Plettenberg Bay was nominated as the World’s Leading Beach Destination per the World Travel Awards! A victory beyond tourism, Keep Plett Clean shares the community effort that went into getting this accolade for their home.

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (21 October 2024) — South Africa’s own Plettenberg Beach scooped a nomination as the World’s Leading Beach Destination for 2024 per the 31st edition of the World Travel Awards in a big feat for South Africa (Plett was the only South African location nominated for this category).

While at a surface glance, this might seem like a victory in the realm of tourism, it’s actually far more so a community victory, as Keep Plett Clean shares.

Keep Plett Clean is a community organisation whose name accurately sums up their deal. Founded by Alison Bryant, Keep Plett Clean was founded on a simple principle:

“Clean, well-maintained environments enrich not only the lives of residents but also leave a lasting impression on visitors from around the world,” Alison says.

For over a decade, Keep Plett Clean has rallied volunteers to ensure that their town and its beaches are as pristine as possible.

To put that into perspective, that’s over 12 years of showing up to tuck into clean-ups and spearheading maintenance missions, no matter the weather, circumstances or whether one particularly feels like it or not.

The kind of commitment that promises a well-kept town and natural pleasures relies entirely on consistency and collective action. And to have been able to achieve that to the point of global recognition is something the whole country should applaud as an example of what we can do when we take matters that affect all of us into our own hands!

As Alison shares:

“This nomination is more than just an accolade for our beaches; it’s a reflection of the collective effort it takes to keep Plettenberg Bay beautiful working together with Bitou’s Municipality. Our volunteers’ dedication to picking up litter, emptying bins, scrubbing away graffiti, and ensuring that waste is properly managed has helped create an environment where visitors can enjoy the full beauty of Plett’s beaches and natural surroundings. The feedback we receive from hotels, guesthouses, Airbnb hosts, and tourists speaks volumes—our town’s cleanliness is noticed, appreciated, and make a real difference in their experience.”

For Alison and the team she works with, it’s far more than a matter of aesthetic value, but memories and experiences.

“This nomination is a victory for everyone involved—from our dedicated volunteers to the residents and visitors who contribute to keeping our town clean. It’s a celebration of community spirit and reminder that environmental stewardship is key to Plett’s ongoing success as a world-class destination.”

You can keep up with Keep Plett Clean, here. 

Sources: Email Submission; Keep Plett Clean 

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Esther Mahlangu’s new mural is dedicated to the spirit of uBuntu! Planted at a London garden gallery, its larger-than-life stature stands tall amid the greenery, giving Londoners something bright, beautiful, and proudly South African!

London, England (20 October 2024) — After her work enjoyed its fair share of the limelight and celebrity appreciation in the USA, Esther Mahlangu’s new mural is taking up space in London!

At nearly 90-years-young, the acclaimed Ndebele artist continues to share her bold and bright geometric masterpieces with the world. Her new mural, titled ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ is an ode to the South African philosophy of uBuntu. In fact, its translation from Ndebele to English reads ‘I am because you are’.

 

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A post shared by Esther Mahlangu (@esthermahlanguart)

The new mural has been ‘planted’ at Serpentine Gallery’s North Garden based on West Carriage Drive, where it boasts the artist’s immediately recognisable patterning and confident style. Painted across 16 wooden panels, the energy of the new mural is larger than life, much like the uBuntu ethos.

Simultaneously, Esther Mahlangu is also the talk of London’s art scene in a different part of the city. At a solo exhibition at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Esher’s work brought an immediate rush of vibrance and life to the walls of Melrose Gallery in the West Wing!

 

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A post shared by Esther Mahlangu (@esthermahlanguart)

Meanwhile, in another creative news piece that made us feel proudly South African, artist Jake Michael Singer has been given the opportunity to represent our country through sculpture at a prestigious event overlooking the magnificent Pyramids of Giza! Jake’s sculpture, We Will Meet Again in the Sky’ is a must-see, and you can learn more about it here.

Sources: Email Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Victoria’s Secret’s Runway show came back after years. But beyond South Africa’s Candice Swanepoel and Tyla taking to the stage; the show left a lot to be desired:

New York, South Africa (17 October 2024) — Earlier this week, Victoria’s Secret made a ‘splashy’ return to the runway after several years away from its once iconic pink carpet.

