Beautiful News

23/08/2024

Watch how a friendship that blossomed between two young boys in violin class has developed into a legacy that’s uplifting the youth of Masiphumelele.

Masi Violin Outreach | Ayabonga Tshemese | Mbopha

Today, he’s a music maestro. But at the age of 12, the violin was a foreign concept to Ayabonga Tshemese. “I thought it was like a guitar,” he chuckles. “I d...

21/08/2024

Today, he’s a music maestro. But at the age of 12, the violin was a foreign concept to Ayabonga Tshemese. “I thought it was like a guitar,” he chuckles. “I didn't even know the name of this instrument.” In the township of Masiphumelele, Ayabonga was fortunate to encounter a group of kids playing the violin as part of the Masi Violin Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing free music education. Intrigued by its sound and power, Ayabonga joined the programme. It was there that he met Onke Mbopha – a then 10-year-old who was just as eager to learn this somewhat strange instrument. Over a decade later, Onke and Ayabonga are now best friends bonded by their love of music and their shared commitment to orchestrating hope and unity for kids in their community.

As part of Masi Violin Project’s legacy project, Onke and Ayabonga are skilled violin teachers themselves, giving free, twice-weekly violin lessons to learners aged six to 21. For the 64 kids who are part of the programme this year, the classroom is a space of much fun and friendship. But when the bows are drawn, they get into musician mode – motivated by Ayabonga, Onke, and the Masi Violin Outreach team who’ve encouraged them to see this not as just an after-school activity to pass the time, but as an opportunity to develop what could be a future in music. “They get their own violin, get to take ownership of the musical journey, and get to engage with professional musicians,” Onke explains.

Recently, the kids performed in front of the renowned Cape Philharmonic Orchestra – boosting their confidence and pride. This is in addition to numerous concerts at various local schools, the Masi Community Hall, and even Cafe Roux – a local live music venue that has hosted some of South Africa’s biggest local musicians.

Later on Beautiful News, Ayabonga and Onke share how their music has continued to forge lasting connections in Masiphumelele.

Masi Violin Outreach | Ayabonga Tshemese | Onke Mbopha

16/08/2024

What makes one beach a cut above the rest? Die Plaat has gained international recognition by making Condé Nast Traveller’s list of ‘The Best Beaches in the World’ – the only one in South Africa to be named. While the country boasts many exceptional beaches, this stretch of coastline in Gansbaai is celebrated for its rugged beauty and historical and cultural significance.

Walk along Die Plaat and you may encounter some of the earliest traces of humanity. The beach is home to Klipgat Cave where between the jagged rocks scientists unearthed bones and tools from people who settled here during the Stone Age. Later, this became a place of refuge for Khoi people. Today, it is an escape for anyone wanting respite from the city bustle.

Situated within the Cape Nature-managed Walker Bay Nature Reserve and a marine protected area, Die Plaat’s white sands, rich biodiversity, and historic caves are all guarded with great care to preserve its pristine condition. Take advantage of this to hike along the coastline while spotting pods of dolphins frolicking in the waves, seals lazing on the rocks, African black oystercatchers foraging for food, and southern right whales returning during whale season.

12/08/2024

Despite being revered as members of the Big Five and an iconic symbol of Africa, elephants aren’t immune to human-inflicted danger. Increasing urban development has affected elephant routes, forcing the mammals to encroach on farms for crops and water and in turn, put them at greater risk of coming into conflict with humans. This World Elephant Day, discover one of the many invaluable roles elephants play – and why it’s vital to protect them.

African elephants are the largest land mammal in the world. Standing at over three metres tall and weighing 6 000 kilograms, it’s little wonder that they ten...

10/08/2024

Congratulations Akani Simbine, Bayanda Walaza, Bradley Nkoana, and Shaun Maswanganyi on securing your Olympic medals! 👏

blazes to a silver medal in the 4x100m relay! 🔥🇿🇦

Read More here: https://www.teamsa.co.za/sensational-simbine-helps-4x100m-men-silver/

05/08/2024

South Africans held their breath as Akani Simbine sped through the Olympic men’s 100m final – hoping to finish victorious. Though he missed out on a podium finish by a mere 0.01 seconds, Akani cemented his position as a running icon with a 100m national record time of 9.82 seconds.

