South Africa’s Keith Boyd (Rainbow Runner) signed up for a mammoth ‘jog’ last year in July—the Cape to Cairo trek. With thousands of kilometres behind him, legs that are tired but a heart that’s determined, he is closer to Egypt than ever before, and still sharing words of positivity and insight along the way:

Sudan (05 March 2024) — South Africa’s Rainbow Runner Keith Boyd embarked on a mammoth jog in July last year after he left Cape Town on the long road to Cairo.

With conversations around election season in full swing in our home country, Keith’s reason for being on this continental odyssey becomes even more relevant. He became the Rainbow Runner to quite literally go the extra mile in encouraging active citizenship and voter participation (not for any single political party but rather the ethos of democracy), especially for young people.

And despite the many turns his path has taken (including being held at gun point en-route to the finish line) it’s a message he’s still willing to risk it all for.

But the end is near for the Rainbow Runner who had dusted well over 7000 kilometres in February. With a resilient heart, Keith has made it to Sudan, Egypt’s border country.

During Keith’s travels, he has been his followers’ eyes and ears on what other African countries are dealing with.

“The deepest challenges aren’t physical. They’re what I’ve witnessed in the people and societies they live in,” he shared.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Keith Boyd (@rainbowrunnerza)

With a willingness to discover as his guide, Keith is bringing an even bigger message to those who know of his trek—perspective. Lessons we can learn from other cultures, and how this run isn’t about one person or one dream of active citizenship, but a nation and a continent.

While the end dates for Keith’s run are not set in stone, his last update tapped in on day 217. He praised the Sudanese people for having “kindness of the highest order” and urged people to send prayers for the war they are facing.

Keith’s initial target was to finish the Rainbow Run in 280 days which could also set a world record. But even without world records, the dedication he’s made to South Africa’s future by encouraging people in the most epic way to remember that we can shape this future is an achievement worth its weight in accolades.

All the best for the final pushes Keith! You can keep up with his journey here.

Sources: Rainbow Runner

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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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An app developed by tech startup Vambo Technologies, co-founded by Chido Dzinotyiwei and Isheanesu Misi, stands as a pioneering language accessibility platform. It aims to empower users to seamlessly communicate, learn, and create content in various African languages, fostering cultural inclusivity and breaking linguistic barriers.

South Africa (04 March 2024) – When Chido Dzinotyiwei moved to South Africa from Zimbabwe as a child, language became both an obstacle and an opportunity for change. Her primary concern as an adult was children struggling with their mother tongue in new environments, facing challenges in pronouncing names, and finding it difficult to connect with the languages spoken in their surroundings.

Fast forward to today, the entrepreneur and Mandela-Rhodes Scholar, now based in Johannesburg, is on a mission with her business, Vambo Academy and project, Vambo AI, to address the vital language needs of African communities.

“Having moved to another country in my early schooling years, I had to learn a language in order to succeed at school and I had to learn other languages in order to make friends. I ended up having to repeat grade 4 because the only language I was fluent in at the time was my mother tongue [ChiShona] which was neither the local language nor the language of instruction”, she shared, detailing her own struggles with language barriers.

Vambo Academy, created in 2019, was initially a private language tutoring service conducted in people’s homes. It became a thriving endeavour until the pandemic abruptly halted the business. Faced with this challenge, Dzinotyiwei made a crucial decision for the continuity of the business by exploring the integration of technology into language education.

The same year Vambo Academy was created, Dzinotyiwei met her now co-founder, Isheanesu Misi, when he participated in a business pitch competition which she was hosting, called YouthSolve, aimed at solving unemployment. Although they initially lost touch, they reconnected three years later through social media, where Misi engaged with Dzinotyiwei’s content on language learning and technology.

Their shared ambition to build language tech led them to join forces and create Vambo AI. Derived from the ChiShona language, Vambo means ‘Origin’ or ‘Beginning.

“Language is part of our origin story as Africans, which is why we decided to build the “Origin” Academy and now “Origin” AI,” Dzinotyiwei said.

The shift towards technology was a natural progression for Vambo Academy, which promotes African languages through technical solutions. In 2023, Vambo AI emerged as an organic discovery for the co-founders while they were engaged in the development of a new app and feature, utilising the data from Vambo Academy.

