I met an 83-year-old man in Pennington who’s been fixing potholes for nearly 12 years… using his own money, his maroon bakkie and a whole lot of heart.

South Coast, South Africa (20 April 2025) – Yesterday, I met a local hero in a place I had never been before, Pennington.

Pennington is a small, sun-drenched coastal village along the south coast where time slows down, the waves greet you first and all the dogs seem to know each other by name (or butt sniffs). It’s the kind of place where the milkshake at the corner café still comes with a paper straw (not because of climate change but because that’s how they’ve done it since the 80s) and where everyone seems to genuinely care about everyone else.

There’s heart here. And a whole lot of community.

But even in a place this charming, potholes don’t fix themselves.

Call it serendiptious. Or maybe fortuitous. Or perhaps just meant-to-be. But on the way to the beach, I crossed paths with an 83-year-old man named Tony Hoggins… a legend with a maroon bakkie who’s been quietly fixing the town’s potholes for over a decade.

Let that sink in.

Eleven and a half years.

Of mixing cement. Of patching holes. Of taking matters into his own hands because, as he puts it: “No one else is going to fix it.”

I’d come down to visit my parents, who’ve recently bought a property in Pennington with plans to eventually retire here. Drawn to the peace, the people and the promise of a gentler kind of life. I expected sea air, slow days and perhaps a lazy walk on the beach. What I didn’t expect… was to be reminded just how extraordinary ordinary people can be.

Tony is well-known around here. Everyone has a story. Some have seen him stop mid-errand to patch a hole. Others have helped him mix a bit of cement. Kids wave when they spot his maroon bakkie ambling through town. And more than a few locals have quietly left donations, slipped into his hand at the café, or passed through a car window, because they know he won’t ask… but they also know he won’t stop.

He does this with his own money. Every tool. Every mix. Every patch.

It’s not a funded project. It’s not backed by a municipality. It’s just Tony, his bakkie and a sense of duty to the place he calls home.

He told me it’s never been about recognition. He’s not trying to be a hero. He just saw something broken and decided to be the kind of person who tries to fix it. When I asked him what message he had for the rest of South Africa, he paused, like he didn’t want to preach, and then said something so profound: “If everybody did their little part in front of their own homes, or in their streets, or communities, then South Africa would be a very different place.”

Simple. But powerful.

Because we all know the truth, many parts of South Africa are struggling. Infrastructure is crumbling. Especially in smaller towns. Years of corruption and mismanagement have left roads full of holes and hearts full of frustration. It’s easy to feel hopeless. To believe that no one cares.

To throw your hands in the air and say, “Well, it’s not my job.”

But stories like Tony’s shift that narrative. They remind us that change doesn’t always come from the top. Sometimes, it starts at the bottom of a pothole.

Across the country, we’re seeing sparks of this same spirit. Initiatives like Tidy Towns Pennington, Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate, Better Fourways, and Better Bedfordview are proof that communities aren’t waiting anymore. They’re stepping up. Fixing what’s broken. Rebuilding what was left to decay. One street. One patch. One kind act at a time.

And Tony? He’s just one man with a maroon bakkie and a bag of cement. But in a country where too many are still waiting for someone else to fix things, he reminds us that waiting isn’t the only option.

He didn’t ask for permission. He didn’t wait for funding. He just got to work.

And maybe that’s the lesson here.

That real change doesn’t always roar in with a crowd. Sometimes, it arrives quietly… in the form of an 83-year-old with grit in his hands and love for his town in his heart.

Because if one person can do this much for one small village, just imagine what we could do together.

Start with what’s in front of you.
Fix what you can.
And never underestimate the power of simply showing up.

The road to a better South Africa might be long but thanks to people like Tony, it’s already being paved.

Sources: Interview with Tony Hoggins in Pennington 

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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 The 83-Year-Old Filling Potholes and Restoring Hope in His Community appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The Bluff Assist community group is spreading joy and hope through their Unicorn Shopping initiative by providing struggling families with essential items.