Later this week, he’ll take to the tracks again as part of the South African relay team. Whether or not he bags a medal, Akani has already earned the respect and admiration of a nation. 🇿🇦

Akani Simbine

04/08/2024

Tots with Tails is a creche like no other in Khayelitsha. Here, it’s furbabies that are cared for, played with and exercised, fed nourishing food, and socialised around people and other pets. The township creche, which acts as a temporary shelter while dogs and cats wait to be adopted, comes just in time to keep unhomed animals off the streets during an especially cold, rainy, and dangerous winter in the Western Cape.

The initiative is one of many run by Mdzananda Animal Clinic – an NPO founded in 1996 to offer veterinary services to communities in financial need. They currently carry out over 1 000 consultations, operations, vaccinations, sterilisations, and treatments each month, both at their permanent base and through their mobile clinic. Over the years, animal fostering and adoption have become a growing part of Mdzananda’s efforts. The opening of their dedicated animal creche – constructed thanks to the funding of Dogs Trust International – enables them to make animals more adoptable, encourage pet ownership, and improve the holistic wellbeing of township pets.

While many sterilisation drives and animal rescue initiatives exist in communities across South Africa, a negative picture is often painted of the treatment of animals in townships. Mdzananda in particular is changing perceptions of pet ownership here. Having initially been started by a Khayelitsha local who would go around bathing and feeding community animals, the organisation has repeatedly proven that much love and care abound between pet owners and animals in townships, regardless of financial circumstances. Introducing the Tots with Tails creche will allow even more Khayelitsha community members to find their new best friends, learn how to best care for them, and be supported throughout their pet ownership journey.



Animal Clinic

All images supplied by Mdzananda Animal Clinic.

30/07/2024

Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker) claimed South Africa's first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Emerging victorious in the Women's 100m breaststroke, Tatjana's performance is anticipated to be just the start of a winning streak for both the swimmer and Team South Africa.

Tatjana Schoenmaker | Team South Africa | Olympics

Image credit: Team South Africa

30/07/2024

Alan Hatherly completed the men's mountain biking finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics yesterday with a time of 1:26:33, mere seconds behind Thomas Pidcock and Victor Koretzky to earn his place on the podium. With his bronze medal, Alan has written his name in local history books as the first South African to win an Olympic medal for mountain biking.

Alan Hatherly | Olympics

Image credit: Zac Williams /

27/07/2024

Watch as Sibongile Mtikitiki, co-founder of the Khayelitsha Biochar Makers, and his team come up with environmental solutions to tackle the invasion of water hyacinth in their wetlands, in turn creating entrepreneurial opportunities, supporting local gardeners, and building up their community.

Khayelitsha Biochar Makers | Khayelitsha Canoe Club

Just over a decade ago, a group of youth started bravely canoeing through the wetlands of Khayelitsha, cleaning it as they went along by removing some of the...

26/07/2024

Just over a decade ago, a group of youth started bravely canoeing through the wetlands of Khayelitsha, cleaning it as they went along by removing everything from baby nappies to car tyres. The Khayelitsha Canoe Club’s initiative to clean up trash from local waterways was an enormous success, but little did they know that an even greater threat lurked ahead – water hyacinths.

Considered the world's worst aquatic plant, the invasive species rapidly proliferates and forms a thick layer over waterways, choking the life out of the environment by preventing other aquatic plants below from receiving nutrients and depleting oxygen in water that fish depend on. The w**d is also a hazard to human health, as it hosts mosquitos that carry infectious diseases.

Having fought so hard to create a vital recreational space in the township, Sibongile Mtikitiki and the rest of the canoeists were not about to be deterred. Initially, they spent hours extracting the water hyacinth and throwing it on the side of the wetlands. But upon further research, they realised they could dry the w**d and burn it to create biochar, an organic fertiliser that has the potential to keep gardens green and healthy when correctly used.

While the Sibongile and the group work as volunteers with no payment for their environmental efforts, the enterprising team have begun making and selling their biochar to local gardeners and schools, and also inviting tourists to join in on their wetland cleanups and take home biochar as a souvenir.

