Africa Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/africa/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:55:18 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-gtg_favicon-32x32.png Africa Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/africa/ 32 32 South Africa’s Brad Cox Crowned World Rally2 Champion in Morocco https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/brad-cox-crowned-world-rally2-champion-in-morocco/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/brad-cox-crowned-world-rally2-champion-in-morocco/#respond Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:00:07 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=133751

Brad Cox has done it! He has gone on to win the World Rally2 Championship in Morocco after a gruelling yet fulfilling race.   Morocco (15 October 2024) – After...

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Brad Cox has done it! He has gone on to win the World Rally2 Championship in Morocco after a gruelling yet fulfilling race.

 

Morocco (15 October 2024) – After an exemplary year in MotoSports, South African Brad Cox (26) has achieved his goal after being crowned the World Rally2 Champion in the 2024 Rallye Du Maroc, World Rally-Raid Championship last weekend. Brad, who races for BAS World KTM Racing, scored a double whammy by winning the rally and the title in Morocco, snatching the championship from Romain Dumontier (Team Honda) with Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally) coming third.

His exceptional achievement caught the attention of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, Gayton McKenzie, who took to social media to congratulate the young competitor, saying:

“26-year-old South African Bradley Cox has won the World Rally 2 Rally Raid Championship for 2024. This is really fitting because next year we are hosting the big one, W2RC, in SA.”

The Minister is referencing the fact that South Africa is set to host the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) from 18 to 24 May 2025 in North West and Limpopo. The event will feature diverse terrain, with the race route traversing bushveld plateaus, river crossings, and savannah plains in the areas of Sun City, Thabazimbi, and the agricultural heart of North West.

Excitement is mounting for the event following Brad’s impressive win on his new 2025 KTM 450 Rally Factory Replica – as a privateer rather than a factory rider – which is made even more special by the fact that friend and mentor, Ross Branch (Botswana) won the RallyGP World Championship in Morocco. RallyGP is the top moto class, with riders and manufacturers eligible for the World Championship in FIM rankings. This class is only open to the most experienced competitors while Rally2 is available to any rider not yet considered RallyGP. With his recent victory, Brad will now compete in the next Dakar Rally in the RallyGP class.

Speaking after the event, Brad, who shares his passion for the sport with his father, the ex-KTM factory rider, Alfie Cox, said:

“Coming in I was down eight points and while there was a chance to be champion, really the week had to fall perfectly for me and it did. From the start, I had my goal set and put my head down, knowing that for the next five days I would do whatever it takes to win – and that’s what happened! Every day I got better and better.

“Having the title ‘World Champion’ next to your name is great, and I’m really proud. Proud of the effort it took and the sacrifices to get to this point. It’s not just me, it’s my team, my family, my sponsors…it’s a massive group effort and to have it payoff is amazing. Now we get ready for Dakar. This is a building block and has given me the confidence, and hopefully, Dakar can go as well as this week has!”

Commenting on Brad’s performance, Bart van der Velden, the BAS World KTM Racing Team Manager, said,

“It was great to see that all the training and hard work he’s put in over the last few years has paid off. In the past year-and-a-half, Brad has taken big steps in his navigation and his training. It’s been a lot of effort so everyone in the team is really happy for him. I’m confident in the upcoming Dakar. Morocco was a test – the first outing on the new bike – and we’re all so happy it worked out.”

Earlier this year, Brad competed in the Dakar Rally, which was described as one of the most challenging races on record, where he put on an impressive performance in the Rally2 category, finishing 13th overall in the Bike Category. He was also the only South African to make it to the Top 20 overall in the contest.

Brad was able to compete with the help of generous sponsors who were committed to backing his racing dream. These included Toyota Gazoo Racing, ASP international rope access, Bas World KTM Racing Team, Leader Tread, Trollope Mining, Face First Media, PSlaser Racing, KTM South Africa, Airoh Helmets, Gaerne Boots, Shot Racing, TRP Distributors, 100%, USN, USWE, and Red Bull.


Source: 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 is the Best Culinary Destination on the Continent! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/south-africa-is-the-best-culinary-destination-on-the-continent/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/south-africa-is-the-best-culinary-destination-on-the-continent/#respond Mon, 14 Oct 2024 15:30:25 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=133678

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...

