Brent Lindeque

I love that my timeline is full of happiness and good things! Deleted the drama. Blocked the bullshit. Nullified the negativity. Cancelled the kak. And muted the mean. My Twitter is a safe, joyful place for me. A solid reminder that Twitter is not toxic, some of you are. 👀

@LuckyGordy There are really incredible journalists in South Africa. Some of the best in the world. Without them, we wouldn't have half an idea of what is happening around us. I am not one of them but I feel really sad for any of my friends who see this.

Never cancelling this app

Good news ❤️🇿🇦 For more visit goodthingsguy.com

I just had to email a charity to let them know I can’t MC their event. You see, MCing and delivering Keynotes is part of my job. It’s how I make money. Well, it’s 1 of my 5 jobs. I allocate 12 spots a year to charities, schools and really, anyone who might need me to jump in to do a gig, who might not have budget for it. I am supposed to stick to 12 (free slots) but I don’t. I am forever saying yes. It makes my management very cross. It also makes Andrew cross. My weekends and downtime tend to belong to others. Whoopsies. It is what it is. Anyway, I didn’t want to say no. But I had already said yes to another charity event on that date. I am not lying when I tell you I am always saying yes. It’s actually a whole 10 days that I will be away. For charity. I need to preface this… I hate camping. I don’t mind hiking but it’s the camping bit that gives me the grils. I actually can’t. But I do. And I will. I have agreed to climb Kilimanjaro again. I just said again. I know, mal. But it’s for charity. And so, I said yes. A couple of years ago, I wrote an article because we were constantly being emailed to ask for help funding a “charity” trip. Somewhere in there, I wrote about how we won’t be “funding your swim around Mauritius”. You see, many people do things for charity BUT need you to pay the costs to get them there, to do the thing, and the money they raise above that goes to the charity. I don’t agree. You may have a different opinion, but I believe that if you want to “do” something for charity, as much money as possible should go to the charity. I climbed Kili for charity a couple of years ago. I paid for myself, and every single cent raised above that was donated to the charity. And so I am doing it again. We (as a group) are paying for ourselves, leaving our family and friends, giving up 10 days of our time and raising as much money as possible for the charity. Every cent will go to the cause. Friends, I am willing to sleep in a tent. A TENT!!! And climb to the top of Africa. While eating cucumber soup (it sounds like a delicacy, it really isn’t) to raise money for “Hope4”. Hope4 is dedicated to fighting poverty, human trafficking, the fallout from conflicts and the impact of natural disasters. They started in Europe, where they do great work but have moved to South Africa. Their mission is to help, on the ground, here. It’s their second climb. Last time they climbed, they raised R1,3 million. This time, we want to double that. Also, it’s my second climb. The first was so incredibly tough. One of the hardest things I have ever done. We were in a snowstorm. And so, my pictures look like I am in a snowstorm. This time round, I am hoping for blue skies. I am also hoping we reach our goal. So WHEN we do (reach our goal)… I will be taking the final photo at the top in a budgie smugglers. A faf-broekie. The South African flag one. Anyway, I’ll be sharing more details as we get closer to the climb. Jammer to that other charity MC gig. I know you will find someone else to make magic at your event. But I will be in a tent. Please keep me in your thoughts. Okay. Love you. Bye.

@CaseySprake It's so exciting!!! I would guess Dolphin watching (from a boat) would be a biggie... and maybe a day trip to the Valley of a 1000 Hills! Loads to do there! ❤️🇿🇦

The "Club Med effect" is real - 2,300 jobs during build and 600 permanent is exactly the kind of positive catalyst KZN needs. Infrastructure + tourism spend = one of the highest-multiplier forms of local economic uplift, rippling into SMMEs, transport and hospitality long after opening. Which local excursion do you all reckon international guests will fall in love with first?😃