Later on , Sibongile shares how they’re taking a w**d that once choked the social and environmental development of Khayelitsha and turning it into a solution that brings life back into the community.



Khayelitsha Biochar Makers | Khayelitsha Canoe Club

18/07/2024

Patience, determination, and the desire to lead others to a better life – these are the traits Thabiso Mahlaba exemplifies. The talented artist shares how he drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela to never give up on his dreams, despite the circumstances.

Charcoal and pencils. That’s all Thabiso Mahlaba could afford while working as a shelf packer. But it was enough to keep the aspiring artist going. Even thou...

17/07/2024

Kgothatso Montjane has made history and brought pride to South Africa yet again. After becoming the first black South African woman to compete at Wimbledon, the wheelchair tennis player has just won her first title in the wheelchair women’s doubles category.

Kgothatso has always been a pioneer in sport. In 2018, she became the first African player in a wheelchair to qualify for all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year. Since partnering with Japan’s Yui Kamiji in 2022, the duo have claimed gold at the 2023 Roland Garros and the 2023 US Open, and Kgothatso credits their strong friendship off court as a factor in their sporting success.

Yet it’s Kgothatso's fierce determination and drive that has propelled her towards the world's most prestigious tennis championships. “It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from or how you were born, as long as you have a goal in life,” she says.

Kgothatso Montjane | Kgothatso Montjane

14/07/2024

Lesley Rochat used to be terrified of sharks, believing they were monstrous killers. Yet after two decades of diving
with them, she’s discovered something far more fearsome – the impact of humans on these marine animals. Now committed to reconnecting people with nature through her ecotourism efforts,
which in turn supports her ocean advocacy and environmental
awareness initiatives, Lesley shares why she’s speaking up for
sharks.

Lesley Rochat | AfriOceans Conservation Alliance |
Shark Warrior

Lesley Rochat was terrified of sharks. She believed they were monstrous killers. Her diving friends used to call her ‘sharkbait’. You wouldn’t think so today...

11/07/2024

Adding on to the incredible work Kliptown Youth Program do to advance education in South Africa, the organisation recently partnered with SmartStart to give 250 children who previously didn't have access to preschool the opportunity to learn at a ECD centre, and also began a matric rewrite programme so young adults can complete Grade 12 and access more job opportunities. Founder and director Thulani Madondo shares how he's practicing the spirit of ubuntu to uplift his community.

Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) | Thulani Madondo

When Thulani Madondo went to school, apartheid wrote the rules. By providing a lesser quality of learning, the Bantu education system was designed to ensure ...

09/07/2024

When Thulani Madondo went to school, apartheid wrote the rules. By providing a lesser quality of learning, the Bantu education system was designed to ensure that the people it oppressed stayed down. But Thulani was no pushover. He did his homework in a cramped one-bedroom shack shared with eight other people, and became the first person in his family to finish high school. Armed with determination and ambition, he would use his education to rise up and uplift those around him.

Now the director of the Kliptown Youth Program, Thulani and his team have over 1400 youth from the age of eight to 20 under his wing. The free after-school programme is the only one of its kind in Kliptown, a suburb in Soweto where running water, electricity, and basic resources were scarce. Providing resources, equipment, teaching, and mentorship to young learners, as well as two full meals a day, they're inspiring a new generation of achievers.

In addition to academic support, learners can also access social guidance and counselling and participate in sport, art, and cultural activities that take them across South Africa and abroad. When they've successfully completed their schooling, vocational development and support is provided to ensure they continue to thrive as adults.

Since starting in 2007, Thulani's initiative has expanded to open three more sites in Klipspruit, Dlamini and Pimville - ensuring even more students can pass matric and go on to receive university qualifications.

Later on Thulani shares how he continues to flip the script for kids in Kliptown.

Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) | Thulani Madondo

04/07/2024

On a field alongside Lavender Hill’s most dangerous street, known to locals as the ‘The Battleground’ where countless lives have been lost to gang violence, a group of tiny ballerinas fearlessly plié and pirouette. They’re led by Ralph Bouwers, who founded The Guardians of the National Treasure to champion recreational activities for youth in the heart of gangland in 2003. Many would have considered this a futile endeavour. Yet two decades on, Ralph continues to bravely reclaim a notorious war zone in the hopes of giving the next generation a better life.