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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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Africa’s First World Rally Raid Champion: Ross Branch Makes History! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/africas-first-world-rally-raid-champion-ross-branch-makes-history/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/africas-first-world-rally-raid-champion-ross-branch-makes-history/#respond Sat, 12 Oct 2024 05:03:00 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=133578

Africa has a new motorsport hero! Botswana’s Ross Branch has made history, becoming the first African rider to win the World Rally Raid Championship, a triumph that cements Africa’s place...

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Africa has a new motorsport hero! Botswana’s Ross Branch has made history, becoming the first African rider to win the World Rally Raid Championship, a triumph that cements Africa’s place in the global motorsport arena.

 

Botswana (12 October 2024) – Africa has just gained a new champion in the world of motorsport, and it’s time to celebrate! Ross Branch, a proud son of Botswana, has made history by becoming the first rider from the continent to win the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).

This achievement isn’t just a personal triumph for Ross – it’s a moment of immense pride for the entire continent.

Ross, representing Hero Motosports Team Rally powered by Motul, has taken the rally world by storm, proving his unmatched talent and dedication. Known as “The Kalahari Ferrari,” Ross has spent a lifetime chasing adventure and pushing the limits. Now he stands as a world champion – an inspiration for riders everywhere, especially those from Africa.

Ross secured this incredible achievement on African soil, wrapping up the final stage of the Rallye du Maroc to become the 2024 W2RC Champion. After a fantastic season that began with a podium finish at the Dakar Rally earlier this year, Ross only needed to complete the final race to cement his legacy. His journey from second place at the Dakar to becoming the World Rally Raid Champion is one for the history books.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that although Ross isn’t South African, he hails from Southern Africa and Botswana is a neighbour to us (and a hop and a skip from Joburg)! That’s more than enough for us to claim him as our own! His grit and determination shine brightly, and his victory is a win for all of Africa.

Africa's First World Rally Raid Champion: Ross Branch Makes History!
Ross Branch on the Rallye du Maroc 2024 | Photo Credit: Motul | Supplied

From a young age, Ross has been no stranger to speed and adventure. He started racing at the tender age of four and has since become a force to be reckoned with in rally racing. With two Dakar stage wins, a World Championship win in Kazakhstan in 2021, and seven victories in his home event – the Botswana 1000 Desert Race – Ross’ career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, he adds the ultimate title to his list of achievements: World Rally Raid Champion.

Reflecting on his journey, Ross said, “It’s been an incredible season, and to end it with the championship title means the world to me. My team has been incredible, and the support from my fans across the world has kept me going. I’m proud to represent Africa on the global stage.”

This success hasn’t come without hard work. Ross’ dedication, combined with the reliability of his Hero 450 motorcycle and support from partners like Motul, has been key to his triumph. His passion for rally racing, along with the backing of the Hero Motosports Team, has paved the way for this momentous win. The team, based in Jaipur, India, has been competing since 2016 and is the first Indian team to achieve a podium finish at the Dakar Rally. Now, with Ross’ victory, they’ve brought even more global attention to the sport.

Ross’s incredible journey reminds us that dreams have no boundaries. Africa is proud to have its first World Rally Raid Champion, and his success is a reminder of the potential and talent that exists on our continent.

Here’s to celebrating Ross and his historic achievement – proving that no matter where you’re from, you can conquer the world!


Sources: Ross Branch 
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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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A Wake-Up Call for the Future as Africa’s Nurturing Care Deficit Increases https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/a-wake-up-call-for-the-future-as-africas-nurturing-care-deficit-increases/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/a-wake-up-call-for-the-future-as-africas-nurturing-care-deficit-increases/#respond Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:00:59 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=132172

120 local NGOs formed part of a network, working to tackle Africa’s nurturing care deficit by calling on leaders at the UN Summit of the Future to make a real...

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120 local NGOs formed part of a network, working to tackle Africa’s nurturing care deficit by calling on leaders at the UN Summit of the Future to make a real difference.

 

South Africa (02 October 2024) – The UN Summit of the Future held in September 2024 in New York aimed to secure concrete promises and action plans by Heads of State to fulfil existing commitments to achieve sustainable development and bridge the Nurturing Care Deficit.

Child rights organisations across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa united to sound the alarm: our children are being left behind, and with them, the future of the continent.

