Thanks to an old, discarded coffee machine, Lisette and Sanele, the recycler, had the fortune of crossing paths. But this was not any friendship. For Sanele, it meant having someone to believe in him and in turn, inspire him to get off the streets—which he did! All the feels:

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 March 2024) — For Sanele Tolashe, a fortuitous friendship with Lisette Datnow did not just mean having a new person to call a friend. Sanele credits Lisette as the reason his life changed, and the reason he is no longer a street recycler.

Sanele and Lisette met thanks to an old coffee machine that Lisette’s son Michael had discarded back in 2020’s early lockdown.

“Somehow it was fortuitous that I saw [Sanele] pick the machine up and he said he was going to have coffee every morning like normal people,” Lisette recalls.

Every Tuesday, Lisette, Sanele and his late friend Lucky would chat when they came by to recycle items. Lisette began helping with cardboard collections from her office.

When the community worked on an upgrade project across the road, Sanele was in on the helpful action. This led to Lisette and her friends collecting new T-shirts, industrial safety boots and gloves for him, and at the handover, he and his friends and Lisette and her friends all sat in the park and talked. People from completely different worlds, weaved together with kindness and respect.

“These were people who were down on their luck, but good, decent people,” says Lisette. 

The friendship continued from there, and Lisette learned more about Sanele’s life, slowly becoming more than a friend, but someone who encouraged him with unwavering determination.

Sanele had a good life growing up in Carletonville but shares that things changed after his father and mother died. Despite going to school, he wasn’t able to finish his diploma due to financial reasons. After he found work, things changed again when the company closed. This led him to recycling, the streets and eventually, to ‘Miss Liz” as he affectionately calls Lisette.

“That’s when my life changed, because she saw me as a person with potential to change my life around and by that she always encouraged [me] to never give up and always hope for the better,” says Sanele. 

He adds that after spending time with her, he became inspired to get off the streets.

“I packed my things and told myself I’m not gonna live the rest of my life living in the streets.”

Sanele moved in with one of his brothers and got a job as a cashier—the beginning of many more moments he is proud of.

“I was delighted and have followed his progress since,” Lisette shared, adding that they are still very mouch in touch. 

Lisette was key in rallying for Sanele to further his studies (the same momentum Liz had shown before for Sandisiwe who needed spectacles for her studies). Despite the fundraising not panning out, Sanele is now happily working at a construction company.

“I’m grateful to have met Miss Liz because without her, maybe I would still be living in the streets eating unhealthy food from the bins. That’s why I love her has my mother.” 

Lisette’s message to others is to show up with kindness, avoid being presumptuous about others’ circumstances and help where you can—even if it’s striking up a conversation or giving a recycler a colourful bin so the sorting process is easier.

“Only in South Africa can you get this type of friendship. To ask people to “BE KIND” and treat everyone with respect. You don’t know their story or their struggles. Recyclers are trying to make an honest living…if everyone can just be kind, this world would be a better place.”—Lisette Datnow. 

Sources: GTG Interview 

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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.

The post How a Fortuitous Friendship Helped Change Sanele the Recycler’s Life  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

After a 19-year-old stunt biker went to collect takeout, he suffered a terrible accident that fractured many bones in his face. This could’ve left him with permanent damage for the rest of his life if it wasn’t for a community of Good Samaritans who made his urgent surgery possible in the nick of time!

Vereeniging, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Aidan Roos, a 19-year-old from Three Rivers, Vereeniging, and a promising stunt biker with aspirations to showcase his skills in China, suffered a life-altering accident last month.

A seemingly routine outing for takeout took a disastrous turn when he slipped on a wet floor, and his face collided with a balustrade, causing severe facial injuries that abruptly halted his dreams.

But, in an incredible turn for Aidan and his family, his broader community came together just in time to help Aidan get the urgent surgery he needs; setting him on the road to both recovery and his dreams.

