The good news edition

Loading player...
We all deserve to stop, breathe, meditate and smile about the good things happening in our lives and South Africa today. Sometimes, we just need that nudge to remind us about the beauty hiding in plain sight. To mark International Day of Happiness and Human Rights Day, this edition of The Lead is devoted solely to good news. And who better to speak to show host Graeme Raubenheimer than News24 Good News editor Paul Herman? Herman tells us about a unique project to craft a backpack and sleeping bag combo for people experiencing homelessness in Cape Town. They touch on the story of a pair of twin George boys who were propelled by News24 readers' support to compete in a Greece chess competition. Herman also reminisces about Loyiso Manga's dream of building an olive oil business during lockdown. Later in The Lead, we reflect on how Mzansi's top special education needs matriculant is taking on a Wits law degree and how a Mpumalanga teen could be our next pro javelin star after learning how on YouTube. You can now mail your views, news, and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions will drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Intro
  • 01:29 Interview with Paul Herman
  • 20:13 Trending topic: Blind Wits Law student
  • 21:11 And finally: Mpumalanga javelin star
  • 21:58 The Weekender
  • 22:21 Outro
20 Mar 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

From Iran’s navy with love: What’s next? With Carol Paton

Who, in our country’s signal of command, didn’t get the memo or ignore the president’s order to tell the Iranian navy to pull out of the recent BRICS war games off the False Bay coastline? The defence minister hopes a board of inquiry will provide answers soon, but News24’s specialist…
21 Jan 29 min

‘Day Zero’ looms large for drought-stricken Knysna

A real Day Zero scenario looms large for the people of Knysna. Bad seasonal rains, claims of a lack of water infrastructure maintenance – and the usual mix of poor politics – mean taps are on the verge of trickling to a halt. We catch up with News24 journalist, Velani…
20 Jan 22 min

More tough questions for Ekhuruleni mayor over DJ’s murder

There is a long list of burning questions piling up at the door of the Ekhuruleni mayor’s office these days. News24 investigations’ Sikonathi Mantshantasha is finally revealing that Mayor Nkosindiphile Xakhaza was at the scene of the 2023 nightclub murder of DJ Bongani Mfihlo, whom Xakhaza spent the night with…
19 Jan 23 min

‘Cat’ Matlala tried to open an ultra-lux OR Tambo airport terminal

When the “Cat” wasn’t sneaking his way into the heart of police operations, the controversial tender don was also trying to build a private international airport terminal with Nedbank’s financing help. Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks details yet another failed venture by Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala. Later, in our trending topic, a…
15 Jan 18 min