In a bold submission to the organisers of the Summit, a network of over 120 NGOs, including the Families for Children Consortium, the South Africa Parent Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN), the South African National Child Rights Coalition (SANCRC), Give a Child a Family Africa, Save the Children South Africa and Breadline Africa, laid bare the urgent need to place children’s rights at the heart of global development agendas.

Their collective voice were clear: without comprehensive, universal parenting support to enable nurturing care, Africa’s development goals will remain out of reach. Countries across the region and in South Africa recognise this and have made clear policy commitments to universalise support to parents to enable their provision of nurturing care. These promises must be fulfilled by ensuring parents are supported from conception until the age of three through a health system that is geared towards improved development and not just survival, followed by structured quality early care and learning programmes from pre-school to matriculation.

Startling reality:

  • Globally, just 17% of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are on track. In Africa, only 6% of the 32 measurable SDGs targets are on track to be achieved by 2030. The rest? They’re either stalled or regressing.
  • In 2023, 185 million plus children under 5 in SSA – set to grow to 200 million by 2030 – By 2050, Africa will be home to 1 billion children.
  • Of equal concern is that less than half of children under the age of 5 years do not develop their full potential, and the numbers are at risk of increasing as the child population grows.

The submission underscores a chilling reality: the failure to realise the potential of Africa’s children is a root cause of the continent’s slow progress toward the SDGs. And this failure stems from a widening deficit in nurturing care, exacerbated by growing social, economic, and political adversities.

The youth dividend at risk:

“Africa’s greatest asset is its youth,” the submission asserts, yet this asset remains underutilised. The so-called “youth dividend,” the potential economic growth to be realised from a growing youth population, will remain a pipe dream if countries do not fulfil their commitments to provide comprehensive support for parents and caregivers.

“We are at a crossroads,” says Patricia Martin-Wiesner, coordinator of the submission process and founder of Advocacy Aid. “If we continue to neglect the early years, particularly the first three years of life, we are not only failing our children but jeopardising the future of the entire continent.”

A call for urgent action:

The network’s submission called on the UN Summit of the Future to prioritise and invest in integrated parenting support programmes to remedy the nurturing care deficit. It demanded that the Pact for the Future, be endorsed by Member States in New York in September 2024, explicitly committed to universalising comprehensive parental support from conception until children exit childhood at the age of 18 years.

“We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past,” the submission warns. “The Pact must not only emphasise certain services at certain stages of life but ensure that comprehensive, sustained support is provided across the entire course of a child’s development.”

The network’s message is clear: the time for action is now. If we fail to invest in our children today, we will pay the price tomorrow.


Sources: Supplied
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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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Speedy Cape Town Cube Solver is a Continental Champion  https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/speedy-cape-town-cube-solver-is-a-continental-champion/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/speedy-cape-town-cube-solver-is-a-continental-champion/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2024 06:30:20 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=131989

15-year-old Daniel Rush is not your average rubric cube enthusiast. He’s a master cube solver who has won the title as Africa’s champion and has the ability to solve a...

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15-year-old Daniel Rush is not your average rubric cube enthusiast. He’s a master cube solver who has won the title as Africa’s champion and has the ability to solve a cube ‘puzzle’ faster than the time it’d take to read this intro!

 

Cape Town, South Africa (30 September 2024) – Most of us have felt the awe and sensation of satisfaction that comes with witnessing someone crack a rubric cube or, better yet, solving one ourselves. Even if it took days, the feeling is pretty unparalleled. But what if you could do it in a matter of seconds? Under intense pressure? And at 15 years old? If the aforementioned sounds impossible, you haven’t met Daniel Rush—Cape Town’s champion cube solver.

Never mind Cape Town; Daniel has actually won the title of Africa’s champion cube solver before. With the ability to crack a cube in just under 5 seconds, it’s not hard to understand why!

Daniel has solved 2008 cubes of different specs and in different ways (including being blindfolded) during his time as a competitor. You’d think Daniel is someone who has been in the game for decades. Yet, the champion hasn’t even finished high school yet.

Competing since the age of 9, Daniel’s dedicated a lot of his young life to cubes of all magnitudes. He boasts 80 gold wins, 37 silver and 28 bronze as per the World Cube Association and has competed at every level—from national to world championships.

His magic might be far beyond the imaginings of many who have never experienced the rush of a solved cube, but despite its unique nature, it’s certainly impressed his country and continues to impress the world.