A series of initial misfortunes led to Aidan being unable to get his treatment sooner. Initially, he was sent home by the hospital as they were unable to proceed with the operation due to swelling. This led to medical aid opting not to cover his plight as they only cover up to 24 hours after a trauma, according to his Aunt Lynette Smith.

Everything changed for Aidan after that. His mom, Roeline Botha expressed that it has “brought  his bright future to a standstill.”

While his mom tried other means to raise funds, Aunt Lynette took to share Aidan’s story and create a crowdfunding campaign dubbed ‘Aidan needs surgery’ on 13 February.

“We urgently need to raise R100 000 for Aidan to have surgery on his face, because the surgery needs to be done by no later than 19 February, otherwise he will be left with permanent damage for the rest of his life,” Lynette wrote.

In timing that can only be described as miraculous, funds poured in in the thousands and the initial target was met!

Thanks to this mind-blowing display of community kindness, Aidan was able to receive surgery to address the fractures in his facial bones. Considering that his face was broken in five places, this marked a pivotal moment in his journey to recovery.

With follow-up scans, MRIs, and aftercare afoot, the Good Samaritan community is still rallying for Aidan. R119,000 has been raised toward the fundraising target of R160,000, and hopes are incredibly high that the young stunt biker will have his life back soon.

Aidan’s mother, Roeline, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, “From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank everyone for their generosity, love, and support, and most of all, for everyone’s prayers.” The funds raised have already made a significant impact, securing Aidan’s chance at a healthy, normal life.

You can help Aidan and his family conquer the rest of the target via BackaBuddy!

Sources: Supplied; Zane Groenewald

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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.

The post Community Make Urgent Surgery Possible for Young Stunt Biker! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The University of Johannesburg has announced a new scholarship, the Mpedi Neurodiversity Scholarship which will help make research in a very underserved field more accessible!

Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2024) — In an effort to further research in the field of Neurodiversity Studies, the University of Johannesburg has initiated its Mpedi Neurodiversity Scholarship thanks to UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi and his family!

Professor Mpedi is a parent to a neurodivergent son. From his son, the professor has witnessed both the unique intelligence and systemic challenges neurodivergent people face. Knowing that learning more is the first step to creating a more fitting society, the Neurodiversity Scholarship hopes to help more students who want to explore the largely untapped topic a Master’s level, with a emphasis on the neuro-develeopmental learning needs of children and youth.

This will hopefully play an important role paving the way to a South Africa that shifts to help neurodivergent people flourish instead of them having to simply make their way through a society that by systemic design, often doesn’t consider them.

UJ shares:

“The scholarship represents more than a financial aid program. It symbolises the commitment by UJ to address global challenges in the field of neurodiversity. The scholarship aims to facilitate meaningful research that contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society.”

For Mpedi, there are many areas where the system does not serve neurodivergent people. Legal systems do not safeguard their rights enough, policies are not centred around inclusivity and nurturing environments where neurodivergent people’s perspectives and capabilities are not acknowleged enough.

For him, it is about seeing the differences that neurodivergence entails not through the lens that paints them as defective, but as a variation of the human experience.

Students have already been awarded the scholarship. Nthabiseng Molebatsi, Ntokozo Zwane, and Mohamed Mosala are all researching topics related to Down Syndrome. Each is examining different topics, including parents’ experiences in providing support and transitioning from home to school.

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.

The post UJ’s Neurodiversity Scholarship Creates Helpful Research Opportunities appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A Grade 9 Kingswood College pupil snapped a photo in Port Alfred that’s left South Africans in awe. The heartwarming part? People loved it so much they are encouraging her to enter it into competitions!

Port Alfred, South Africa (06 March 2024) — A Grade 9 Kingswood College pupil has left South Africans in awe after she captured Mother Nature at her finest in the Eastern Cape’s Port Alfred.

Shared by her school, Siré Schoncken’s photo captures a bolt of lightning, rolling waves and a looming grey cloud on a deserted part of the beach.

