Lantana is an area of Paarl known to be riddled with gangsterism. Over the years many lives have been negatively impacted and the community often lives in fear. Monte Christo Miqlat (MCM) runs a variety of empowerment programmes at the ...

About twelve years ago, Stephanie Henderson employed Ella Bailey as her domestic worker to clean her home in Wellington and look after her children. The two women came from completely different backgrounds, but had one thing in common - compassion. ...

“When things aren’t good in my life, I like to be alone and work with my hands, building my sound system. I don’t go out and look for trouble or pick fights, I work.” Although humble and soft-spoken, Franco Booysen ...

As a little boy, Darren Hartlief dreamed of only one career path - to become a teacher. Every afternoon after school, he’d return home and immediately get lost in a make-believe classroom of his own. “I’d gather bricks in the ...

Despite being born blind, Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Arendse (53) has never felt disadvantaged by her lack of eyesight. Instead, she has used every opportunity to educate herself and give back to her community in many different ways. When she isn’t supporting ...

In the community of Mbekweni on the outskirts of Paarl, a small food garden is thriving in Selina Khonjwayi’s backyard. She is 68 years old and is the proud owner of a garden that she has been trained to manage ...

#RealHeroesChristiaan's Story. Christiaan was only six years old when he witnessed his father being shot and killed right in front of his eyes. He was severely traumatised by the incident and became an angry and rebellious boy. When Christiaan’s mother ...

Back in 1985 whilst doing his service time with the South African Navy in Saldanha Bay, Mark Maingard was given two options: “do you want to be a driver or a chef?”. He chose to be a chef – a ...

#RealHeroes Series KERISHNIE’S STORY “I was raised by a single mom who is a farmworker. We didn’t have much. My mother was however always passionate about her work and did everything in her power to provide for us. Since I ...