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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Double Bronze for SA Students at International Informatics Olympiad  https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/double-bronze-for-sa-students-at-international-informatics-olympiad/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/double-bronze-for-sa-students-at-international-informatics-olympiad/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:00:05 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=131565

Team South Africa clinched two bronze medals and an honourable mention at the 2024 International Olympiad in Informatics!   Alexandria, Egypt (20 September 2024) — The South African team proved...

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Team South Africa clinched two bronze medals and an honourable mention at the 2024 International Olympiad in Informatics!

 

Alexandria, Egypt (20 September 2024) — The South African team proved their programming chops at the 36th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2024), bagging two bronze medals and an honourable mention at the most prestigious competition for young computer whizzes.

Held in Alexandria, Egypt, earlier this month, young hotshots from 91 countries vied to make their countries proud. Here, 362 competitors were given a series of complex coding challenges over two intense days of competition to prove both their skills and their ability to crumble or crack the code under pressure.

Team South Africa consisted of four bright minds selected from the top talent pool in the 2023 Programming Olympiad as part of the South African Computer Olympiads and a flagship initiative of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA).

They are Minkyum and Youkyum Kim of Reddam House in Durbanville, Hugo Bruwer of Paarl Boys’ High and Yian Xu of Redhill High, led by team leader Benjamin Kleyn, a BSc Mathematics student.

Minkyum and Hugo claimed a bronze accolade each, while Youkyum earned the honourable mention!

It was a big moment for the continent, with Kamohelo Motloung, South African Computer Olympiads Manager and IITPSA Education Officer, explaining that participation from Africa was limited.

“A special project is planned to get more countries from Africa to participate in future. The possibility of a continental contest for Africa was also discussed.”

Explaining how the competition works, Benjamin shares:

“There were two contest days, and three tasks each worth 100 points per day. Contestants had 5 hours on each day to score points on the tasks. The top half of contestants received medals. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded in a 1:2:3 ratio. Honourable mentions were also awarded to those who placed in the top half on one of the days, but not overall.”

But, it wasn’t all work and no play. Team South Africa also got to enjoy other culturally rich activities outside of the Olympiad, such as visions of the breathtaking pyramids and Alexandria’s beaches and a tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum.


Sources: Supplied—Institute of Information Technology Professionals 
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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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Sean and Rocky Tackle a Desert Adventure Guided by Heart  https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/sean-and-rocky-tackle-a-desert-adventure-guided-by-heart/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/sean-and-rocky-tackle-a-desert-adventure-guided-by-heart/#respond Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:52 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=129106

Adventurer Sean and his trusty buddy Rocky the Jack Russell are on the desert adventure of a lifetime as they tackle the mighty Namib Desert all to raise fund for...

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Adventurer Sean and his trusty buddy Rocky the Jack Russell are on the desert adventure of a lifetime as they tackle the mighty Namib Desert all to raise fund for the Kloof and Highway SPCA Outreach Clinics!

 

Namib Desert, Namibia (21 August 2024) — Adventure enthusiast Sean Fraenkel and his spirited adventure buddy Rocky the Hack Russell are cycling across one of the world’s most challenging terrains—the Namib Desert—all to raise funds for the Kloof and Highway SPCA Outreach Clinics!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by RockysRide (@rockysride)

No stranger to the thrill of epic challenges, Sean is a seasoned adventurer who has explored oceans deep as a diver and landscapes wide as a cyclist. But, the best adventures are roadmaps to greater purposes; exactly what Sean and Rocky hope to accomplish in Namibia.

“This journey is about more than just the physical challenge; it’s about making a difference,” says Sean on behalf of the duo.

With his own dog by his side, the pair’s desert adventure is guided by a goal to raise R50,000 for Kloof and Highway to help make a lasting impact on the lives of countless animals. The plan is for the funds to be used to sterilise, treat and vaccinate animals in disadvantaged areas.

Every twist and turn of the way is being documented via Instagram @RockysRide. From battling brutal headwinds and thick sand to encountering the otherworldly beauty of the Namib Desert and all the warthogs chased in between (which might’ve been Rocky’s favourite part)—man and his best friend are embracing absolutely all of it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by RockysRide (@rockysride)

Already, Sean and Rocky have completed a whopping 830kms.

“The road from Sessriem to Beta has been brutal but spectacularly beautiful,” Sean reflects. Mileage is hard won with the many natural elements at play, but the motivation to push forward continues with each supporter of the cause.

