Beautiful News

08/08/2025

Lindsey Appolis is reframing how we see the Cape Flats. Inspired by his childhood home and memories, as well as the distinct communities and neighbourhoods, Lindsey uses his photographic skills to capture the everyday beauty that’s often clouded by preconceived notions.

In doing so, he’s not only changing perceptions, but motivating locals to rise up in spite of their challenges. “There are maybe a thousand of me that’s undiscovered or hasn’t been given the opportunity to nurture this talent,” Lindsey says. “If I can do anything, it’s to bring kids up from there and say, ‘You actually can do this.’”

Lindsey Appolis

Not one second passes Lindsey Appolis by unnoticed. He sees the everyday beauty that’s often clouded by perceptions and preconceived notions. Camera in hand,...

04/08/2025

This weekend, Marimba Jam made history and broke a Guinness World Record by arranging the world’s largest ensemble of marimba players. Over 1000 musicians gathered at Grand West Arena to show off their talents, have fun, and spread joy to the crowd of supporters. The diverse group of marimba players played their hearts out and more than doubled the previous record of 505 people set in Guatemala.

In addition to their performances, Marimba Jam operates as an NPO founded by Kiara Ramklass that offers free music classes to children in disadvantaged schools. Their music of choice, the percussion instrument commonly associated with the joyful sounds of Africa, is fitting for their goal to improve children’s confidence and drive positive social change. Their most recent record-breaking event is just one in a series of initiatives that have united people through music and brought pride to South Africa.

Marimba Jam

Images credits: Marimba Jam, Wynberg Girls’ High School

01/08/2025

A diverse group of South African youth has just set off for Scotland to perform their production, Yes-Ya-Yebo!, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their colourful, high-energy performance is inspired by the spirit of South Africa and shows off their singing, dancing, and storytelling skills in all 12 of the country’s official languages.

The troupe is supported by the Imibala Trust, a South African NPO based in Somerset West dedicated to empowering youth from marginalised backgrounds. Their Sponsor-a-Child programme equips children with school uniforms, stationery, and opportunities to further their education. Meanwhile, recognising that not every child has an aptitude for traditional subjects, Imibala also offers after-school creative arts programmes. Here, the learners are guided to explore art, drama, pottery, music, and ballet to improve their confidence and self-expression. This initiative has encouraged a range of creative exploration and resulted in performances such as Yes-Ya-Yebo!, which have been met with rave reviews both locally and internationally.

This will be the third time the Imibala Trust takes Yes-Ya-Yebo! to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, promising even more local hits and classics that audiences from all backgrounds will no doubt find themselves singing and dancing along to. From townships to global stages, these performers are proudly showing off South Africa’s diversity and demonstrating the immense talent that emerges when we invest in the potential of our youth.

Yes-Ya-Yebo | Imibala Trust | Edinburgh Festival Fringe

30/07/2025

Muscle stiffness, tremors, difficulty moving, the threat of falling – the effects of Parkinson’s Disease can bring people’s lives to a standstill. But guided by dance instructor Julie Symmonds, many people with the disease are now finding ways to move forward.

As a ballet teacher previously, Julie was already familiar with the power of dance. But when she learned of international programmes that use dance to provide healing, she was inspired. After becoming the first South African to complete the Dance for PD® Introductory Teacher’s Course in New York, she founded Dance for Parkinson’s SA to share her knowledge with people back home.

As a result of the non-profit organisation’s classes across South Africa, which are led by numerous dedicated and trained instructors, students are not only able to move with more ease, but they’re also warding off loneliness and depression. “At the end of the class, you can just see they’ve loosened up, there’s a light in their eyes, and everything just seems easier and lighter,” Julie says. “You forget you’ve got Parkinson’s, and I think that is the greatest joy.”

Julie Jane Symmonds | Dance for Parkinson's SA | Dance for PD ®

Parkinson’s disease turns daily tasks into an unbearable ordeal. Walking is disrupted by the threat of falling. It can take an hour to get dressed. The disor...

23/07/2025

This flash of blue may be familiar to South Africans in summer, but until recently, the migratory routes of some birds were relatively unknown. To further understand their habits, BirdLife South Africa fitted a flock of European rollers from South Africa with solar-powered GPS trackers, which showed them travelling to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Yet none had been sighted breeding in the nearby regions. That is until one bird, affectionately named Rory, travelled more than 15,000km in just over three months to China – where he was found by Professor Ma Ming from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography. The ornithologist spent three days searching along the Tian Shan Mountains on the edge of the Gurbantünggüt Desert until he found the bird near a nesting and breeding ground.

Rory’s tracking is part of BirdLife SA’s Flyway and Migrants project. Flyways are a network of viable habitats across borders which millions of migrating birds use to rest and refuel en route. If these networks aren’t monitored, they collapse, resulting in the local extinction of species. By tracking European rollers, ornithologists can consider not only the habitat where the birds originate, but every one of their stopover sites, as well as their breeding grounds. In addition to satellite tracking, the exact sightings by Professor Ma combined with local conservation knowledge ensure that the birds and their offspring receive the best on-the-ground protection.