The Guardians of the National Treasure | Ralph Bouwers II

On Lavender Hill’s most dangerous street, 17 little ballerinas transcend into a world of stillness. Their dance is a fearless act of reclamation in an area n...

01/07/2024

Armed with a spray can, Gifford Duminy is on a mission to protect local wildlife. The self-taught street artist, better known as Giffy, is the talent behind massive nature-inspired murals that have been popping up across Kwa-Zulu Natal. From anemones and nudibranchs painted beneath Umhlanga’s iconic Whalebone Pier and butterflies covering old metal bus stops to humpback whales painted to scale along Marine Drive, Giffy’s work is unmissable.

Each mural is a marvel from afar, becoming more fascinating when you notice the delicate details up close. While many an artist has paid tribute to South Africa’s Big Five, Giffy spotlights the fruit of the umdoni trees found all over Durban, the beady eye of a Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon, the fuzz of an African honey bee, the pincer of a fiddler crab, and a host of other natural treasures often overlooked.

His goal is to show people that these plants and creatures share our world, and are deserving of attention to ensure they don’t fade into extinction. Giffy’s art also brings to light the work done by local organisations that are working to protect the oceans, rivers, mangroves, forests, and other environments in which all sorts of wildlife thrive.

Browse Giffy to check out more of his vibrant creations and learn more about the deserving organisations he’s rallying support for, or better yet if you live in KZN – head outdoors and see how many of his works you can spot.

All images supplied with credit to Gifford Duminy.

27/06/2024

For parents who’ve experienced hardship in their own lives, it may seem impossible to break the cycle of generational trauma. Having successfully partnered with NGOs to assist community workers all the way from South Africa to Haiti, Lebanon, and Nicaragua, social worker Danielle Moosajie is now sharing her methods and advice to help broken families heal.

Dani Moosajie | Arise Family

What do you give a child who has nothing? Social worker Danielle Moosajie starts with love. In the suburb of Heideveld, where she’s based, the community’s hi...

25/06/2024

Sphelele Dlamini is rising higher than he, or the people who bullied him could ever have dreamed. Born with a condition that required both his legs to be amputated from below the knee, Sphelele was lucky to have the support of his family. But the rest of his community was not as kind. “For most of my young life l was teased and called names due to my disability,” he says. “Sometimes people would test you and ask you simple things like how to spell your name or count just to prove you are capable.” Ignoring their cruelty, Sphelele dreamed of studying further and being a medical orthotics prosthetic doctor, even if his circumstances did not make that feasible. “I grew up in KwaMashu, Durban, in a very toxic and violent environment where l had limited access to equipment and opportunities,” he explains.

But in primary school, Sphelele was introduced to wheelchair basketball which set the course of his career. “Along the way, sport opened a lot of doors,” he says. “l got to travel to so many places, played several competitions for Kwa-Zulu Natal, and won medals.” In 2014, Jumping Kids, an NGO dedicated to improving the mobility of children with amputations, helped Sphelele with specialised prosthetic legs. Just two years later, Sphelele was offered the opportunity to play wheelchair basketball professionally in France, but could not afford to get there – a situation that many talented local sports players find themselves in. Not one to give up, Sphelele kept at the sport and in 2022, got the chance to go again. This time, Jumping Kids was able to assist further.

Today, Sphelele is a professional wheelchair basketball player in his second season abroad. “My dream is to play in bigger leagues so l can showcase what l have, so that we can be seen as African players and get more players to play in Europe,” he says. A proud affiliate for the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund and Ossur, Sphelele’s goal is to inspire others like him. “Anything is possible,” he says. “Let us not allow our disability to hold us back.”

Sphelele Dlamini | Jumping Kids | Össur

Images supplied by Sphelele Dlamini, with credit to Jumping Kids.

23/06/2024

This and beyond, be the hero that youth in your community can look up to. Salie Davids shows us how it’s done with the Silver Sounds Band, formed out of his car panel shop, which nurtures young talent, feeds hungry kids, and gives youth from troubled neighbourhoods a chance to compose a brighter future for themselves.

