It’s Good News Day on News24 and we have 10 brilliant stories to give you this April Feels Day.

Five years ago, we decided to flip the switch and dedicate 1 April to stories about South Africans who inspire, delight and uplift. The response was incredible.

This year, there’s lots going on that can get us down, least of all the petrol price blues, but there are also great stories of South Africans doing extraordinary things.

From a local success story of a SA mom who created the Oryx salt brand, to a soccer coach who raised money to take 50 Cape Flats kids to see Bafana Bafana for the first time, these 10 stories will give you the April Feels, all free-to-read.

This South African mom sold her house, bought 34 tonnes of salt – and built a global brand

Armed with 34 tonnes of ancient Kalahari salt and a mission to challenge an industry built on chemicals and plastic waste, Samantha Skyring built Oryx from a small table into an international brand that now graces restaurant tables in 20 countries, writes Kelly Anderson.

Coach delivers dream to take Cape Flats kids to see Bafana Bafana for the first time

Fitness coach Leroy Maluka is on a mission to give underprivileged children from the Cape Flats the opportunity to watch Bafana Bafana live at Cape Town Stadium. And he delivered, writes Chuma Nontsele.

Ubuntu in the UAE: Durbanite in Dubai opens doors to stranded South Africans

At just 24 years old, Makida Kumalo left South Africa for the UAE’s Airbnb industry, but she carried with her the spirit of Ubuntu, opening her doors to stranded fellow South Africans during the Dubai bombings, writes Phumi Ramalepe.

Meet the six-year-old author who's turned storytelling into a business

Six-year-old Tlotlo Tsheka, a Grade 2 pupil at SPARK Witpoortjie, is turning imagination into impact, publishing three books and launching a literacy mission to inspire other children to read, write, and dream bigger, writes Justine Fortuin.

Cape Town runner's 'endless loop' challenge helps children get free surgeries

A Cape Town runner recently participated in the Up Active Prom Backyard Ultra endurance race, which is a gruelling event where participants have to complete a 6.7km loop every hour, on the hour, for as long as they can, writes Kuhle Tshabalala.

This 20-year-old built a ballet studio for girls in her gran’s backyard in Tembisa

At just 20 years old, Mbalenhle Mkhatshwa, a final-year psychology student with a passion for dance and a heart for change, has turned her dreams into something meaningful for young aspiring ballerinas in Tembisa, writes Phumi Ramalepe.

Vaal festival aims to break 2 Guinness World Records while feeding the community

The organisers of Rocking the Vaal are preparing to break two Guinness World Records at the 2026 festival – the most pancakes ever made and the biggest pot of chili con carne weighing 3 000 kg, writes Buhle Bam.

From Springboks to City Hall: Eddie Andrews runs for a cause at the Two Oceans Marathon

Former Springbok and Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews is preparing for the Two Oceans Marathon half-marathon to support ‘Soles for Souls’. After raising nearly R1 million, he now aims to fund 21 100 pairs of shoes this year, writes Keanan Hemmonsbey.

Empty plots turned into thriving gardens: How a Pretoria project feeds young minds

A grassroots project is helping South African schools turn unused land into food gardens, empowering pupils with nutrition knowledge while tackling food insecurity through sustainable, self-sufficient systems, writes Justine Fortuin.

From domestic worker to business owner: The journey of TikTok’s ‘Maid to Cook’

Fikile Zungu, a Soweto-born self-taught cook now based in Belgium, has transformed her journey from domestic worker to founder of the ‘Maid to Cook’ brand and creator of Fikzexperience, writes Iviwe Mzandisi.

News24’s new weekly series SA Success Stories seeks to tell the origin stories of successful local businesses, NGOs and individuals.

Every week, join us as we track the journeys of truly South African success stories of names like Wedgewood, Yoco and Ladles of Love.

Brought to you by News24’s Good News desk and proudly sponsored by Old Mutual Wealth.

Welcome to The Odds In Our Favour, a Good News Podcast proudly brought to you by Old Mutual Wealth.

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster Saskia Falken, every Friday at 07:00, Saskia speaks to pioneering South Africans who are rolling up their sleeves to fix things.

See our special microsite below for all episodes.

We all love to receive good news and hear success stories. We encounter many comments that we just don't see enough of them.

Help us tell as many as we can by getting in touch. If you have a success story to tell, or just a cracking good news story, you can email me, Paul Herman, at the email link below. You can also sign up to our weekly newsletter.

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Good News Editor: Paul Herman
Design: Mihle Mdashe, Sharlene Rood and Saara Mowlana
Journalists: Justine Fortuin, Kelly Anderson, Kuhle Tshabalala, Phumi Ramalepe, Keanan Hemmonsbey, Buhle Bam, Iviwe Mzandisi, Chuma Nontsele

Image credits in stories