Premised to be a new era for the brand that has had a massive influence on the relationship women across the world have with their bodies; hopes were high for the comeback show and all the freshness it might bring. But, VS is nothing if not a tease. And for many critics, if the show was supposed to be a tease for diversity, it unfortunately missed the mark.

As a woman and writer who has long been championing topics of inclusivity and empowerment, I have to admit that the 2024 reveal left much to be desired.

Many of the models were part of the same class who have long worked with VS (the Hadid sisters, Taylor Hill and, of course, the seasoned Angels like Behati Prinsloo and Adriana Lima).

There were new faces part of the show and iconic ones too (Cher, Kate Moss and Tyra Banks to name a few). And all of it was as glossy as it was when I watched it as a teen.

But in the spirit of inclusivity—which is where many suspected the show was heading—it felt a lot like waiting for the drop of a song that never comes. In fact, it was a lot like listening to an old song you haven’t heard for a while again, except with a few barely noticeable remixed notes.

While it’s damn-near impossible to represent every person of every body type, it also feels like tokenism to see only a handful of models who weren’t size 0 (many of whom did multiple walks). There could have been a spectrum of body-positive representation that gave us all a more organic idea of beauty across the board…but there wasn’t.

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting. A little (a lot) more of a celebration of the idea that healthy bodies can and do look different? Female empowerment of some kind? Wings that actually attempted to uplift women? At the very least, they did break the ageism barrier the beauty industry is known for by featuring models who would’ve been considered well into retirement if this were the early 2000s.

Two moments made the show almost worth the watch, and they were purely because South African women took to the stage like powerhouses. Candice Swanepoel was as gorgeous as ever, while Tyla got to headline the event with the energy she’s won the world over with. I’ll also give a special shout-out to Cher’s performance because that legend is nearly 80 years old and still killing the game.

But beyond their time on stage, the show hardly brought anything new to the table. Perhaps that was exactly the point.

If anything, the show made me thankful that I’m older and wiser than I was when I first gazed up at the angels like superheroes and thought beauty needed to look that way. Thankful that in 2024, we can recognise it’s just a show and not what women need to look like to fit into the world.

And thankful that the younger generation of women do have access to more information on health and well-being to create informed perspectives on what was once deemed ‘the standard’ of beauty.

Sources: GTG

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South African actress Marié Botha has a role in the second biggest show in the world right now, ‘The Penguin’ starring Colin Farrell! Not only this, but her episode has achieved the pinnacle of IMDb ratings with a 9.6/10 score:

Global (15 October 2024) — Fans of Batman’s world and all its various spin-offs are likely already very familiar with the latest rollout from Gotham, ‘The Penguin’ starring a hardly recognisable Colin Farrell. In fact, even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of the notorious fictional city’s stories but simply can’t resist an intriguing show with thick plot lines, you might’ve picked up on the fact that the series is revealing itself to be quite the hit. According to IMDb, it’s the second-biggest show in the world right now!

All of this is hardly bad for the mood for South African actress and self-proclaimed ‘boeremeise’, Marié Botha who nabbed the role of villain Magpie in the show that’s already made the 100 top-rated series of all time list!

As a matter of fact, the episode Marié is in (episode 4) has been hailed as ‘the best episode of The Penguin yet,’ per Esquire. By IMDb standards, the episode has also reached the gold standard, thanks to a rating of 9.6/10.

It’s a big deal in the world of dreams for Pretoria-born Marié, who certainly deserves her flowers.

Born in Pretoria, Marié left home at 18 and headed off to the Big Apple to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Following her BFA degree (which she earned with honours) Marie enrolled in the masters programme at Yale’s school of Drama—a position only 17 other students achieved despite thousands of applicants.

Equipped with an MFA—the jet fuel of her acting dreams—Marié began working as an actress in New York. With countless auditions, indie films, commercial voice-overs and Off-Broadway productions under her belt, Marié finally got her big break after 14 long years.

“I play Magpie, a villain with a split personality and a penchant for shiny things,” shares Marie. “When we see flashbacks of Sofia Falcone in Arkham Asylum, we meet Magpie. She befriends Sofia, but eventually paranoia takes over and Sofia starts to see Magpie as a threat and a spy. This is the first time we see Sofia truly pushed to the edge and the outcome is dire.”