21/06/2024

From prisoner to acclaimed artist, Blessing Ngobeni shares the importance paving your own path to freedom and speaking up for yourself and others.



Blessing Ngobeni Art Price

20/06/2024

First, art got Blessing Ngobeni out of jail. Then it freed his mind. One of South Africa’s most celebrated artists had an unconventional start to his creative career. At the age of 15, he ran away from an abusive household, joined the wrong crowd, was arrested for robbery, and spent nearly six years in prison. What could have been rock bottom ended up being where Blessing discovered his talents by sketching fellow inmates’ portraits.

Since getting out of prison and pursuing a career in art, Blessing has garnered critical acclaim for his large-scale, expressionist work, receiving the Reinhold Cassirer award in 2011, being named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2013, and receiving the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Arts in 2020. He’s exhibited internationally from London to New York, and most recently had a solo booth at the Frieze Art Fair in Los Angeles.

Drawing from his personal experiences with hardship and inequality, Blessing uses his art to critique social injustice, abuse of power, corruption, oppression, and what he considers an enslavement of the mind. “You have to speak what you think is right,” he says.

Continuing in his efforts to uplift and free people with art, Blessing has gone on to mentor other up-and-coming artists. He recently announced the DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award in partnership with the Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize award, which gives winning artists a nine-month residency that includes a dedicated studio space, funding for art materials and living expenses, and the opportunity to feature in exhibitions and workshops.

Coming up on Beautiful News, Blessing shares more about his journey from prisoner to artist, and what compels him to speak up.

Blessing Ngobeni Art Price

16/06/2024

Keith Boyd may have just broken the record for the fastest run from Cape Town to Cairo, but it’s only just the beginning of his mission to empower South Africa’s youth. He completed his 10,800-kilometre run in 301 days, braving physical pain, injury, sickness, running through countries experiencing civil war, an attempted kidnapping and being held at gunpoint – all to fundraise and further the Rainbow Leaders’ initiative to increase youth voter participation and inspire active citizenship.

“It was all about trying to inspire the young people of Africa to get back to the polls to vote for great leaders and to hold them accountable,” Keith says. “It was about showing young people that whatever you set your mind to in life, you can achieve despite the odds.” Along the way, the long-distance runner engaged with local community members and the youth of every country he passed through, ensuring that he made a tangible contribution to their socio-economic development.

Despite Keith’s incredible achievement, South Africans concluded the most recent national elections with what was estimated to be the lowest percentage turnout since the country became democratic 30 years ago. Yet the Electoral Commission of South Africa reports indicated that of 26 million people on the voter roll, 14 million were not registered to vote – half of which were youth who make up the majority of South Africa’s population.

“Our journey doesn't end here,” Keith says. “There’s still so much work to do in the future.” Together with Rainbow Leaders, he continues to advocate for youth activism. The apolitical NGO has partnered with local activists to reach youth through social media and facilitates interactive workshops directly in schools to encourage debate, discussion, and critical thinking.

On 16 June 1976, youth across SA took action to have their voices heard and advocate for a better SA. They have the power to do it again. Until then, Keith’s quest continues.

Rainbowrunnerza | Rainbow Leaders NPC

All images supplied by Keith Boyd and Rainbow Leaders, with credit to Michael Metaferia, Tebogo Phalane, Geofrey Mwangalika, and Ahmad Hisham.

10/06/2024

South African running icon Gerda Steyn has smashed the Comrades up run course record with a time of 5:49:46 to finish this year’s 85.9km race. Her third victory in the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon comes hot on the heels of her fifth Two Oceans Marathon win, where she also broke her own record.

Gerda’s success in 2024 alone comes as no surprise considering her track record. In 2019, she became the first woman to conquer the Comrades up run in under six hours. Then, in 2021 she sprinted into history books as South Africa’s fastest for a standard marathon – shattering a record that was previously unbeaten for 25 years. Next up, Gerda takes on the streets of Paris at the 2024 Olympics. Competing in the Comrades Marathon and the Olympics in the same year is unprecedented, but Gerda is confident that she has what it takes to do it.