“Professor Ma’s enthusiasm has opened the door for impactful conservation efforts,” Jessica Wilmot, BirdLife SA’s Flyway and Migrants Project Manager, says. “How often do we get the chance to work with passionate individuals not just in another country, but on an entirely different continent?”

This remarkable collaboration between South African and Chinese conservationists proves what can be achieved when uniting to save the wildlife we share. Now, BirdLife SA is urging everyone from experienced researchers to passionate birdwatchers to also join them in protecting migratory birds. No effort is too small.

Image credit: Jessica Wilmot/BirdLife SouthAfrica

16/07/2025

One of South Africa’s most impactful food charity organisations, Ladles of Love, will be dishing out more than just soup to marginalised people this Mandela Day. Since being founded in 2014 by Danny Diliberto, the NPO has grown to serve love, respect, hope, and nearly a million meals a month in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng. With two events organised at the Kyalami Convention Centre, Johannesburg and the DHL Stadium, Cape Town on 18 July, Ladles of Love aims to bring together more than 10 000 volunteers to make a difference.

To participate, individuals or teams can purchase a ticket to either event, the proceeds of which enables Ladles of Love to feed a child two nutritious meals a day for a month. Your ticket allows you to book a two-hour time slot between 9am and 5pm at one of a series of four activation stations.

At the ‘MAKE’ station, you’ll put together buckets of dry goods to make soup, pack boxes of essential groceries, and make sandwiches for little kids and their carers – all of which you can package and label with notes of love. If you choose ‘GROW’, you’ll be packing soil, seeds, and instructions to make edible garden kits that provide long-term sustenance and teach valuable gardening skills.

At the ‘CREATE’ station, you can contribute to early childhood development by making educational posters and colouring-in books for preschool children and teachers, while at ‘CRAFT’, you’ll learn how to make different types of dolls as well as toy cars, taxis, and buses so little ones can treasure their own unique gift.

Whichever you choose, you’re bound to have fun and leave fulfilled. Last year, Ladles of Love united a record-breaking 12 267 volunteers on Mandela Day 2024. If you think you can help them beat this number and make a lasting difference in someone’s life this year, visit ladlesoflove.org.za/mandela-day/ to book your space.

Ladles of Love

12/07/2025

No parent should ever have to experience violence as senseless as the murder of their child. When Avril Andrews lost her son, Alcardo, to gang violence in Hanover Park, the pain was amplified by the fact that Alcardo, just 27 at the time, had actively been working with his local community and encouraging gang members to transform their lives for the better. Avril was determined that his dream wouldn’t die with him.

Guided by love, Avril founded the Alcardo Andrews Foundation to continue her son’s activism in the Cape Flats. One of its programmes is Moms Move for Justice, which brings together parents who have been affected by gang violence. With Avril’s guidance, even those who desire revenge realise that healing is the only way forward. Together they’re joining forces with authorities to end criminal activity, offering families a chance to heal, and giving hope to the next generation.

The Alcardo Andrews Foundation

There’s more to Hanover Park than gang violence. Alcardo Andrews was certain of that. Although decades of tyranny from mobsters left his community frustrated...

10/07/2025

The Durban International Film Festival, the oldest and largest film festival in Southern Africa, kicks off in a week, and among the global screenings is award-winning local filmmaker Jordy Sank’s ‘Fleas’. The fictional film about a young Zimbabwean boy living in a South African township, fearing xenophobic mobs, is one of Jordy’s grittier films. The founder of Sanktuary Films is known for his moving documentary, ‘I am Here’ featuring Holocaust survivor Ella Blumenthal, as well as his recent heartwarming comedy, ‘Die Kwiksilwers’.

“I’m always looking to take on projects that are catalysts for important conversations,” Jordy says. “Unfortunately xenophobia in South Africa keeps presenting itself. I live close to an area in Johannesburg where I’ve seen hostility to foreign shop owners, and witnessed the aftermath of a foreign marketplace that was burnt down by vigilantes.” While it’s easy to turn away when not directly affected, Jordy believes we should be raising our voices for those who aren’t seen and heard. “Most of the time, xenophobia doesn’t even make the news, that’s how accustomed we’ve become to it. So we need to start having conversations,” he says.

And for Jordy, his way of speaking up is through film. From the start, his team was determined to ensure the authenticity of the film. “I worked with a human rights activist in doing the research and got him and other Zimbabweans who’d experienced xenophobia to read the script and give commentary,” Jordy explains. “I’m also not fluent in Shona, so we had an actress fluent in Shona assist the children with their performances.”

The result is a visually striking, deeply moving portrayal of life in South Africa for some foreign nationals. “I hope that this film will give people a new understanding of what innocent victims of xenophobia experience,” Jordy says.