“It was important to create Vambo Academy to curate a space where people – young and old – could reconnect with their roots through language, culture and heritage,” Dzinotyiwei expressed.

She then added, “the AI component allows us to do this in a different paradigm and reach more people through the use of technology that will ensure that Africa remains abreast with modern technology.”

Vambo AI, a multilingual generative AI platform, works by understanding multiple languages, including uncommon pairs, and being generative for content creation. Its goal is to empower Africans to engage in their languages, fostering a connection with the continent’s diverse linguistic landscape.

For example, a user can type in a question in Zulu and have it translated into Amharic.

With a strategic approach, the co-founders handpicked languages close to their hearts, starting with their mother tongue and broadening the spectrum based on valuable user feedback. Users can explore ten dynamic languages including Afrikaans, Amharic, ChiShona, English, French, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Kinyarwanda, kiSwahili, and Portuguese facilitated through www.app.vambo.ai.

Beyond language exploration, the nature of their work necessitates collaboration with a diverse array of individuals, including native speakers, academics, translators, creatives, and more. This has not only broadened their horizons but also forged impactful collaborations, particularly with schools seeking knowledge and language support.

However, the duo faced their fair share of challenges during the strategic planning and platform development phase.

“First, we found that there are limited resources available in Africa for building AI solutions. This includes data, infrastructure, and funding opportunities. We also realised that AI was more of an abstract concept to some of the people we were looking to serve. As a result, we had to rethink our approach and cater to our target market, enabling them to access the innovative and leading aspects of our solution,” Dzinotyiwei elaborated.

“Second, we had to apply our minds and think about how best to build the experience for our target users. One key lightbulb moment we had was when we realised that people are far better at recognizing languages within neighbouring communities or similar language groups than languages that were further removed,” she added.

For instance, a person whose native language is IsiXhosa is better at deciphering and understanding IsiZulu or Sesotho than they would be at doing the same for languages in other regions. To address this, Dzinotyiwei and Misi made it easier for the Vambo system to recognize languages through a free language detection software called Lingoscan by Vambo AI.

“Our model and any other models using that API can easily determine language and better cater to their users,” Dzinotyiwei said.

The co-founders discovered that establishing a company in language tech demands meticulous attention to detail and a steadfast commitment to building supporting infrastructure, particularly when aiming for accuracy and excellence.

Through feedback, users of Vambo AI, which is currently available for free, actively contribute to platform improvement.

“With our initial release, users would share examples that didn’t meet their expectations, and we would actively improve it. Now, users are not only using the platform for its initial purpose, but they are also creating and sharing new use cases within tourism, finance, immigration, enhancing what they are building.”

Dzinotyiwei shared an example of one user, Harvey Binamu, Director at Belenga Dev, a data researcher who utilised Vambo AI’s technology to integrate the plug-in to an SMS API allowing it to be used via text messages in the native language, unlocking another level of accessibility for the platform.

Vambo AI is in its beta phase at the moment and undergoing improvements.

However, to keep up with cutting-edge research in the field and actively address existing gaps, Dzinotyiwei and Misi consistently network with other stakeholders, forming a community to collaboratively solve common problems. Among them is their Responsible AI Advisor, Jonas Kgomo, who provides support and guidance, ensuring the development of AI that is safe for users and platforms while upholding the integrity of the languages offered by their business.

As the landscape of AI in Africa continues to evolve, it becomes imperative to examine the potential and challenges facing the industry. Taking this into account, Jonas Kgomo, the Responsible AI Advisor for Vambo AI, shared his perspective.

“Africa is home to a wealth of talent and innovation, and I believe that AI can be a powerful tool for solving some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. There remain global deliberation and democratic challenges ahead. I see opportunities for AI to improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and financial inclusion. However, there are also challenges that need addressing, such as the lack of access to data, data sovereignty, and the need for oversight across AI applications.”

“Vambo AI’s focus on linguistic diversity and cultural inclusivity is essential for creating AI solutions that are relevant and useful to people across the continent. I’m excited to see what Vambo AI accomplishes in the years to come, especially in unearthing qualities of indigenous knowledge and reconciling the techno-linguistic gap,” Kgomo added.

