Buhle Dlamini (38) from Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, is a devoted mother of four-year-old twins and a hardworking domestic worker who has spent years caring for others. But after being diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer in February, she now faces her own fight—for her life and her children’s future. A Mother’s Love, a Daily Fight For Buhle, the struggle is not just physical—it’s deeply emotional. She now lives with constant discomfort, abnormal bleeding, and pain that sometimes makes it hard to walk. But she continues to work and care for her children, keeping much of her suffering to herself. “I cry at night when no one can hear me,” she says softly. “I can handle the pain, but I can’t bear the thought of not seeing my children grow up. What will happen to them if I’m not here?” Her twins, Ayabonga and Asbongi, are her whole world. Their laughter, their school songs, and even their sibling squabbles bring her pride. “When they tell me about their friends or sing songs from school, I feel so proud,” she says. “Even when they’re naughty, I smile—it means they’re strong and happy.” Despite her diagnosis, Buhle still gets up every morning to work. “I don’t have a choice,” she explains. “We’re a poor family. I need to keep going—for them.” The Friend Who Stepped In For the past five years, Buhle has worked for Trek Scale and in the home of Sherees Dalton, who has come to know Buhle not just as an employee, but as family. “She’s become a sister—the sister I never had,” says Sherees. “We share our lives. We trust each other. When she told me what she was going through, I knew I couldn’t just stand by.” With Buhle’s father also battling blood cancer, and little family support around her, the emotional and financial weight has been immense. “She carries so much on her own,” says Sherees. “And if Buhle isn’t here, her twins will be orphaned. That’s the reality.” Wanting to do more than offer words, Sherees turned to action. She launched a …
The Last Rhinos of Lombardini – One Man’s Mission to Keep Them Safe
Eastern Cape, South Africa – In the quiet rural stretch between Patensie and Humansdorp, where citrus orchards roll into game reserves, lives a young conservationist whose life has been shaped by the heartbeat of the wild. Justin Terblanche (27), affectionately known as the “Rhino Whisperer,” has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise R176,000 for a thermal drone that could be a crucial tool in the fight against rhino poaching. His campaign, titled “Eyes in the Sky for Our Last Rhinos,” has already raised over R47,000 through the support of 37 donors — but there’s still a long way to go, and the urgency couldn’t be greater. From boyhood wonder to boots-on-the-ground protector Justin’s love for animals started long before he ever saw a rhino. Growing up in Patensie, he was the child who stopped to help injured birds or nursed stray animals back to health. That instinct only deepened with age. “My early fascination with the natural world led me to a career in anti-poaching, where meeting my first rhino solidified my dedication to their survival. Now, as the co-founder of Rhino Whisperers NPC, I fight to ensure these majestic creatures can thrive in safety. Our mission is to save the lives of these critically endangered creatures before they vanish forever. This isn’t just about saving a species — it’s about preserving a legacy. Rhinos play a vital role in their ecosystem, and their extinction would leave a gaping hole in the wild, one that can never be filled. If we don’t act now, future generations will never know the majesty of rhinos roaming free,” says Justin. A bond built in silence, accepted into the crash When Justin joined the anti-poaching unit at Lombardini Game Farm in the Kouga region, it was home to 19 rhinos. Years of relentless poaching and illness have reduced that number to just four: Amanda, the cautious matriarch; Brittany and Tiffany, inseparable best friends; and a young newcomer, Herbie. “I saw what these …
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Moja Chess Extravaganza 2025 Set to Push Boundaries in Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa –The highly anticipated Moja Chess Extravaganza 2025 will take place from 26 April to 1 May 2025 in Johannesburg, promising one of the most competitive and inclusive chess tournaments in Southern Africa. Now in its eighth year, the event has grown from a local club open into a continental showcase of chess excellence. Organised by Moja Chess Solutions NPC, the tournament is driven by the theme “Pushing Boundaries”, symbolising its mission to empower chess players of all levels and foster international connections through the game. This year’s event already boasts over 60 international participants from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Angola, Malawi, as well as players from France and Turkey. With a prize fund exceeding R200,000, Moja 2025 will feature several sections tailored to different playing strengths and categories: Prestige Section: For players rated above 2000 Elo, Section B: For players below 2000 Elo, Section C: For players below 1600 Elo, Ladies Section: A platform to promote women in chess & Junior Sections D, E, and F: Categorised by age group. “The Moja Chess Extravaganza is more than just a tournament. It’s a developmental platform designed to identify and support future chess champions from Southern Africa,” says Dr. Jabulani Mokoena, Founder of Moja Chess Solutions and Tournament Director. “We’re committed to giving our players opportunities to earn FIDE norms, experience international-level competition, and grow through community.” Established in 2018 as the Moja Chess Club Open, the tournament was renamed in 2022 to reflect its broader mission and reach. Since then, it has become a landmark on the African chess calendar, known for its professionalism, inclusion, and focus on development. The event will feature: Electronic boards and live streaming, Fair Play protocols, Parallel training and development seminars, FIDE Arbiters Seminar, FIDE Preparation of Teachers Course & Swiss …
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A Mother’s Desperate Plea: Support Needed for Ashley Oosthuizen, Wrongfully Imprisoned in Thailand
George, Western Cape, South Africa – Lynnette (Lynn) Blignaut is calling for global support from Thailand, where her daughter, Ashley Oosthuizen (26), has been wrongfully imprisoned for five years now. Lynnette has launched a crowdfunding campaign through BackaBuddy to manage living and legal expenses as they continue to fight for Ashley’s release. Background After graduating from Outeniqua High School in George, Western Cape, Ashley moved to Thailand in 2018. She initially worked as a teacher on the island of Koh Samui, but after being laid off, she secured a managerial position at the restaurant Hot in the Biscuit, offering her a fresh start and hope for a stable, fulfilling life in Thailand. However, her dreams were abruptly shattered on 8 October 2020, when Ashley unknowingly accepted and signed for a package containing 250g of MDMA, intended for someone else. Despite her innocence, she was implicated and arrested, leading to a wrongful conviction. Heartbreakingly, at just 22 years old, Ashley was sentenced to death. After a lengthy legal battle, her sentence was reduced to life imprisonment and later reduced again to 33.4 years. However, justice has not yet been served. Her next appeal in Thailand’s High Court remains pending, with no court date yet confirmed. If clemency is not granted, Ashley will only be released at the age of 56. Ashley’s Reality Despite the challenges of prison life, Ashley has shown remarkable resilience. Her Thai is now excellent, enabling her to communicate and build friendships with fellow inmates. These connections provide mutual support and a sense of security in an environment where vulnerability is a constant risk. Every day is a battle—to endure, to stay hopeful—but she remains grounded in her faith, and has learned to put her trust in the living God, offering help to others and reading whenever possible, though she is only allowed nine books a year. Lynnette expressed the heartbreak of being unable to …
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Community Heroine Feeds 100+ Children Nutritious Meals Every Saturday With Humble Earnings
For the past six years, Nonkululeko "Nonny" Mda, 47, a domestic helper and the founder of Ikhaya Lethu (Our Home), has been a lifeline for hungry children and struggling families in Promiseland informal settlement, Palmridge, Gauteng. Since 2018, she has used her own modest earnings to provide warm, nourishing meals—especially on weekends when school feeding programs aren’t available. Now, she is reaching out for support to keep this essential initiative alive and continue making a difference in her community. A Community in Need, A Heart That Gives Nonny primarily helps school children, but some adults also come for meals. Many children rely on school feeding programs for their only meal of the day, but when school is closed, they sometimes go to bed without a meal. That’s where Nonny steps in, bridging the gap to ensure they don’t go without food. She knows firsthand what it’s like to struggle. Having grown up with a single parent, she remembers moments of uncertainty—praying over their last meal, not knowing where the next meal would come from. That memory fuels her determination to ensure that no child in her community experiences the same she once did. “I live here, and every day I see families struggling to survive, children going hungry, and parents unable to find work,” Nonny shares. “It is heartbreaking to watch people suffer, so I made it my mission to help in any way I can.” Through Ikhaya Lethu, Nonny cooks and distributes meals to between 40 and 100 people at a time, often using her own modest earnings as a helper to supplement donations. The need is immense, and though she does everything she can, resources are always stretched thin. “One day, I was walking down the street after buying cooking ingredients, and I asked some children to help me carry my bags,” Nonny recalls. “When I admitted I didn’t have extra change to give them, they replied with gentle smiles, ‘Mama, there’s no need to pay us—we know you’re going to cook for us.’ …
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TikTok Star Beandri Booysen Prepares for Life-saving Open-Heart Surgery