South Africa is brimming with artistic talent, and driving it is a sense of purpose to build a better country for all. By sparking dialogue, encouraging understanding, and promoting unity, Jordy’s film is contributing to the fight against the fear and hatred of those perceived as different.

Images supplied with credit to Jordy Sank and Sanktuary Films.

Jordy Sank | Sanktuary Films | Durban International Film Festival

05/07/2025

The implementation of bird-scaring lines – vividly coloured ropes at the rear of fishing vessels that deter birds from baited hooks – has shown the ability to reduce seabird deaths by 90%. But are all fishing boats using them at all times? While human observers can only monitor a small percentage of fishing activities, one South African has come up with a way to ensure compliance to save our birds.

The Albatross Task Force team and BirdLife SA have partnered with Imvelo Blue Environment and its founder Sihle Ngcongo, who invented an electronic monitoring device for the lines. By directly attaching to the bird-scaring line which drags through the water, the device records the tension produced by the pull of the line alongside the date and time, which is then compared to the logbook of fishing operations which should always correlate. The recording of the tension is important to differentiate between proper usage versus boats simply keeping the lines onboard.

Sihle’s device is the first of its kind and is enhancing the efficiency of bird conservation worldwide. “The device now forms part of international best-practice tools to reduce the threat of seabird bycatch and aid the recovery of endangered petrel and albatross populations worldwide,” Andrea Angel, manager of the Albatross Task Force, says. “Full compliance with bird-scaring lines throughout the fleet saves close to 10,000 seabirds annually, 7,600 of which are albatrosses, and contributes significantly to population recoveries of these magnificent species.”



BirdLife South Africa

Some of these images have been supplied, with credit to BirdLife South Africa.

04/07/2025

Migratory seabirds, such as albatrosses and swift terns, travel thousands of kilometres across the oceans in their search for food, crossing paths with fish hooked on longline trawlers. The birds cannot detect these baited lines, and as a result, it’s estimated that approximately 100 000 birds are killed or injured each year due to commercial fishing gear. Andrea Angel, the Albatross Task Force, and BirdLife South Africa work hand-in-hand with local fishers to implement techniques that can prevent this. “Since implementing the bird scaring line in the trawl fishery in South Africa, seabird deaths have been reduced by 90% and albatross deaths by 99%,” Andrea says. However, these lines are dependent on fishers committing to using them. Later on Beautiful News, Andrea shares how they’re further pioneering ways to ensure compliance in fishing boats, so that we can save our seabirds without impacting livelihoods or the country's food supply.

BirdLife South Africa

Footage by Otto Whitehead was used in the creation of this film.

Have you ever considered the hidden cost of that delicious seafood platter? Behind every net of freshly-caught fish is a trail of birds sacrificing their liv...

30/06/2025

Yet again, South Africans are making history. At just 14 years old, Renier Janse Van Rensburg is the world’s youngest cricket umpire. Hailing from Bellville, Western Cape, Renier began playing cricket when he was just five and continued to invest in the sport. Upon recently discovering that the umpiring record was held by an Australian teen, he decided to waste no time in trying to beat that.

At exactly 14 years and 89 days old, Renier was recognised by the WP Cricket Umpires Association as a level 2-qualified umpire and verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. This is just the beginning for the young sportsman. With such high standards and ambitions this early on, Renier is poised for cricketing greatness.

Image credit: Ciska Keyser

26/06/2025

When you have just 43 seconds to save a life, time and communication are key. That’s how long it takes to bring the blades of a wind turbine to a complete stop, and indicates how far in advance a bird at risk of collision must be spotted. That’s why, come rain, cold, or extreme heat, you’ll find Clarissa Mars outdoors, scanning the horizon.

As the Senior Biodiversity Team lead for Engie, which manages the Excelsior and Golden Valley wind energy programmes, Clarissa is the first person in South Africa to lead a Shutdown on Demand protocol. Since 2020, her surveillance programme has been monitoring the movement and flight paths of priority species. When a bird is spotted within two kilometres and approaching, she instructs control room operators to temporarily halt one or more turbines to prevent contact.

Situated in Swellendam, Excelsior has 13 turbines and plays a key role in supplying renewable energy. But the farm is also in close proximity to critical breeding habitats of some of South Africa’s vulnerable and endangered avian species. “We do not choose between clean energy and protecting wildlife,” Clarissa says. “We're not here to just install turbines and walk away. We are here to care about the environment too. It's all about accountability.”

By leading a team of trained observers, Clarissa can improve the accuracy of their sightings and the speed at which they respond. “A big part of my job is mentorship,” she says. Working with people from the local community, Clarissa is developing their conservation and fieldwork skills, as well as instilling a love for South Africa’s birds. In particular, they’re on the lookout for Cape vultures, Verreaux's eagles, martial eagles, black harriers, white storks, and our national birds – blue cranes.

“The best part of my job is when I go home knowing that there weren't any fatalities that day and also that my team is learning to become experts in what they do,” Clarissa says. “What we do here on site has a bigger purpose, and that's protecting wildlife for the next generation.”