Dzinotyiwei and Misi might be innovative in their own right, however, they are part of a cohort of African youth who are looking to AI to change the language landscape on the continent. One example is that of Ghanaian Danny Manu, a serial entrepreneur, designer and manufacturer of live translation earbuds that help individuals and companies break language barriers with their inventions.

Manu’s earbuds are available for purchase on Amazon and offer translation for 37+ languages.

Looking ahead, Vambo AI aims to expand its features, making the platform multimodal with voice capabilities, Internet search, and additional languages. The journey of language tech, as outlined by the co-founders, is a testament to the potential of African-led AI solutions.

Sources: Bird / Vambo / Kabod Group

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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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The expedition team for the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s Africa Odyssey have faced several milestones and challenges so far; this is how the trip is going:

Northern Africa (03 March 2024) – Legendary South Africa-based explorer Kingsley Holgate and his team are two-thirds of the way through their 41^st humanitarian and geographic expedition which began in June 2023, and are now gearing up to reach some of the wildest and most isolated regions in central, north and west Africa.

Utilising new Defender 130s, the Afrika Odyssey expedition that began in June 2023, has already surpassed 40,000 kilometres along some of the most treacherous routes in Africa, withstanding torrential rains, excessive heat, and record floods in the past eight months.

This expedition is delving into the wild heart of 12 diverse African countries and has a strong conservation, culture, and community focus. The aim is to reach 22 unique wildlife reserves, managed by the conservation NGO African Parks in partnership with the government of each country.

“Over the past 30 years of adventuring in every country on the continent, we’ve come to realise that Africa’s iconic biodiversity and wildlife is under immense threat,” said Kingsley. “For a long time, we’ve been asking the question: is there hope for Africa’s wild spaces as well as the people who depend on it, in the face of burgeoning global demand for natural resources?”

“That’s what spawned the idea for this expedition and there’s good news. We’ve been privileged to see first-hand the incredible work being done to protect and restore vast tracts of wilderness and the frontline fight against criminal networks that profit from illegal trade in wildlife, logging, and mining.  We’ve heard gut-wrenching, personal stories of loss from rangers on the front line, alongside uplifting stories of hope that bear witness to the revival happening in many countries thanks to proactive governments, and the positive impact it is having on both wildlife and neighbouring communities.”

The expedition has now reached 15 of the 22 wildlife regions on their list. Starting in the northern tip of the Namib desert at Iona National Park in south-western Angola, it has journeyed through nine national parks in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi; and reached the furthest and highest source of the White Nile in the mountainous rainforests of Nyungwe in Rwanda; tackled a difficult route to two remote wildlife parks in South Sudan; and nearly lost the expedition Defenders to the worst floods in 20 years at Garamba national park in the remote north-eastern corner of the DRC.

The Afrika Odyssey expedition is also providing humanitarian support to communities living alongside these wildlife regions.

“Unusually high rainfall in the East and Central African regions have escalated malaria cases, especially in young children and babies,” said expedition leader Ross Holgate. “The whole team also contracted malaria whilst in East Africa and we know from personal experience how deadly malaria can be. So, we’ve distributed over 7,600 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to date on this journey. With one mosquito net protecting on average a mum and two children, that’s nearly 23,000 people safe from malaria.”

“We’ve also provided 1,800 reading glasses to poor-sighted, mostly elderly people in these isolated areas. Additionally, conservation education forms an integral part of this expedition. Through our Wildlife Art programme, we’ve helped educate thousands of children living alongside African Parks-managed protected areas about the values of caring for their environment. They are the future guardians of these wildlife gems and it’s important to pass on the baton of conservation, to ensure they continue to benefit from Africa’s wildlife resources in the coming years.”

“Ahead lies the most difficult part of the expedition, to reach seven wildlife regions in Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Benin,” continued Ross. “We’ll be tackling dense rainforest conditions, difficult river crossings, vast desert and rocky mountain terrain where water and fuel will be hard to come by, as well as potential security threats. The logistical issues for this chapter are extreme.”