Marié explains that the role was complex but a gift:

“Playing Magpie was like walking a tightrope. In one way, she is this beautiful, dreamy, childlike creature, and on the other side of her sits darkness, trauma and vengeance. It’s a gift to get to play characters that call on me to transform and put myself in parts of a psyche very unlike my own—Magpie is like that.

“She is troubled, haunted by childhood trauma, yet still trying to maintain positivity and look for beauty in her life. It’s sort of sweet and deeply sad. She is very dear to me.”

Marié refers to the callback process as being the ‘most intense’ of her life.

“I was visiting my family in South Africa at the time and had just extended my trip when I got the callback. It was to be on Zoom with the director of episode 4, Helen Shaver. I logged on at midnight, 6pm New York time, and the most intense callback of my life ensued. We worked for ages on the first Magpie scene, doing it this way and that, almost to a point where I thought, “Am I messing this up? I don’t know which way is up anymore.” Right after the audition I was certain that was the end of the road on this one. But the next day I got a call from my agent that I had booked the job and needed to be on a plane back to New York the next morning for a hair and makeup test!”

For the Batman fan, it was a dream role and one of many complex characters she hopes to play.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been attracted to playing villains. And for as long as I can remember, I have been a Harry Potter fan,” says Marié of her ‘dream role’.

She adds that she’d love to play Bellatrix Lestrange but also doesn’t feel ready to say goodbye to Magpie.

“It excites me that Matt Reeves is cooking up a lot more in the DC Universe, and I do feel that this incredible character has a lot more story to offer. Fingers crossed!”

As for her South African roots, Marié shares that despite the length of her life in New York and identifying as a New Yorker in her soul, she will always be a South African at heart.

“It’s impossible to let go of the Afrikaans ‘boeremeisie’ in me, and I would never want to. The moment I step off the plane in Cape Town and smell the sea air, hear the melting pot of languages, step through immigration like a local and see my parents waiting to take me to Hermanus, I know I’m home, always.”

You can catch The Penguin on Showmax and M-Net with new episodes every Monday! You can catch the trailer below:

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South African conservationist Paul Gardiner’s new series ‘Natural Born Runners’ is set to take us on something of a conservation ‘marathon’ across the world! Paul is running all over the world’s last wilderness areas to meet wildlife heroes near and far:

Global (15 October 2024) — Conservationist and eco-tourism expert Paul Gardiner is taking us all on the run of multiple lifetimes thanks to his new series, ‘Natural Born Runners’.

Set to launch during the COP16 summit (AKA, the most important biodiversity event that unites eco-leaders across the world), ‘Natural Born Runners’ is set to take us all on a conservation adventure into and through some of the last wilderness areas in the world focused on the theme ‘Peace with Nature’ in line with COP16.

From icy terrains to open grasslands, Paul’s running shoes will take him across the world in a massive effort to learn about what conservationists are getting up to in their effort to prolong species’ environments and lifetimes.

A deep-rooted passion, Paul was born into a family for whom conservation efforts like rewilding were a labour of love. His father was a visionary who transformed Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape into one of the world’s leading conservation success stories; helping reintroduce lions, rhinos and elephants back into their natural habitat.

As such, Paul begins his trek in the Eastern Cape; retracing these efforts. From there, he ventures to Scotland’s Alladale Wilderness Reserve all the way to North America to learn of the inspiring restoration of the American bison there.

‘Natural Born Runners’ will also see him participate in Run Richmond 16.19—a race founded by Oscar-nominated actor and activist Djimon Hounsou (Amistad, Gladiator).

Along for the ride is Paul’s cameraman and aspiring wildlife filmmaker Christian Antoine, who makes up for what he lacks in endurance running through comedy and edutainment.

The series is set to be launched on YouTube as a way to connect with the next generation of nature’s guardians—young people.

“We need to inspire the youth to take ownership of the planet’s future, and YouTube is where they engage,” says Paul.

“If we’re going to make peace with nature, the next generation needs to be at the forefront.”

Watch: ‘Natural Born Runners’ Trailer

Sources: Email Submission

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South Africa has been named Africa’s Best Culinary Destination per the World Culinary Awards, following several wins from all sorts of restaurants, from fine dining to farm-to-table offerings!

