helpers, the heroes and the good people of South Africa are the pillars of our society.
They are what makes this place so incredible. And they keep pushing to make it the place we all can love.
- GOOD NEWS DAY IS BACK! News24 celebrates the people restoring pride in our country. Read their stories here
For South Africa's unofficial good news day, I've put together 10 of these incredible stories to share from 2023 alone. I had to dig through more than 1 500 good news stories to find my top 10. That's right, we are only 90 days into this year, and there are already so many good things to celebrate.
So here are 10 reasons to be happy about South Africa right now!
1. Moving in a positive direction
South Africans are actually happier than ever. South Africa was placed at number 85 on "The World Happiness Report", up from last year's position of 91. Despite having a way to go before we reach Finland, a step in a more positive direction is always a good step, especially when it's against the odds. As any local will tell you, one thing about South Africans is that 'we move'.
2. Stepping up
South Africans collectively saved a mom's life - and changed her life path for the better. Michelle's story was harrowing: she lost everything and had been living in a friend's car to keep safe at night, but after her story was shared, kind South Africans managed to get her and her kids a home (paid for), donations of furniture and appliances, money, groceries, employment, and got her kids back in school, with school fees paid upfront. Kindness personified and hope in humanity restored.
3. Joining the likes of Eva Longoria
A young South African freediver was featured in a "power list" of women in travel. Sitting next to the likes of Eva Longoria, Padma Lakshmi and Lily Kwong, Zandile Ndhlovu has joined a "Power List" of women in travel. Ndhlovu is a freediving instructor and the founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, an organisation seeking to create diverse representation in the ocean arena.
Ndhlovu's work centres around creating first encounters that expose the youth to the ocean. With a strategic approach, combined with an outside-the-box perspective, Black Mermaid helps people break through barriers and challenges, overcome doubts and take a large stride towards achieving their goals.
4. Best pizza in the world
Two South African restaurants, both based in the Western Cape, have landed on the "50 Best Pizzas in the World" list. Massimo's in Hout Bay and Ferdinando's in Observatory both landed on the list and we couldn't be prouder.
5. A second chance at life
Nine-year-old Caroline Smit, a little animal lover who wants to be a vet when she grows up, is back home and recovering well after a recent operation to repair a large hole in her heart at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital. The Netcare Foundation made the surgery possible, with specialists of the Maboneng Heart and Lung Institute providing their expertise pro bono.
Because of kind strangers, this little South African has got a second chance at life.
6. Dealing with potholes
Rainer Dixel inspired us all after hearing about how the 82-year-old Joburg resident is spending his spare time fixing potholes and has already managed to fill more than 50! He pays for all the material himself and does all the work himself. His reason? To help his neighbours have a safer road.
READ | This 82-year-old man is dedicating his retirement to fixing the potholes in his Joburg suburb
The City of Cape Town honoured a traffic officer, Andisiwe Gxabuza, for soothing a baby after a car accident. The mom and dad were trapped in their vehicle, and the two-year-old was incredibly distressed, but the officer didn't hesitate for a second and comforted the little one by putting her on her back while continuing with her duties.
8. Giving back
A homeless man saved up all his donations to buy a kind South African chocolates. Stefanie Minnaar opened her home to the young man, offered him a shower, a shave and some clean clothes. He spent the night in her spare room and left the next day. She didn't see him for two weeks, but he returned to give her chocolates and thank her for her kindness.
He told her that, since he cleaned up, more people were being kinder and helping him. A heartwarming story that reminds us that kindness can change lives.
9. Going international
Rebecca Seziba - a little South African who went viral while playing a "public piano" in December 2022 - was offered to collaborate with an incredibly talented international artist! Rahul Suntah, a UK classical pianist, saw the video and immediately got in touch with the young artist to collaborate on a new piece of music.
10. A West End debut
And a talented South African is about to make his debut on West End. He's performed in Pantomimes, the Rocky Horror Picture Show and Chicago, here in South Africa, but Jarryd Nurden is set to make his global debut as he takes on a new role in a new show on West End.
His message to South Africa is that we should never stop working towards making our own dreams come true, both locally and abroad.
And that is my message today. It's tough living in South Africa. There will always be headlines that scare us, but we must remember South Africa is a beautiful country with a rich history and diverse culture. Despite its challenges, South Africans have a resilient and innovative spirit.
The country has a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, with many small businesses and startups driving innovation and job creation.
South Africa has a bright future with opportunities for growth and development and a new generation of young leaders committed to building a better country for all. And our country is filled with so many helpers, heroes and hope-dealers that keep driving us forward.
Thank you to the good people in South Africa; today, we salute and celebrate you!
- Brent Lindeque is the Good Things Guy.
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