Beautiful News

15/11/2025

Going against the tide of fast fashion, Danielle Jeneria is redesigning the future of style. The creative behind South African clothing label Tricitie, Danielle is driven by zero-waste design to turn offcuts and discarded textiles into clothing and art. Having worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years, particularly focusing on natural fabrics and sustainable practices, Danielle has seen the growing impact of fashion on our planet.

The rise of poorly made fast fashion at a lower price point and the popularity of clothing hauls and short-lived trends encourages people to purchase and discard items at unsustainable rates. As a result, textile waste often ends up in landfills, or is shipped off to countries where it becomes out of sight and out of mind. Keeping it local, Danielle sources her materials from nearby makers whose offcuts would have been discarded. From this, she’s creating timeless garments made to last.

"Over time, the work grew into a way of using fabric waste to tell stories about the people who make our clothes, their histories, and the impact of the industry," Danielle says. "This inspired projects like our mending workshops, clothing swaps, and Fabric of Us, where discarded textiles are turned into pieces that reflect on value and waste."

Her activism extends to her volunteer work for the NGO Fashion Revolution, where she has helped restore the lost art of mending, while also raising awareness of the environmental and social impact of unfair labour practices.

Danielle’s recent exhibition in Cape Town further weaves her social consciousness into creativity. "Fabric of Us is a story stitched from fragments of fabric waste, memory, and the unseen threads of labour that hold our world together," she says. "These garments invite us to look closer, to find beauty in what is broken, and value in what is handmade."

With her art, Danielle is drawing on the teachings of her grandmother, mother, and aunties, exploring the intersection between the clothes we wear, the identities we express, where we come from, and where we're going with fashion.

"It's been a long and deep personal journey, and I'm grateful to be able to share it through wearable design and creative activism," Danielle says. "We are all part of the same weave, each thread reliant on another, each story bound to the next."

TriCitie

08/11/2025

When Petya Bartosch set off to distribute food in Masiphumelele during Covid, she never imagined that a chance meeting with soccer coach Xolani Mahlulo would change their lives. Despite their different backgrounds, they soon became friends and co-founders of the Bartosch Foundation.

Together, they have been empowering kids in this township through sport and education with their Soccer Sunday Educational Program – a safe space that provides routine and support to kids who may otherwise be at risk.

Having grown up without parents or the material things kids take for granted, Xolani knows what many of these kids are experiencing. But from a young age he saw the power of sport in uniting a community, and the way kids looked up to their sports heroes, and knew that he could use soccer as a way to uplift people. “By the little things you have, you can change someone’s life” Xolani says.

When the kids aren’t playing soccer, they’re doing lessons in Afrikaans, science, and maths to support their school learning, and sessions on yoga and farming to broaden their life skills. They also venture on monthly excursions to Table Mountain, the Two Oceans Aquarium, museums, science centres, beaches, and more where the kids get to be curious and grow their confidence.

As the kids explore new places and experiences, they’re discovering a world beyond their community – and the possibilities within themselves. Much like Petya and Xolani, who knows where the journey could take them, who they might meet along the way, and how much of the world they will transform with their friendships. “It’ll always have a ripple effect,” Petya says.

Bartosch Foundation | Xolani Mahlulo | Petya Natasha Bartosch

Petya Bartosch and Xolani Mahlulo come from completely different worlds, ones that would not ordinarily collide. One graduated from the Stellenbosch Academy ...

07/11/2025

Petya Bartosch and Xolani Mahlulo come from completely different worlds, ones that would not ordinarily collide. One graduated from the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography and was given the support and resources to pursue her passions. The other grew up in the township of Masiphumelele, not knowing his father and orphaned after losing his mother at a young age. Yet both had kindness instilled in them and believed in giving back unconditionally. So it was no surprise that when they serendipitously met in 2020 – Petya was dropping off food parcels in Masiphumelele, where Xolani happened to be coaching children in football – they went on to form the perfect team committed to upliftment.

Soon after meeting, they had established a shared goal of giving back to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Together they founded the Bartosch Foundation, which runs a soccer and education programme every Sunday with children in Masiphumelele. In addition to these sessions, they embark on monthly fun excursions that broaden the kids’ horizons and offer a greater sense of belonging.

As a result of a chance meeting when they could each have gone their separate ways, Petya and Xolani now consider each other best friends on a mission to help others and inspire those around them to take positive action. Together, they are ensuring that unlike their own divided childhoods with differing opportunities and resources, the children in Masiphumelele have access to endless possibilities.

Later on Beautiful News, Petya and Xolani both share more about their initiative and what they offer the kids, and showcase the ripple-effect that an otherwise unlikely human connection has had on an entire community.