At just 18 years old, Beandri Booysen has faced more challenges than most people do in a lifetime. She is one of only 150 children and young adults worldwide diagnosed with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes children to age four to eight times faster than their peers. Without treatment, children with Progeria die of heart disease at an average age of 14.5 years. Despite these odds, Beandri continues to inspire thousands with her vibrant personality and courage. Now, however, she faces her biggest challenge yet: a severe heart condition that requires urgent open-heart surgery. Beandri, who lives in Doornpoort, Pretoria, is beloved by her 269.2K TikTok followers and whose videos have garnered over 372K likes. She has been diagnosed with aortic stenosis – a condition where her aortic valve is dangerously obstructed, limiting blood flow from her heart. To make matters worse, calcification in her aorta is adding further complications. Without immediate surgery, Beandri's health is at serious risk. Through all of this, Beandri remains steadfast and hopeful. “I’ve been living with Progeria since birth, and I am used to it. I’ve learned through the years to deal with the challenges that come over my path, from my shoulders dislocating to surgeries on my hips and eyes. I face everything God brings into my life,” she shares. Her family, whom she credits with shaping her strength, has been a vital source of support. “My family supported me by raising me as a ‘normal’ child, not one that is different. This made me stronger and the person I am today,” Beandri explains. “I now understand why they did that—to help me face the haters and obstacles in my daily life.” While the family’s medical aid covers part of the surgery, it is not enough to cover the full cost of the procedure, hospitalisation, or the essential aftercare Beandri will need. Her parents, Pieter and Bea, set up a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise …
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Cape Town International Kite Festival: Flying High for Mental Health Awareness
October is Mental Health Awareness Month globally, and for the past 30 years, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has played a pivotal role in helping people speak openly about their mental health without fear of stigma. As the flagship event of Cape Mental Health since 1994, the Kite Festival creates a space for artists, ambassadors, mental health care users, volunteers, and the public to share their stories of pain, healing, and recovery. Each conversation chips away at the stigma, fostering an environment of non-judgmental and supportive dialogue around mental health. As Glenn Close once said, “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” The Cape Town International Kite Festival is exactly that – a celebration of openness and a call for everyone to engage in meaningful discussions around mental health. The Need for Mental Health Support Mental health issues are more common than many realize, and as the world faces ongoing economic, social, and personal challenges, mental well-being becomes increasingly important. Cape Mental Health aims to provide interventions that restore hope, build resilience, and empower individuals and communities. This year’s theme, #HopeOnAString, is a powerful metaphor for resilience. Just as a kite rises higher despite the fragility of the string that holds it, so do individuals rise above life’s challenges. Each pull of the string reminds us of the inner strength and resilience within us all. The festival is more than a celebration of kites; it shines a light on those facing mental health challenges, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support. Growing Awareness Over 30 Years Since its inception, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has grown from a small one-day event to a global kite-flying phenomenon. The festival now hosts local, national, and international kiters, pop-up kite displays, community flies, EduKite Competitions, entertainment, …
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Nicela Naudé’s Journey: From Abandonment to Love and a Brave Fight Against a Rare Disease
Nicela Naudé, affectionately known as Nikki, is a 10-year-old, grade 4 student at Riverside College in Cape Town. She entered the world under the shadow of abandonment. Born from an unwanted pregnancy 2014, her biological mother chose not to see her or even learn whether she had given birth to a boy or girl. Left alone at Groote Schuur Hospital state hospital, Nikki faced a bleak future, compounded by her diagnosis of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome. This rare condition, affecting just 1 in 100,000 people, caused severe lymphatic and vascular malformations on the left side of her body. Tumours weighing up to 1 kg grew on her chest, and her left arm and hand were deformed. Her life expectancy was heartbreakingly estimated to be only four months. But Nikki’s story was destined for a miraculous turn. Jacques (51) and Madelaine Naudé (52) , two dedicated officers in the South African Police Service in Elsies River and Bothasig respectively, learned about Nikki through a mutual