Veteran expedition member ‘Shova Mike’ Nixon, one of only three people in the world to have completed all 19 Cape Epic mountain bike races, will attempt to cycle 600 kilometres on a specially adapted Evo-bike through Chad’s Sahel and Sahara desert to reach the World Heritage Site of Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve near the Libyan border.

“Ennedi is said to be the most beautiful part of the Sahara but I’m expecting a hard, physical test with powdery soft sand and temperatures above 40’C,” said Mike. “From what I’ve researched, this route hasn’t been attempted before by bicycle; hopefully it becomes another ‘first’ that adds an extra level of adventure and excitement to the expedition.”

The Afrika Odyssey’s Scroll for Conservation – with hundreds of pages already filled with inspiring messages from community leaders and beneficiaries, park rangers, conservation partners and government envoys –  will also complete the journey, as will the well-travelled Zulu calabash that is collecting symbolic water from all 22 African Parks-managed protected areas.

“We trust that the Zen of Travel will continue to ride with us,” concluded Kingsley. “We need to showcase the inspirational potential of Africa’s people and wild places – it is not all doom and gloom. We’re raring to go for chapter three of this incredible journey, continuing the humanitarian work, and meeting more passionate individuals who are dedicating their lives to this beautiful continent’s wild heart and rural communities.”

Follow the expedition on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsleyHolgateFoundation

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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In an effort to protect wildlife that call the Orange River home, South African and Namibian field rangers are on the case; teaming up to defend those who can’t defend themselves!

Orange River, South Africa (29 February 2024) — South African and Namibian field rangers have teamed up to up the heat on anti-poaching efforts in what South African National Parks have called a milestone collaboration between the two countries for the betterment of the environment.

By committing to a joint patrol, ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Field rangers alongside Namibian rangers are adding a fortress of backup to protect the wildlife that call the Orange River (one of the most important and longest rivers on the continent) home, with a big focus on fish species who need protection.

This effort comes to combat the illegal activities that have been on the rise; impacting fish populations and subsequently, the Orange River’s ecosystem and wider community.

The first efforts were underway in mid-November where the united rangers were able to apprehend suspects who were caught poaching through illegal fishing actions.

Where many of us might think of poaching as a concept reserved for endangered species, it is important to remember that many non-threatened species are still not safe and remain at risk. Nipping these problems in the net is only one part of the good these rangers are enforcing, with the second being their collaborative effort!

“This cross-border conservation collaboration serves as a shining example of solidarity in protecting our planet’s ecological treasures. It showcases the power of international cooperation in addressing complex environmental challenges and emphasises the importance of collective action in safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations.”—SANParks.

Sources: SANParks

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Eleven lions have been moved from the Sudan conflict zone to a sanctuary in South Africa where they will live out their lives in peace.

South Africa (19 February 2024) – Sudan is currently facing heavy conflict which has seen the need for organisations to evacuate animals that are being housed in the capital of Khartoum. In November last year, Four Paws International evacuated 48 wild animals from the area. They were transported to Wad Madani for safekeeping, and as of last week, eleven lions were brought to South Africa, where they are being kept at a big cat sanctuary.

The conflict has been ongoing and these lions were left traumatised, weak and emaciated. They responded well to the care offered to them by the Four Paws teams and once their strength was up, we transferred to the care of Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. Here they will continue to recover.

As Four Paws has a strict no-breeding policy, the rescued lions will be “spayed” to avoid any breeding in captivity. They are being placed in four interconnecting enclosures, separated by gender and behaviour and once settled in, the male lions will undergo vasectomies.

“We are glad that the tireless efforts of the FOUR PAWS team, with the support of the Sudanese authorities and our global network, paid off. These eleven lions are ambassadors for hope, and they symbolise a need for change in how humans treat animals.

Sadly, more and more conflicts arise all around the world, causing humanitarian crises but also posing a threat to captive animals dependent on human care. We work globally not only to rescue wild animals from cruel and dangerous conditions but also to prevent their suffering in the first place.

As we see the lions step on the grass in their new home after being stuck in the middle of a conflict zone for months, we are dedicated to care for and protect them for the rest of their lives. They will hear no more sounds of fighting or witness suffering among each other, but enjoy the natural surroundings of our South African sanctuary,” says FOUR PAWS CEO and President Josef Pfabigan.

Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary was chosen because it was established by Four Paws in 2006. It is one of 13 sanctuaries around the world, that works alongside the organisation, taking in rescued big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards.

There are currently over 100 big cats at the sanctuary, rescued from private keeping, circuses, zoos or conflict zones all across the globe.

The sanctuary encompasses a total area of 1,250 hectares. The land is also inhabited by other typical South African species that live freely like zebras and antelopes, as well as a wide variety of bird species that have found refuge on the property.

The eleven lions will make this their forever home, where they will get to live out their lives in peace and comfort.

Sources: Four Paws

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From a big dream in Joburg to expanding across the continent, GirlCode’s mission continues to empower African women in tech and it’s only getting greater:

Africa (18 February 2024) — GirlCode—an organisation on a mission to empower women and girls through tech, has come a wonderfully long way since the dream to reduce our unemployment rates through future-focused opportunities began in Johannesburg.

As GirlCode gears up for its 10th Annual Hackathon, the team reflect on just how much impact has been possible, and just how much more impact is possible! This reflection that has inspired GirlCode team’s decision to expand the Hackathon reach across the continent to 10 African cities!

Fittingly, the theme for this year’s Hackathon is ‘Empowering Change Across Africa’. For GirlCode, using opportunities that exist in tech spaces cleverly not only addresses the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) but also encourages female participation in a male-dominated field.

Past participants of the Hackathon have gone on to do incredible things, including attending Global Women in Tech conferences and securing job opportunities.

Says Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode, “We believe that technology has the power to shape a better future, and through the GirlCode Hackathon, we are inviting companies to join us in making a meaningful impact on the tech industry and contributing to positive change across the African continent. Together, let’s empower change across Africa and build a more inclusive and sustainable future.” 

The 2024 HackaThon is taking place from 31 August to 1 September, and you can find out more about the powerhouse organisation here, or about getting involved with sponsorships via sponsor@girlcode.co.za.

Sources: Supplied; GirlCode 

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With the Accra African Games under a month away, the excitement of South African athletes is loud and proud! Here are the sports South Africa will be participating in and rooting for!

South Africa (16 February 2024) — The 2024 (technically 2023) African Games set to take place in Accra, Ghana, are just under a month away and the excitement of athletes is loud and proud across South Africa.

This will be the 13th annual African Games where athletes from across the continent will compete in their respective disciplines for a chance to break records, win titles and make their home countries proud. A massive tournament that happens only every four years (usually one year before the Olympics, however 2023’s edition was delayed) the African Games are also a chance for our continent’s budding sporting excellence to shine on the prestigious platform.

Not to mention, opportunities to book qualifications for the Paris Olympics are also on the cards; including Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Cycling and Wrestling.

South Africa will be Participating in the Following Sports:

• Arm Wrestling
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Beach Volleyball
• Boxing
• Chess
• Cricket (Men and Womens)
• Hockey (Men and Womens)
• Judo
• Karate
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Triathlon
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
• Tennis

“The African Games have historically been a successful springboard for Team SA athletes who have gone on to claim world championship and international glory. All of Penny Heyns (six golds in 1995 Harare and 1999 Johannesburg), Chad le Clos (9 golds across Maputo in 2011 and Brazzaville in 2015) and Caster Semenya (gold in 2015 in Brazzaville), were some of the African Games champions who were also Olympic gold medallists,” said SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks.

According to the event’s organisers, the African Union, over 4000 athletes in total are expected to participate in the games from 8 to 24 March!

Full team lists have been announced and can be viewed on Team South Africa.

Sources: African Union; Team SA

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South African men’s and women’s wheelchair tennis teams won their titles and will now represent the continent as African champions!

Abuja, Nigeria (13 February 2024) — Good news for South African tennis has come in a big way after our local men’s and women’s wheelchair tennis teams won their titles at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Africa Qualification Event in Abuja, Nigeria. This has earned them the honour of representing the continent at the World Group Event as teams of African champions.