For the athlete who previously only ran socially and had a comparatively late introduction to professional long-distance running, Gerda’s achievements are proof that it’s never too late to start.

08/06/2024

To protect the sea and everything in it this , record-breaking freediver Hanli Prinsloo is first caring for people who may have never set foot in it. She began the I AM WATER foundation over a decade ago to advance marine conservation efforts by engaging people in under-resourced coastal communities.

Recognising that many kids can’t swim, Hanli and her team are teaching them to safely navigate the ocean while educating them on its wonders. Their Ocean Guardians workshops take the young learners to snorkel at Marine Protected Area beaches in Cape Town and explore rock pools and kelp forests, enabling them to discover a whole new world underwater. “We cannot protect what we have not learned about and we do not know about. When we know better, we can do better. And when we feel something, that's when we act,” Hanli says. At the workshops, kids participate in ocean and river clean ups, practice yoga and mindfulness, or simply get to marvel at penguins, urchins, anemones, and other creatures that make up coastal ecosystems.

Since its founding, AM WATER has assisted over 37 000 beneficiaries through engaging school talks and presentations, advocacy workshops, and coaching young community leaders to lead both the Ocean and River Guardians workshops. “Without our passionate and committed coaches, there is no way we could deliver the work we do to the children we work with,” Hanli says. “It’s so important for them to see themselves reflected in these incredible young men and women who come from similar communities and have a love for the ocean”

Continuing her conservation efforts which have spanned over a decade, Hanli recently launched Agulhas, a pioneering sustainable freediving equipment brand that offers the gear to explore the ocean without contributing to the amount of waste that ends up in it.

With the belief that you protect what you love, Hanli is empowering both children and adults to find beauty and joy in the ocean and bridging the increasing disconnect between people and the natural world.

Hanli Prinsloo Marshall | I Am Water Ocean Conservation | Agulhas Ocean

To protect the sea and everything in it this , record-breaking freediver Hanli Prinsloo is first caring for people who may have never set foot...

03/06/2024

Founder of Langa Bicycle Hub, Mzikhona Mgedle is teaching people how to cycle and fix their own bikes, increasing road safety, and advocating for better spatial and city planning. This we celebrate his ingenuity in using a humble bike to begin a cycling revolution that’s reducing pollution, promoting sustainability, improving health and fitness, and bettering social and economic circumstances in his community and across South Africa.

Mzikhona Mgedle | Langa Bicycle Hub

01/06/2024

If you dream of close-ups with wildlife that’ll change your life and theirs, consider venturing beyond the usual tourist areas and down to KwaZulu-Natal for a safari. “Conservation tourism in KZN is so often overlooked,” Johan Maree says. “This is a great shame as the Zululand and Elephant Coast areas are recognised as one of the global biodiversity hotspots.”

Johan is the co-founder of WildlifeACT, the KZN-based NPO that began as a locally-led wildlife monitoring organisation and has since grown to offer bespoke conservation safaris that allow anyone to actively save endangered wildlife. Here, visitors can participate in a rhino dehorning to deter poachers or assist with camera trap surveys to track leopards. Ecotourism such as this is now a necessity. “Due to human activity and expansion, protected areas and reserves have become crucial to maintaining space for wildlife to exist,” Johan says. “Tourism models should contribute to genuine conservation efforts without putting further pressure on these areas.”

Additionally, WildlifeACT offers the chance to volunteer in several engaging programmes, from restoring ecosystems for sea turtles in the Seychelles to working with African wild dogs, vultures, and the Big Five on wildlife reserves across KZN. Johan and his team have so far welcomed over 4 000 volunteers to their programmes – many of whom are returning guests.

In honour of their efforts, WildlifeACT was named the global winner of the ‘Best for Nature-Based Tourism’ category at the 2023 WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. “It was definitely unexpected, yet an incredibly rewarding moment to receive international recognition for the work we are carrying out in our little, but very important, corner of the world,” Johan says.

Combining a quintessential African safari with the ability to save endangered animals, WildlifeACT is giving holidaymakers the chance to create lasting memories and impact on their next trip.

Wildlife ACT - Focused Conservation



Images supplied by WildlifeACT with credit to Chantelle Melzer, Scott Christensen, and the WildlifeACT team.