“This has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” the adventurer adds. “But the outpouring of support from strangers, the beauty of the Namib Desert, and the cause we’re riding for keeps us going.”

You can support Sean and Rocky’s Ride by keeping up with their adventure sharing and of course, contributing to their fundraising campaign 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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Africa Backed to Produce Multiple World Paralympic Champions! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/africa-backed-to-produce-multiple-world-paralympic-champions/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/sport/africa-backed-to-produce-multiple-world-paralympic-champions/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 13:00:06 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=129015

With the Paralympic Games around the corner, the spotlight is on our continent, with sights set on many para-athletes returning home from Paris as Paralympic Champions! And Team South Africa...

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With the Paralympic Games around the corner, the spotlight is on our continent, with sights set on many para-athletes returning home from Paris as Paralympic Champions! And Team South Africa is part of the countries setting the pace:

 

Global (20 August 2024)—If the African tone set at the just-ended Paris 2024 Olympics Games is anything to go by, then it makes sense to suggest that Africa’s over 200 para-athletes will not just be participants at the Games but serious contenders boasting chances to return home as Paralympic Champions.

Samson Deen, President of the African Paralympic Committee, provides more insight into our continent’s prospects.

Following in the Footsteps of Countries Like South Africa

“To improve on our gold medals, we need countries like Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali to emulate Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, and Morocco’s success in Tokyo,” says Samson.

“These five countries earned 20 gold medals in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games for Africa, underscoring our quality to upset the odds in Paris.”

“We’re confident our athletes will represent Africa with honor and pride,” Samson adds as the Committee close in on final preparations ahead of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

“Africa’s potential is unstoppable. We’re dedicated to showcasing its greatness through the unwavering can-do spirit of our remarkable pare-athletes.”

Inspiration Aplenty

Success stories for Africa at the Paris Olympics were giant-slaying strides. From South Africa earning 6 medals across disciplines (including the first Olympic mountain bike medal for Africa thanks to Alan Hatherly) to Botswana’s Laetrile Tebogo becoming the first African runner to win the 200m final at the Olympic Games, many moments were impressive firsts and tone-setters.

On top of these achievements, the South Sudan Men and Nigeria Women Basketball Teams have also showcased their talent in unique ways with historic runs will forever be referenced.

And, Uganda’s Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei who is no stranger to smashing world records completed 10,000m exploit at Paris in another nod to the proud moments from our continent.

Says Samson of these great moments in relation to future Paralympic Champions:

“We are witnesses to how Tebogo, Joshua Cheptegei, and others have admirably carried on the African legacy in the ongoing competition.” “Undoubtedly, the African para-sports world eagerly awaits its turn.”

“Our para-athletes, like Pieter Du Preez, Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi, and Zinabu Issah, and many others are trailblazers. With the right motivation and character, we can produce more world champions.”

A Push for Government Support

“Governments supporting Para-Sports initiatives are building a nation,” Samson adds.

“The success of the first African Para Games marks a significant milestone in our efforts to rally support and draw attention to disability sport on the continent…Governments must take the lead in this initiative. It’s a process, and we’re making progress.”

The President of the African Paralympic Committee encourages:

“Building a nation on inclusivity creates a foundation for equality, diversity, and prosperity.”

The Paris Paralympics will take off on 28 August until 8 September.


Sources: Adapted from Sportsboom.com
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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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Malaria Elimination Efforts Welcome a Boost! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/malaria-elimination-efforts-welcome-a-boost/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/malaria-elimination-efforts-welcome-a-boost/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:56 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=128971

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” —West African Proverb. While World Mosquito Day might not be a...

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“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” —West African Proverb. While World Mosquito Day might not be a highlight on everyone’s calendars, good news has come for malaria elimination efforts thanks to many tiny actions building up into big change:

 

Pretoria, South Africa (20 August 2024) — The 20th of August marks World Mosquito Day. Hardly a celebration surrounding the cause of so many sleepless nights in the best cases and so many lives lost in the worst, the real cause for applause on this day is the progress made to enact more malaria elimination efforts.

At a glance, World Mosquito Day commemorates the 1897 discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross that female anopheline mosquitos were and are responsible for transmitting malaria between humans. But this is not a day stuck in the past.

As is well known, the mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world, killing over 700,000 people every year. A West African proverb famously says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” But, just as a single mosquito can wreak havoc, small decisions and efforts have the power to make significant changes for the better.