South Africa (14 October 2024) — South Africans know that culinary offerings from our country tend to be peppered with that extra hit of pizazz, salted with something special, or cooked with a specific flavour of South African passion. But, did you know that your inclinations toward how good our food is have a lot of merit? Well, they do, because South Africa was recently named Africa’s Best Culinary Destination per the World Culinary Awards!

A mighty feast for the servers of feasts, the 2024 World Culinary Awards praised our country as the top destination for foodies coming to Africa.

On top of this, many individual restaurants were also spotlighted as winners of their own sub-categories, while the City of Cape Town was ranked the Best Culinary City Destination across the continent.

Winners From the 2024 World Culinary Awards

• Epice—South Africa and Africa’s Best Restaurant
• Salsify at the Roundhouse—Africa’s Best Landmark Restaurant
• The 11th Floor—Africa’s Best Rooftop Restaurant
• TANG V&A Waterfront—Africa’s Best Asian Cuisine Restaurant
• SALON—Africa’s Best New Restaurant
• SIBA—The Restaurant @ Table Bay—Africa’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant
• Babel @ Babylonstoren—Africa’s Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Says Charné Sampson the Head Chef of Epice on the full circle victory:

“We are over the moon to have received this acknowledgement – considering we won Best New Restaurant in 2020, to have been awarded the title of Best Restaurant in Africa only four years later is truly amazing. I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing hard-working, dedicated team.”

Additionally, Marble was plated as South Africa’s Best Culinary Experience, while Azure Restaurant @ The Twelve Apostles was named SA’s Best Hotel Restaurant!

Sources: World Culinary Awards 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South African artist, Jake Michael Singer, is to represent our country amid the world’s top contemporary artists in a prestigious exhibition overlooking none-other-than the Pyramids of Giza!

Global, South Africa (13 October 2024) — Thousands of years later, the Pyramids of Giza still stand magnificently as a glimpse into the world of ancients.

They are arguably one of the most fascinating structures from the Bronze Age and uniquely, structures that evoke as much (if not more) awe now as they did back then.

Considering that the pyramids have seen more of human history unfold than almost any other trope of engineering around the world, it goes without saying that it’s no small feat to showcase art among them. But, if you’re celebrated South African contemporary artist Jake Michael Singer, that feat is soon to be a reality!

Jake, who is based in Johannesburg and Istanbul, is set to mark a big mark on the global art scene with his participation in ‘Forever Is Now.04’, an internationally acclaimed outdoor art exhibition.

Planned to take place on the famous plateau overlooking the Pyramids, Jake is one of 12 leading contemporary artists from all over the world who will be taking part.

A celebration of art, history and culture, Jake will be representing South Africa with his sculpture ‘We Will Meet Again in the Sky’.

A monumental work that boasts 5 metres in height, the piece moulds themes of connection, transcendence and collective memory into an interpretation of the ancient Egyptian bird Bennu.

As Egyptian mythology buffs will know, Bennu is a symbol of creation and rebirth; transcending the boundaries of the physical and the eternal.

“Participating in ‘Forever Is Now.04’ is a profound moment for me,” says the artist.

“The setting amidst the ancient Pyramids of Giza is deeply inspiring and resonates with the themes of my work. I hope ‘We Will Meet Again in the Sky’ will spark reflection and dialogue among viewers from all corners of the globe.”

‘Forever Is Now04’ will run from 24 October 2024 to 16 November 2024.

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South Africa’s world-famous songbird and soprano Pretty Yende is the first opera singer to become an ambassador for the prestigious fashion house Dior!

Global (11 October 2024) — Prestigious fashion house Dior and South Africa have enjoyed many a moment together in 2024. From showcasing Capetonian fashion brand Earth Age’s crochet hats on a runway in Paris to incorporating art by Karoo-raised artist Hylton Nel, Dior is having a South African moment. But, perhaps the most exciting of Dior-South Africa dates has been Pretty Yende’s appointment as an ambassador for the house—a first of its kind!

The famed South African songbird and soprano is the first opera singer to ever become an ambassador for the fashion house; a match somewhat made in heaven.

When you think of Pretty Yende, you think of classic, feminine, bold, and elegant elements that are all central to the fashion house and Maria Grazia Chiuru’s designs.

 

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A post shared by PRETTY YENDE (@pretty_yende_official)

The bill is only fighting for the woman who was dubbed one of the Most Influential Africans of 2023 and sang at King Charles III’s coronation.

