From strangers helping deliver a baby in a supermarket bathroom to South Africans raising more than half a million rand for a stolen coffee machine, this week was packed with the kind of stories that remind us who we are.
South Africa (06 June 2026) – Every morning starts the same way at Good Things Guy… coffee, emails, hundreds of messages, story pitches, WhatsApps, voice notes, social media tags, recommendations from readers and our team of journalists (the goodies) hunting leads.
Somewhere in that daily avalanche of information sits the challenge we’ve been tackling for more than a decade: finding the stories that remind us what’s right with South Africa.
Our “mission” came into sharp focus this week when an advertising agency asked if we covered anything beyond CSI stories. It was a fair question but it also gave me a chance to explain something I probably don’t say often enough. Good Things Guy isn’t just a good news site: it’s a publication dedicated to telling the full story of ALL the good happening around us.
“Of course,” was my reply.
While we absolutely love sharing stories about charities, and crowdfunding campaigns, and companies making a difference… that’s only a small part of what we do. Most of our stories have nothing to do with CSI at all. They are about people, communities, adventures, animals, innovation, travel, entertainment, sport and the environment. The funny, heartwarming and inspiring moments that happen every day but don’t always make the front pages in mainstream media. Although sometimes (many times) many of our headlines can now be found in mainstream media. And that’s a good thing!
I digress.
We have dedicated sections for People, Business, Lifestyle, Environment, Entertainment, Travel, Sport, Fun, Opinion Pieces and even our Kids’ Storybook Section. Between our goodies, our editor and myself, we’re publishing between 20 to 25 stories every single day. And every single one of them is chosen because it adds something meaningful or uplifting to the national conversation.
That’s exactly why our newsletter has become such a big part of what we do. Every Friday, we take a step back from the week and gather some of the stories that made us smile, think, cheer or occasionally wipe away a tear. It’s delivered to more than 100,000 subscribers and has become one of my favourite parts of the week. Out of the hundreds of stories we publish, we handpick a collection that captures the spirit of what Good Things Guy is all about. About what South Africa is all about.
Not everyone gets the newsletter, though, so every “Saturday Wrap-Up” is a chance to share a little piece of it here too.
One story that perfectly captured the magic of ordinary people doing extraordinary things this week was our exclusive about two nurses who stopped for a coffee and ended up helping deliver a baby.
Leanie and Jana had just finished volunteering at a feral cat colony when they popped into a Checkers for a takeaway coffee. Instead of finding a barista behind the counter, they discovered she was unexpectedly giving birth in a staff bathroom. What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. Drawing on years of nursing experience, the two women rushed to help both mother and baby, working alongside Checkers staff, a cleaner and medical personnel from a nearby Dis-Chem to stabilise the pair until emergency services arrived.
What moved me most about the story was not just the incredible actions of the nurses but the way complete strangers immediately came together to help. As Leanie reflected afterwards, “There were just so many people pulling together that morning for these two humans, it was unbelievable.”
Another story that reminded us how lucky we are to call this country home came from Cape Point.
A global study analysing millions of traveller reviews named the Cape of Good Hope one of the world’s most “worth it” destinations. While seeing one of South Africa’s iconic attractions receive international recognition was wonderful, the story also sparked a bigger conversation in our newsroom. We started talking about all the places in South Africa that deserve exactly the same praise.
From mountain peaks and wildlife reserves to small-town gems and coastal escapes, our country is packed with experiences that leave a lasting impression. Cape Point may have made the list but it’s only one of hundreds of places that make South Africa extraordinary.
Then there was the story of Wages. Shared by CEO Adrian Goslett, it begins with tragedy after a fire destroyed everything Wages owned. A dedicated helper at his church and a passionate marathon runner, he suddenly found himself starting over with almost nothing. What followed was a beautiful example of community stepping in when it mattered most. Friends, family and strangers rallied around him, proving once again that some of the most powerful stories aren’t about what people lose but about how others help them rebuild.
Our SPAR Hero of the Week took us to Addo Elephant National Park, where a group of SANParks Honorary Rangers rolled up their sleeves and tackled one of conservation’s least glamorous jobs.
The volunteers climbed into a vital waterhole and got to work clearing mud, debris and animal waste to ensure wildlife continue to have access to clean water. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t glamorous. But it was essential. And it was another reminder that looking after South Africa often happens through practical acts of service carried out by people who simply care.
Over in our Kids’ Storybook Section, readers met Kami Engelbrecht, a Grade 10 learner who swam 7.5 kilometres from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand in honour of her mother.
Inspired by her mom’s cancer journey, Kami pushed through cold water, strong currents and exhaustion to complete the challenge. Her story is one of love, determination and the incredible lengths we will go to for the people we care about most.
And then there was Fina.
One of South Africa’s hardworking Search and Rescue K9s recently received a pair of protective booties thanks to the incredible work being done by Brenda’s Angels. Yes, the photographs were adorable. But behind the cuteness was a much bigger story about supporting the dogs and handlers who spend their lives searching for answers, bringing hope to families and helping communities during some of their most difficult moments.
Oh, and we obviously cannot forget the biggest story of the week!
During the Madlanga Commission, when veteran Hawks officer Karl Sander revealed that his personal coffee machine had also been stolen from his office (along with narcotics valued at R200 million) in a shocking 2021 robbery at the Serious Organised Crime offices (and he was polygraphed for the theft), South Africans did what South Africans do best.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched to replace it with a target of R5,000. By Friday morning, it had raised more than R530,000. And this morning, it is over R600,000.
But the story was never really about the coffee machine. It was about thanking a man who has spent decades serving his country with integrity. And once again, South Africans showed just how generous they can be when a story touches their hearts.
Looking back on this week’s stories, I think that’s the answer I should have given the agency.
We don’t just cover CSI, or good news… we cover humanity. We write about people stepping up when they don’t have to, communities rallying together when someone needs help, young people chasing extraordinary dreams, South Africans protecting our wildlife, supporting one another and finding ways to make life a little better for the people around them.
After more than a decade of searching for it, I can tell you with absolute certainty that South Africa is still overflowing with stories worth telling. You just have to know where to look. And every day, that’s exactly what our team sets out to do.
To give you a space to find it!