Beyond the breathtaking photo, there’s heart to this story in just how encouraging South Africans were in their responses to the budding photographer’s moment in the lightning light. On social media, comments ranged from backing Siré to enter her work into a competition all the way to nods of agreement that this student has a future in photography.

Siré’s mom Desica shared that her daughter is “beyond excited about the reaction of her photo.”

Captured on a Samsung phone camera, locals can’t wait to see what this budding photographer might be capable of with professional gear.

In any creative field (especially for young creatives), encouragement can be the difference between giving your talents a go or pushing them to the side. And seeing how many strangers were so kind to a young talent made our hearts very warm today.

Sources: Kingswood College

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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.

The post Grade 9 Snaps Mother Nature in Port Alfred; Photo Leaves Locals in Awe! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Artist Rizah Potgieter has been hard at work creating Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural—an ode to community pride and marine life awareness.

Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Artists, volunteers and community members have all played their part in helping make Mitchell’s Plain’s longest mural possible.

A legacy in blue, the ‘longest mural’ (also known as the Poseidon Mural) seeks to bring a sense of beauty, calmness and awareness to Mitchell’s Plain. In an big way, its breathtaking size makes the topic of climate change and its impact on our oceans hard to ignore with sea characters on vibrant display. In even bigger ways, it stands to show people the beauty that their area can call home; cultivating a sense of community pride and responsibility.

Led by mural wizard Rizah Potgieter who was also behind another iconic mural last year (“Standing Tall”, a 22-metre high mural in Khayelitsha that captured netball player Phumza Maweni), the Posideon project was a collaborative effort that saw many people unite for its creation.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rizah Potgieter (@prefix66)

PAINT, an artivist organisation on a mission to transform neighbourhoods and non-profit ArtBridge teamed up to ensure that Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural would become something for Cape Town to be proud of. For the team, this wasn’t singularly about marine life awareness or art’s positive impact on communities, but both in unison.

Says Mikal Ernest Bell, Founder of PAINT, “The initial objective was bringing the two communities together, this will therefore be the culmination. The artwork on either side of the wall has greatly contributed in bringing about peace in these two communities that has been ravaged by crime and gang violence.”

The more we make the hard topics accessible and the more we let art bring people together, the better chance we have for a South Africa that understands that no matter where you come from or what challenges you’ve faced, you can still make an impact on our future.

Sources: Various (Linked Above) 

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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 Penguin-Pals Project is going to help so many penguins get the help they need thanks to Betty’s Bay residents who have volunteered to transport penguins to rescue facilities! Not only will they be playing a helpful role as penguin ‘Uber drivers’, but they’ll also be saving rescue staff a lot of time.

Betty’s Bay, South Africa (06 March 2024) — The Southern African Foundation For The Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is getting a helping hand from the Betty’s Bay community thanks to residents who have volunteered their time to be part of the Penguin-Pals Project!

SANCCOB is responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating many of South Africa’s seabirds. But, there are only so many staff members. Journeys to assist penguins in need often mean many hours on the road, which in turn leaves staff members unable to help other seabirds while trekking these distances.

As Tim Elliot of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy (BBC) shares:

“Up until now SANCCOB have had no option but to send one of their own staff from Betty’s Bay all the way in to Tableview, in Cape Town, in the event of an injured or sick penguin or other seabird. Everyone at the Stony Point Nature Reserve has enough on their plate without sitting in a vehicle for the three hour plus round trip.” 

This is where the Betty’s Bay community have decided to help lighten the load of responsibility. As part of BBC’s Penguin-Pals Project, residents have offered to share their time and transport any struggling seabirds to Somerset West—a big chunk of the distance that will undoubtedly help staff members save on time and transport expenses.

Training was underway in late February for the Penguin-Pals’ volunteers.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of being involved and being able to help constructively,” adds Tim. 

This initiative displays not only how a little help can go a long way (quite literally), but also sets the path for future Penguin-Pals Projects outside of Betty’s Bay! Word at the colony is, SANCCOB may also need some volunteers in Gordons Bay too, so don’t be afraid to spread the word!