Meet the African Champions

Women’s team: Kgothatso Montjane and Mariska Venter

Men’s team: Alwande Sikhosana and Evans Maripa

Both teams performed outstandingly at the Paribas World Team Cup, defeating Morocco 2-0 in the men’s and women’s finals.

Led by coach Patrick Selepe, the teams have reminded South Africans (yet again) that the talent of our nation continues to conquer, inspire and uplift.

The news comes at a particularly significant time for South African tennis as our stints in Australia surrounding the Open didn’t go as planned. But if there’s one thing we know about our local sports heroes; being down does not mean being out!

The World Group Event is penciled for May and will take place in Turkey where teams from around the globe will slam down for victory.

Meanwhile, in other African champion-approved news, swimmer Erin Gallagher started off the World Aquatics Championship with a major splash after she broke an African record and secured her spot in the finals for the first time ever!

Sources: Tennis SA 

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South Africa’s Grammy tally is stacking up thanks to another recent win by Tyla, which has given us a great excuse to celebrate all the South Africans who have won the coveted award:

South Africa (06 February 2024) — Beyond being hilarious, resilient, hopeful and helpful, South Africans are talented. Maybe it’s all the extra practice time we have when the power goes off, or maybe we really just are that iconic. There are few things we at Good Things Guy love more than showing South African talent off, and Tyla’s recent addition to South Africa’s Grammy Tally has given us the perfect excuse to do just that.

According to a viral tweet on X by Africa Facts Zone, “South Africa has 13 Grammys, the highest in Africa.” But, there are actually more names that have contributed to South Africa’s Grammy Tally, and our award count is higher!

• Black Coffee: 1 Grammy and 1 nomination
• Dave Matthews: 2 Grammys and 16 nominations
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo: 5 Grammys and 17 nominations
• Lebo Morake: 1 Grammy and 1 nomination
• Miriam Makeba: 1 Grammy and 9 nominations
• Nomcebo Zikode: 1 Grammy and 1 nomination
• Phil Ramone: 14 Grammys and 32 nominations
• Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange: 5 Grammys and 20 nominations
• Soweto Gospel Choir: 3 Grammys and 5 nominations
• Tyla: 1 Grammy and 1 nomination
• Trevor Rabin: 1 Grammy and 6 nominations
• Wouter Kellerman: 2 Grammys and 4 nominations
• Zakes Bantwini: 1 Grammy and 1 nomination

Special mentions go to Doja Cat (Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini), who is half South African and has 1 Grammy, and Trevor Noah, who has hosted the Grammys for four consecutive years.

Sources: Recording Academy Grammy Awards; Medium

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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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The South African tennis juniors are flying the flag high in Windhoek at the Southern Africa Junior Championships; they’ve already earned several medals.

Windhoek, Namibia (11 January 2024) – The u14 and u16 teams have left South Africa feeling really proud. The tennis juniors have already earned three gold medals and a silver.

The Tennis South Africa juniors are flying the flag high in Namibia for the Southern Africa Junior Championships (Zonals). The championship is running from the 6th to the 14th of January 2024.

The championship is hosted by the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT). This is the first of many to come this year, including events in Burundi, Egypt and Togo.

The teams are led by coaches Khotso Matshego, Terry Schweitzer, Sabelo Mathebula, and Ilze Hattingh. Each of the teens will be partaking in individual and team events.

These are the medal wins so far as shared by Tennis South Africa:

• Gold: Jamie Roux clinched the boys under-14 singles title with a fantastic victory over M. Seetso from Botswana, securing the win at 6-4, 6-3.
• Gold: John Bothma emerged victorious in an all-South African boys under-16 singles final, narrowly defeating Connor Doig 6-3, 7-6(1) for the title.
• Gold: Allegra van der Walt dominated the girls under-16 event, claiming the championship in an all-South African final against Morgan Jordaan with an impressive 6-2, 6-2 victory.
• Silver: Jordan Edwards showed tremendous talent, earning the runner-up spot in the girls under-14 category, despite a tough final against K. Chapepa of Zimbabwe 6-2, 6-1.

Congratulations on the wins team! With three more days left in the championship, we will be sure to keep you updated on more of their wins.

You can find the full team list here.

Sources: Tennis South Africa

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

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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