Bluff, South Africa (16 September 2024) – To have some decent clean clothes beyond those on your back, a toy for your little one and a book to enrich a young mind are just some of the great desires that many struggling families have.

Offering essentials and a helping hand through a unique ‘shopping experience’ are the selfless members of the Bluff Assist community group.

The volunteers are currently collecting clothes, toys and books for their Unicorn Shopping initiative which gives back to the destitute community within the Bluff area.

“We realised our community has many vulnerable people, and many community members willing to assist,” shares Bluff Assist member Chantal Bransgrove-Bower.

The Unicorn Shopping will be the Bluff Assist Youth League’s first community event. Families will have the opportunity to bring their kids to ‘shop’ for some clothes, toys or books at no cost.

“Parents get to walk through and choose 10 items that they need. Clothes or shoes, and then kids can also choose some toys and books.

“If we have food available on the day that has been donated, we also distribute that. All items are free and sent with love and care from their community. It’s a way to help those in need, and also involve the community.”

All items on ‘sale’ will be preloved items and donated by the community to show love to a new family in need, a truly heartwarming testament to the power of community.

For more information or to donate to the worthy cause, email BluffAssist@gmail.com.

Sources: Bluff Assist

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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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22-year-old Dimakatso Lekola, a law student and young CEO has been named Community Builder of the Year for his incredible work bridging the gaps in the education system:

South Africa (12 October 2023) — Community building might look different to different people, but regardless of the ‘how’ the end goal is usually the same—strengthening people collectively. For Dimakatso Lekola (22), a University of Pretoria Law student and young CEO who recently won a big award recognising him as Community Builder of the Year, the building blocks of stronger communities and his ‘how’ begins with bridging the gaps in education.

Dimakatso from Phetwane Village in Limpopo, is the Founder of DK Lekola Global Education Institute. He was inspired to take action in helping more people access educational support after a matric student whose family faced financial constraints, reached out to him for help.

“Given my own upbringing in a financially disadvantaged background, I empathized with her situation and felt compelled to find a way to assist. I understood the struggles of attending underprivileged public schools, where resources and teachers were limited, often necessitating self-study and peer teaching. During my own Matric year at Mokgoma Matlala Secondary School in Phetwane Village, Limpopo Province, there were only seven teachers, including the principal and vice principal,” he says.

The path he and his team are building (which began in 2022) is one where educational support is more accessible to more high school and tertiary students through tutoring and mentorship; fostering a community of students who have access to the track that’ll help them put their best foot forward toward their future dreams more affordably and with more avenues of support.

An impressive endeavour requiring a lot of extra hours in between completing his LLB, Dimakatso won the Sunrise Excellence Award for Community Builder of the Year and was the youngest nominee to win. These awards honour impact makers across categories who have shown dedication, leadership and have a strong commitment to creating positive change.

For Dimakatso, the win comes thanks not only to what he is building but the gaps his labour of love fills within the education system. It also follows another nod to his efforts which came earlier this year when he won the Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) prize for Humanitarian and Leadership.

Several support divisions contribute to these gap fillers, including mental health, talent, tech and even legal and transformation—giving students the opportunity to nurture passions and their own well-being, while the Institute actively works to transform the South African education system.

“What sets me apart as a community builder is the holistic approach to community development,” Dimakatso tells Good Things Guy.

“While many community builders focus on one aspect, I aim to address education, mental well-being, talent development, legal matters, and mentorship, creating a more comprehensive impact.”

As for aspiring community builders, Dimakatso advises:

“To those who want to start building communities, my advice is to begin with a clear passion and understanding of community needs. Collaboration, starting small, learning from others, staying committed, and regularly assessing the impact are key principles for effective community building. 

“Most importantly, take that first step—even small efforts can lead to significant change.”

Sources: Dimakatso Lekola

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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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