friend, 60-year-old Karin Noonan. Without hesitation, they began the adoption process, driven by a profound desire to provide her with a loving home. They didn’t have much, but they promised to share whatever they had with Nikki. They envisioned a life filled with siblings, pets, princess parties, and endless love. ‘It was heartbreaking to see a fragile little girl lay there with big eyes and knowing she has nothing in life. A mother who didn't want her and a life threatening disease. She was beautiful and we loved her instantly. When we heard that no-one was prepared to adopt her because of her short life expectancy we decided that we can give her a chance in life with a loving family for as long as she has to live. We had nothing to lose but so much to gain by loving this precious child that God had gifted us’ says mum Madelaine. On March 16, 2024, Nicela celebrated her tenth birthday. She is now a beautiful, spontaneous, and happy little girl who adores dogs and make-up. Despite …
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Straight To The Point: The Drag Cartel’s Vibrant Voice in LGBTQI+ Discourse
In a groundbreaking initiative to amplify LGBTQI+ voices, the captivating podcast 'Straight to the Point' features the dynamic trio of Emogan Moore (35), Maxine Wild (30), and Chenal LeCap (23). Broadcasting every Monday at 6:30 PM on the GoBinge YouTube channel, the show offers a 30 to 40-minute weekly dive into the vibrant and often underrepresented world of LGBTQI+ culture. With over 11,000 followers on YouTube, the podcast is rapidly gaining a dedicated audience. A Bold Beginning Launched on April 1, 2024, 'Straight to the Point' ventures into uncharted territories of discussion, ranging from topics safe sex practices, therapy, relationships, and coming out, to lighter fare such as social media trends, fashion, and gossip. This broad spectrum allows the podcast to touch on various aspects of daily life and culture from a uniquely queer perspective, making it a vital resource for both the community and its allies. Louis Du Toit, the Director of the podcast and lead content creator at GoBinge, recalls the origins: "We all met on another exciting project, and after a great spark, The Drag Cartel reached out to GoBinge. The idea to do a podcast from a queer perspective really ignited a fire in all of us. It was crucial to create a conversation from this unique viewpoint, particularly one that isn't widely represented in South African media." Inspirational Hosts with Compelling Stories Maxine Wild, a former Miss Gay Western Cape and a respected leader in the Cape Town drag scene, emphasizes the podcast’s role in giving a voice to the marginalized. "It’s about creating a space where voices that are often silenced can speak loudly and proudly," she explains. Her experiences as a proud transgender woman and a pageant queen enrich the podcast’s narratives, bringing authenticity and depth to the discussions. At 30 years old, Maxine continues to inspire as she mentors younger artists. Emogan Moore, 35, known for her humor and insightful perspectives, comments …
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Robbie Gien from Fourways to Take on Backyard Ultra: Aiming for 100km to Support Vulnerable Children at Swallow’s Nest
Robbie Gien, 36, from Fourways, Johannesburg, is set to make a profound impact with every step he takes. As a father to an amazing little boy, husband to a beautiful wife, a sales team leader at Pnet, an online recruitment platform, and an Ironman athlete since 2013 , Robbie is no stranger to pushing his limits. This year, he's embracing an even greater challenge—the grueling Backyard Ultra—to support a cause close to his heart: Swallow’s Nest. Swallow’s Nest: A Safe Haven for Vulnerable Children Swallow’s Nest, based in Queenswood, Pretoria, is not just a home; it’s a sanctuary for abandoned, abused, neglected, and special-needs children. Founded and lovingly maintained by 55-year-old Jeanette Birrell from Machadodorp, Mpumalanga since 2001, Swallow’s Nest provides temporary care until these children can be matched with adoptive families, reunited with their biological families, or placed into foster care. Over the past 21 years, Jeanette Birrell has cared for 208 babies, offering them a safe and nurturing environment during their most vulnerable moments. As a founding member of the Tshwane Place of Safety Association, which was established in September 2003, Jeanette’s vision of giving each crisis child love and care in a private home has created a profound impact on countless lives. The Tester - The 2024 Comrades Marathon Robbie’s journey to the Backyard Ultra began with another formidable race—the 2024 Comrades Marathon, which he completed in just over 10 hours. Held on June 9, the 85.9km up-run served as a preparation ground for Robbie, helping him build the endurance and mental fortitude required for the Backyard Ultra. The Challenge: Backyard Ultra On July 20, 2024, at Van Gaalens in Hartbeespoort in the North West Province, Robbie will take on one of the most grueling challenges in the ultra-running world—the Backyard Ultra. This unique race format requires competitors to run a 6.7km lap every hour. Each lap must be completed within …