Sources: Betty’s Bay Conservancy

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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.

The post Betty’s Bay Residents Volunteer to Transport Penguins in Need! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When an elderly tourist from the Netherlands was about to fly home, the swelling in his hand couldn’t be ignored. After having to disembark, he found himself in a city full of strangers and completely reliant on the kindness of others. Thanks to two very special South Africans, he got all the help he needed!

Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2024) — What was meant to be a simple trip back to the Netherlands turned into a series of complicated events for one Abraham van Roijen, an elderly tourist in his late 80s, who was visiting South Africa, last December.

When it came time for his visit to end, Abraham started to notice that something wasn’t exactly right with his left hand.

Swollen and in pain, the elderly tourist figured that he would sort it out when he got back to the Netherlands. However, a doctor aboard his flight advised Abraham not to fly with a hand that swollen, and encouraged him to get off the plane.

Without family or friends anywhere near OR Tambo, Abraham became completely reliant on the kindness of South Africans. In the early hours of the morning as his plane flew overhead, Abraham checked into a hotel near the airport, but couldn’t sleep due to to the pain of his hand.

At the reception desk, he met the incredibly compassionate Jani Ligthelm, the hotel’s general manager. Jani kindly helped him contact a family member from her phone as his baggage, containing his phone, was still with the airline. With his niece, Mariska Spoonmaker, worried about the state of his hand and unable to do anything from the Eastern Cape, Abraham’s ‘first responders’ became Jani and Andrew Nkosizile Mtshali – a diligent taxi driver.

Abraham was determined to get on the next flight, so Jani made the choice to trust the elderly tourist, but only under the caring eyes of Andrew the taxi driver, who became something of a knight in shining armour for Abraham.

Andrew made sure Abraham got to the airport safely. When the airline counter turned out to be closed, he was the one to insist on taking Abraham to a medical centre in Kempton Park.

Andrew contacted Abraham’s son Bram to ensure Abraham could chat with his son during the hospital’s visiting hours. The situation with his hand turned out to be urgent, and without Andrew offering his phone and time, Abraham wouldn’t have been able to keep his family in the loop or sort out his medical insurance.

After two medical procedures were underway, Andrew even made sure Bram was updated throughout the process with photos.

Eventually, with Abraham finally on the road to recovery, Bram was able to fly in to assist his father. Andrew, of course, was waiting in the wings to unite them both and drove Bram from the airport to be with his dad during the scary time.

As it turned out, Abraham may have been bitten by a spider, which could’ve led to terrible consequences had Abraham’s new South African friends not stepped in to help. Several days later, the tourist made it back to the Netherlands, where doctors would look after him.

Freelance journalist and niece Mariska Spoonmaker shared this story of the small, but incredibly impactful kindness with Good Things Guy.

“I look back in gratitude at Jani and Andrew – two caring people who went way further than the extra mile to assist an 87-year-old in need. Everything could have gone so wrong. But it didn’t. Because two South Africans cared enough to help. Nkosi.”

Sources: Mariska Spoormaker

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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.

The post South Africans Help Elderly Tourist Through Medical Mayhem  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

So many office items ended up as waste or in landfills, during and after the pandemic. But what would these items look like if instead, they had a second chance at life? The upcoming UPCYCLE exhibition is gearing up to give us a look:

Cape Town, South Africa (05 March 2024) — The spaces we work in have changed greatly in the past four years. But, so has our relationship with the biggest space of all—the planet we call home. Merging these two ideas and inviting us all to be freely inspired by them, is the UPCYCLE Exhibition, set to pop up in Cape Town next month.

The exhibition’s organisers believe that the working world has massive potential to join in on the circularity movement—ie: the upcycling movement which gives waste a chance to be reworked into treasure.

Reconfiguration of the workspace in the post-Covid world has led to a mounting tide of discarded office equipment and furniture that either lazes around in storage, ends up on an over-supplied second-hand market, or worse—in landfill.