Bartosch Foundation | Xolani Mahlulo | Petya Natasha Bartosch

03/11/2025

As learners across South Africa prepare to wrap up their final exams, months of learning and dedication are about to pay off. Beyond the classroom, how can teachers and parents help these students thrive? Jade Orgill shows how good nutrition can transform education through her initiative to end hunger in schools.

Jade Orgill | The Sprightly Seed

26/10/2025

How far would you go to protect our baboons? For Jenni Trethowan, saving their lives means risking her own. After coming into contact with a baboon who’d been poisoned with a banned substance, Jenni ended up in the ICU while the animal died from internal haemorrhaging – highlighting how serious the human-baboon conflict had become.

As co-founder of the Kommetjie Environmental Awareness Group and founder of Baboon Matters Trust, Jenni has been championing tolerance towards troops on the periphery of urban areas on the Cape Peninsula. She’s a voice for primates who are forced out of their spaces by rapid urbanisation, and attacked with paintballs, shot at and culled when they return to residential areas. Some are relocated, but whether moved or killed, the loss leaves other baboons vulnerable and in mourning, and affects their social structures and population.

“The biggest challenge right now is the decision to remove four troops of baboons on the Cape Peninsula,” Jenni explains. “It is of concern that decisions made now will impact baboon management across South Africa. Will other areas also demand their troops be removed? What we really need are nationally accepted management and mitigation strategies. If there were clear directives and implementation of existing by-laws and legislation, then residents and businesses would have clear frameworks to follow.”

While the portrayal of baboons as unruly and dangerous encourages people to respond with fear and aggression, Jenni believes it’s possible for the conflict to be managed in a way that benefits us all. “For example, the unintended consequence of the authorities using pain aversion (paintball guns) to chase baboons has set a precedent that it’s ok to shoot at baboons,” she says. “If authorities had provided baboon-proof bins and insisted residents follow waste management policies, prosecuting those who don’t, there’d be less attractants and fewer baboons shot and killed.”

“Baboons are an important part of our ecosystem, culture, and history,” Jenni says. While opinions remain divided on how to manage them, one thing is certain, baboons are exceptional creatures and we owe it to the next generation to not let our misconceptions prevent them from knowing these animals.

Jenni Trethowan | Baboon Matters

Jenni Trethowan took up the fight for baboons more than 25 years ago, championing tolerance rather than spreading fear of the misunderstood creatures. But in...

25/10/2025

Meet Mzikhona Mgedle, founder of Langa Bicycle Hub and one of the supporters of the upcoming Open Langa event which will turn the township streets into a festive, pedestrian-only space. Through his cycling initiative, Mzikhona is advocating for safe, accessible spaces for all. “I don't think that we can be a country where cars are the only option for people to commute,” he says. As a result of spatial planning, drivers often have to travel further than necessary to move between suburbs that are close to each other, contributing to traffic congestion and urban pollution. And if there’s no straight route, a commuter who relies on public transport has to pay even more to get from A to B. “What I enjoy about riding a bike is cutting down the barriers of accessing these communities,” Mzikhona says.

While Mzikhona advocates for the economic, social, environmental, and health benefits of cycling, especially for people in poorer communities, he acknowledges that it comes with further considerations. “It’s so hard for people to cycle and walk. We create dodgy spaces by not thinking of where people should walk. It starts with planning, with public engagement. How can we invest in walking and cycling infrastructure?” he asks. “I’m not against cars, I’m all about shared mobility, but I think we should think outside the car when creating roads.”

With the initiative, Mzikhona has created a route from Langa to various neighbourhoods around Cape Town which cyclists can join and disembark from. “Seeing the city with naked eyes without a windshield, exploring different communities, navigating my own routes, taking my time to get to a place, connecting with so many people along the way, when I'm on a bike it’s like I’m in a therapy session,” he says.

Mzikhona Mgedle | Langa Bicycle Hub

23/10/2025

The streets of Langa will go car-free on Sunday, 26 October, turning into a festive, safe space championing creativity, culture, and community. Open Langa launches with the temporary closure of King Langa Libalele and Lerotholi Avenue, inviting pedestrians and cyclists from the township and beyond to enjoy live music, art, public activations, and more.

The initiative by Open Streets Africa coincides with both Transport Month, as well as the centenary celebrations of the township. While previous Open Streets Days closed parts of Langa to cars for a day, this year the team is taking things a few steps further. Following this weekend’s events, there will be weekly vehicle restrictions on Lerotholi Avenue to test the potential for long-term pedestrianisation.

Playing a vital role in bringing the Open Streets concept to life here is the Langa Bicycle Hub, an NGO founded by Mzkihona Mgedle to advocate for safer roads and the economic, social, environmental, and health benefits of cycling. Through collaboration with the community and other NGOs, they’re paving the way for a vibrant, inclusive space where the entire community can unite, support local artists and entrepreneurs, and socialise in safety.