A fantastic example of this is the many small malaria elimination efforts that have added up significantly over the past two decades to the point that people are now safer than ever from the disease.

As the University of Pretoria’s Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Themba Moria shares:

“Today more regions are malaria-free than ever before, with more countries reporting a decreasing number of malaria cases.”

But, the job is not done. As Professor Moria adds, half the world still lives at risk.

Taking action to protect more lives and prevent stagnation, malaria elimination efforts in the SADC region have received a significant boost thanks to a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC) and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to End Malaria.

This MoU is aimed at enhancing and consolidating malaria elimination efforts with regional and international stakeholders like the World Health Organisation, the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the National Department of Health and Goodbye Malaria all joining forces.

This indicates positive strides in malaria elimination efforts that will rely on collaborative and cross-boarder approaches to solutions set to lift burdens off medical practitioners while investigating more nitty gritty details of the disease, its causes and its impact in an ever-changing environment.

“The aim is to make significant strides in reducing the burden of malaria and addressing major global concerns affecting its prevalence through capacity building initiatives, student support initiatives, the implementation of impactful projects addressing challenges such as resource mobilisation and climate change, and the strengthening of cross-border collaboration,” explains Dr Taneshka Kruger, UP ISMC’s Project Manager.

Professor Tiaan de Jager (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UP and the Director of the UP ISMC adds that the collaborative efforts will enhance capabilities and extend reach.

“Together, we will leverage collaborative research, share best practices and develop comprehensive strategies to address the root cause of malaria.”

Weighs in Ednah Baloyi, Director of Malaria and other Vector-Borne Diseases at South Africa’s National Department of Health:

“We all know that malaria knows no bounds, borders or boundaries, and neither should our efforts to combat it.”

Dr Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership, says: “The signing of this MoU for me demonstrates collaboration and the will to innovate and work together with academia. I believe innovation, from an intersectional point of view, is important. We need to explore linkages between malaria and gender, malaria and humanitarian efforts, malaria and the climate change challenges, and other important issues surrounding the disease.”

Dr Douglas Tendai Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and incoming Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee on Health, commended the MoU, saying it is an important milestone because it will, among other things, provide support to the region’s medical practitioners, who are managing the disease at the local level. He emphasised that it is the role of governments to own the processes of eliminating malaria by providing clear, sound, and impactful leadership.


Sources: Supplied—University of Pretoria 
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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 Talent Captivates Crowd at Carnegie Hall https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/south-african-talent-captivates-crowd-at-carnegie-hall/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/south-african-talent-captivates-crowd-at-carnegie-hall/#respond Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:00:11 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=128639

South African talents gave Carnegie Hall a series of performances that’ll go down as dreams come true!   Global (15 August 2024) — South African musicians recently took to Carnegie...

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South African talents gave Carnegie Hall a series of performances that’ll go down as dreams come true!

 

Global (15 August 2024) — South African musicians recently took to Carnegie Hall’s famed stage with talent, culture and the sounds of South Africa in a series of performances that made World Orchestra Week a symphony of success.

For any musician, performing at Carnegie Hall only happens when one’s eyes are closed and is often interrupted by an alarm. But for an abundance of South Africans part of the Africa United Youth Orchestra, there was no sleep necessary for this dream to be experienced.

World Orchestra Week carves out an important time in the international music community’s calendar to celebrate the sounds of the world. The instruments might be similar or the same, but the energy with which they’re played never is—especially with compositions from home countries reigning supreme.

For the newly united African United Youth Orchestra organised by the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, it was a chance to showcase Africa’s best, young and now without question, world class musicians. You might recall a handful of them as the Stellies 6 who were selected for the Orchestra on strings!

In an ode to the countries that made them who they are, musicians were asked to adorn clothes from their culture.

“We were asked to bring items of clothing to represent our culture and how surreal it was to bring the Khoi with me. Performing works by South African composers and getting the audience to their feet with Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata was a moment of feeling “Proudly South African” in a moment in South African history that feels so uncertain,” reflects violinist Lynn Daphne Rudolph who also led the viola section for the tour.

Meanwhile in other exciting news for young musicians on home soil, 20 talents from all parts of South Africa have been selected to compete in the prestigious National Youth Music Competition!


Sources: Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra; Lynn Daphne Rudolph.
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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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