But, with clever designers and artists playing a critical role in imagining new possibilities for the things that fill up our spaces, hopes are hot that creative change can make an important dent in influencing the corporate world to get on board with the conscious world.

The UPCYCLE exhibition then, is on a mission to tackle the bigger issues of sustainability and regenerative design through the vehicle of unbounded creativity. Not limited by function and challenged to create a thought-provoking spectacle that will ignite powerful conversation, a select group of designers and artists have been tasked with breathing bold new life into discarded office equipment and furniture pieces.

Among the exhibition’s participants are Congolese artist Patrick Bongoy, sisters Viveka and Rucita Vassen of Ananta Design Studio, Nisha and Justus van der Hoven of Hoven Design, Laurie Wiid of Wiid Design, Amaury Watine, who is the Creativity and Innovation Director Tétris EMEA, Adrian Davidson.

The exhibition will be open to the public at Makers Landing at V&A Waterfront on 19 and 20 April 2024. On Friday 19 April, design students will be welcomed for a special student-focused day, and on Saturday 20 April there will be a free curated walkabout with the artists and designers at 11h00. 

Get ready to explore the future of the workspace!

• Date: 19-20 April 2024 
• Venue: Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
• Opening hours: 10h00-21h00, Friday-Saturday
• Cost:  Entrance to the exhibition and Makers Landing is free
• Parking: Secure paid parking is available at Makers Landing

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.

The post UPCYCLE Exhibition Set to Shift the Future of Workspaces! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

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.

The post Rainbow Runner Update: Tired Legs Can’t Beat a Determined Heart! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The World Aquatics Masters Championships have concluded, with South African swimmers and water wonders setting multiple world records, winning almost 20 gold medals, and placing on many other podiums!

Global (05 March 2024) — The 2024 World Aquatics Masters Championships saw an abundance of good news for South Africa thanks to an epic performance from the swimmers representing the Rainbow Nation in Doha. Together, these swimmers raked in 17 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 17 bronze medals, while setting new local, competition, and world records!

Ingrid Trusler started off the victory path after she placed first in the 65-69 age group in water swimming before setting a South African and Masters Championship Record when she came first in the ladies’ 800m.

SA scooped a few bronze positions in various heats alongside a dazzling first place from Marc Allen in the Men 100m Freestyle in the 45-49 division. Tim Shead, who also set a competition record, earned gold in the 100m Breastroke (70-74 division).

Tim didn’t slow down there, and neither did Ingrid. Both swimmers added more gold to their tallies in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke and Women’s 400m Freestyle, respectively. Not to mention, Ingrid made a mighty splash with another South African Record AND a Championship Record!

But this was only the beginning of the victory laps. Greg McLeroth and Sally Ralfe scored silver, while Tim, Calvin Maughan, and Marc shone brightly in first place in the gold lane.

Marc’s win in the Men 100m Butterfly saw him set both a World Record and a Competition Record.

In the relay races, South African teams earned medals across the board. The Mixed freestyle Relay CTMSC team even set a World Record and a Competition Record while the Mixed Medley Relay matched that energy and made the same records. A special shoutout to the CTMSC Men’s Freestyle Relay team whose first place saw them set a Competition Record!

By Day 6, Tim had set yet another Competition Record for the Men 200m Breaststroke while Harald Ruck joined the Competition Record rockers for his 50m Backstroke.

Marc went on to set another World Record on day 7 for the Men 50m Butterfly while other swimmers earned gold (Ingrid Trusler and Cecilia Stanford) and bronze for their efforts.

“South Africa, you totally rocked the pool with your talent, showing the world what you’re made of. You’ve inspired us all with your dedication and spirit,” shared Melanie Van Wyk. 

All in all, the Masters Championships saw SA relish in:

• 17 Gold wins
• 7 Silver wins
• 17 Bronze wins

An outstanding achievement!

Sources: Swimming South Africa

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