As the people of Langa reimagine this public space, they’re setting a hopeful example for townships as well as big city streets across South Africa and sharing how community-driven initiatives can steer connection for all.

Mzikhona Mgedle | Langa Bicycle Hub | City of Cape Town

Some images supplied by Open Streets Cape Town.

16/10/2025

Discover the story of Princess Vlei in the Cape Flats, and how the local community is conserving and upgrading this vital green space.

Princess Vlei Forum | Denisha Anand

11/10/2025

The sun sets, the street lights flicker on. Quiet descends as a flash of images on a wall captures the group huddled before it. It’s movie night in Thames Walk, Manenberg – a neighbourhood on the Cape Flats usually defined by its social and economic challenges. But as each scene plays out, the kids are fully immersed in the animated world before them, their faces lit with joy, the streets around them brightened by community spirit.

Organised by Darion Adams, founder of The AIM (Art in Manenberg) Society, this outdoor cinema joins their other initiatives in the area such as dance workshops and physical theatre that were started to unite people, spark dialogue, shift perceptions, and promote social justice.

The first screening in 2023 was meant to be an annual showcase of local shorts and feature films to celebrate Cape Town’s film talent, until the team realised they could be doing even more with the equipment they had. “The movie night was a response to an urgent desire to create an experience for the kids,” Darion says. Now, screenings are set to occur every second Saturday after sundown, and offer a free, safe space for children.

In doing this, Darion and The AIM Society are subverting ideas of Manenberg – both for those outside looking in, and more importantly for Manenberg locals and the very people contributing to the outdoor cinema. The entire project is community-driven, with neighbours lending extension cables for projectors and mats for viewers to sit on, as well as donating and packaging popcorn and soft drinks for the kids.

Each fortnight, the cinema will travel along each house, ensuring each wall on the street is used for good. Rooted in a desire to uplift themselves and those around them, Darion and the Manenberg community are reclaiming their streets and ensuring their homes are places of pride, safety, and creative growth.

The AIM Society | Darion Adams

Images supplied by Darion Adams, with credit to The AIM Society.

10/10/2025

Doctors gave up on Reynhardt Smit the day he was born. He had hydrocephalus, or excess water in his brain, and was given five months to live. But not only did Reynhardt survive, he grew up to thrive, bolstered by the joy and healing that music brought to his life.

Watching his father’s band practices, Reynhardt picked up a guitar at the age of seven. One instrument led to another, and despite not learning to read music initially, he learnt to play the guitar, keyboard, piano, banjo, and saxophone. Having honed his innate skills into the musical talent he possesses today, Reynhardt started his own music school where he imparts his wisdom and life lessons while tutoring.

Sharing his music and fighting spirit with the world, Reynhardt also plays for weddings, birthdays, church events, and more. If you’d like to support him or commission his music for an event, please tag Beautiful News in a comment to let us know and we will share Reynhardt’s contact details directly with you.

06/10/2025

Kaya Mlata has won the WBC Youth Super Bantamweight World Championship, defeating the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ardy Katompa at Emperors Palace to claim the previously vacant title.

No stranger to victory, the local boxer from Khayelitsha has successfully challenged rising stars and experienced veterans to be the Western Cape Provincial Champion. But Kaya’s latest win marks a major stepping stone. As one of the World Boxing Council’s titles for younger professionals, the championship brings Kaya global recognition, a shot at bigger titles, and a stronger chance of climbing the ranks.

Despite the dedication and gruelling training required to continuously succeed, Kaya makes time for others. By coaching youth at the Khayelitsha Boxing Academy, he ensures that as he rises, he uplifts others with him.

Leo Kaya Mlata | Khayelitsha Boxing Academy

Images supplied, with credit to Alexius van der Westhuizen

04/10/2025

During apartheid, this wetland running through the Cape Flats was one of the few green recreational spaces for people of colour. Over time, the marsh became a dumping ground and neglect set in. But today, Princess Vlei is a protected biodiversity site, one that is being fiercely conserved by the locals.

Together with biodiversity manager Denisha Anand, the local community has contributed to a massive restoration project, planted over 1 000 indigenous plants, fought back against developers’ plans, and ensured the 109-hectare space remains a safe home for endangered plant and animal species such as the western leopard toad.

Future plans include further rehabilitation of sensitive vegetation, as well as a walking and cycling trail that will circle the Vlei and include boardwalks, bridges, and litter bins, giving residents even greater accessibility to this urban haven while being mindful not to disturb the surrounding plant and animal life. Through the power of community, and a shared commitment to protecting the environment, Princess Vlei is once again a place of pride.

Princess Vlei Forum | Denisha Anand

A wetland rich in history runs through the Cape Flats. Legend dictates that a Khoi princess was abducted here by Portuguese sailors. Her tears ran into the m...