“Being enveloped by your creations has been a true honor and I am in sweet anticipation for what’s to come,” (sic) Pretty Yende said in praising Maria.

Aptly, her ambassadorship has run alongside another ‘Mama I made it’ achievement for the soprano—her role as Queen Mary in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda opera. Queen Mary of Scots was also known to have a keen interest in fashion during her life in the Renaissance.

Meanwhile, in other stunning news from South African songbirds, the Ndlovu Youth Choir’s African twist on the operatic classic ‘Nessun Dorma’ is an absolute must-hear that South Africans all over simply can’t get enough of!

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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According to Stanford University and other authorities, seven scientists from the University of Johannesburg are among the world’s best!

Global (10 October 2024) — Seven scientists from the University of Johannesburg have been praised among the world’s best thanks to a new list compiled by the likes of Stanford University in collaboration with information and analytics authority Elsevier.

The 2024 list recognises scientists’ reputations and capabilities, evaluating their ranking points based on different factors, including matters like total citations.

These scientists were evaluated across 22 fields and 176 subfields, recognising a myriad of efforts, both career-long and those achieved in a single year.

More than names on paper, the ranking is a powerful door-opener to many opportunities for future endeavours for the scientists, something imperative to South Africa’s growth in the field.

The seven scientists from UJ are:

• Prof Samuel Oluwatobi Oluwafemi
• Prof Reinout Meijboom
• Prof Philiswa Nomngongo
• Prof Omotayo Arotiba
• Prof Kriveshini Pillay
• Prof Friedrich Bickelhaupt (Distinguished Visiting Professor)
• Prof Suprakas Sinha Ray (Distinguished Visiting Professor)

“I am delighted to have learned that seven of our researchers in the Department of Chemical Sciences, including two Distinguished Visiting Professors are among the top 2% globally,” said Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at UJ, Prof Annah Moteetee.

“This prestigious recognition highlights the world-class research being conducted at UJ and underscores the significant contributions our faculty members are making to the global scientific community. Their impact not only elevates the reputation of our faculty but also strengthens our position as leaders in scientific advancement on the global stage.”

Meanwhile, in other STEM news from younger great minds, a Robotics team from Gauteng has been offered the shot to compete at the World Robot Olympiad finals thanks to their winning robot, the Green Guardian, which could be a game-changer in the face of climate change! Read all about it here.

Sources: University of Johannesburg 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Hout Bay siblings Holly and Ryley Smith have been crowned Ocean Racing World Champions thanks to the huge splash they made in Madeira at Worlds!

Global (08 October 2024) — Holly and Ryley Smith from Hout Bay don’t just share DNA. They also share fierce determination, champions’ hearts and a serious skillset when it comes to navigating watery raceways—so much so that the sibling duo have been crowned Ocean Racing World Champions!

The siblings both competed in the Ocean Racing World Championship held in Madeira, Portugal, where they would both come home and be splashed with victory as the Mixed Doubles U18 World Champions.

It wasn’t an easy feat. Conditions were said to have been challenging, with flat waters, strong currents, and fierce headwinds to tackle. Nonetheless, the siblings pushed through it all to claim their shared win.

Both are young talents, with Holly being in matric and Ryley in Grade 10. Their school, Camps Bay High, couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments.

“Holly and Ryley’s achievements are truly inspiring. Their dedication and commitment to the sport, combined with their teamwork as siblings, is something we don’t often see at this level. They are incredible ambassadors for both the school and South Africa,” said a proud Busi Ngcwama, the Head of Sport at their school.

In addition to their joint victory, both competitors also earned individual wins. Holly clinched silver in the Singles U18 Women event, while Ryley (who is an U16 athlete) took an impressive 6th position for his singles race in the U18 Men’s division.

If Holly’s name rings a bell, it’s because this is not her first World Champion rodeo. She is a three-time World Champ who has also won the Women’s Double U18 Canoe Marathon and the Women’s Singles U18 Ocean Racing event.

Young Ryley is following in his big sister’s footsteps epically, with this win marking his first World Champ title in Ocean Racing.

“Winning a World Championship is always an incredible feeling, but to do it with my brother in my final year of racing in the U18 category makes it even more unforgettable,” said Holly. 

Sources: Supplied; Camps Bay High School

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