I get to do some really cool things. Like, I bladdy love my job. And yesterday I was flown down to Durbs for the day with a group of journos, media and Patricia de Lille for the “final” walk-through at the new Club Med. It feels pretty full circle. I need to preface this… I’m a Club Med Brand Ambassador. I get invited to their resorts. And (sometimes) speak at their events. A couple of weeks ago, at an event, I gave away nights at their new resort. Ja, I got to give away free stays at the South Africa Beach and Safari resort. It was so festy that Olivier Perillat-Piratoine, MD of Club Med Southern Africa, offered even more (for me to give away). What a vibe. But I am prefacing this, so you don’t think that what I am about to say is biased. Cause it’s really not. This resort is a game-changer for KwaZulu-Natal. And South Africa. A couple of years ago, I was invited to the official announcement that we were getting our very own Club Med in South Africa. The area where they were going to build it was just sugarcane. I am not going to lie, I didn’t see the vision. I mean, I knew it was going to be lovely but friends, it was just a sugarcane field. Fast-forward to September last year, and I got to walk around the site. It was spectacular! It was a building site but I could finally see it. I understood what the end result would look like. And it got me really excited. And then, yesterday, we did the final walk-through. The last tour. The one before it opens on the 4th of July. I am excited. The resort is stunning. They have transformed a sugarcane field into a lush “forest”. The rooms are stunning, with epic views of the sea. The buildings are bold and beautiful. There are 6 pools. And 2 restaurants. And bars. Lots and lots of bars. They have sports facilities. And a whole big dam. And a Spa. And a conference centre. And rooms for days. It is SPECTACULAR! During our tour. Chris du Toit, project leader for the development, explained how many jobs have been created because of this resort. The number was 2,300, with 600 now permanent. He also went on to explain that the level of our South African products and services is so high that they are now being shared with the rest of the Club Med group. You'll most likely find a bit of South Africa in all the other resorts going forward. Cause we’re that good! Olivier spoke about how the resort is already being booked up. By South Africans and international tourists. People are booking. And they are booking fast and hard. This is really huge for us. There is something called the “Club Med effect”, an economic phenomenon where the arrival of a high-end Club Med resort acts as a catalyst for regional transformation. It drives international visibility, investor confidence, infrastructure development and even property value growth. So it’s not just about Clun Med. It’s about what Club Med will do for KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZulu-Natal needed some love. And I feel like this is it. International tourists often head to Cape Town or Kruger Park. I believe Club Med will put KZN on the global bucket list map. And why the hell not? Best weather, the sea is the perfect temperature and the people are so flipping lekker. Plus, there is so much to do in KZN. Club Med are big on excursions… locals will have the opportunity to really showcase (to tourists) what we have to offer. Patricia de Lille spoke about the importance of tourism in South Africa. 1 in 18 South Africans is directly impacted by tourism. Patricia says that there is proof that when someone visits South Africa, they always come back for more. So yes, South Africans are booking at Club Med. But so are international tourists. And if they visit us once… we know they will be back for more. They will want to see more of us. And that sounds like a bladdy good thing to me. I cannot wait to visit this incredible resort when it is finally open. It is going to be such a vaaaibe. Okay. Love you. Bye.

Over 300 charities are now part of The Helpers—and every single one is doing the work that keeps communities going. Now is the moment to show up. Follow a cause. Share their story. Make a donation if you can. Volunteer your time. Find out more here: thehelpers.co.za

@FarukHoosain I asked the team about this on my first site visit and they showed me all the ramps and elevators and wheelchair access. Inclusive for all. ❤️

@BrentLindeque Please beautiful soul . Do ask Club Med to make it wheel chair accessible... continue to inspire and to spread Light and Love ❤️

En route to Durbs for the day for a little site visit! Hashtag excited!!!! 🏝️

The Mother's Day hearts are so sweet! ❤️

My mommy. I phone her every day. Sometimes more than once. Sometimes to just tell her what I had for lunch. She is my favourite. My best friend. My rock. I call her the original “good things girl”. She taught me everything I know. She made me who I am. And she gave me 3 of the best siblings. We had our lunch a day early yesterday. She’s a busy woman. She has a holiday to get to. And I have “work” today. Well, is it work? You’ll see what I am doing just now now. I digress. Jammer. She’s my mommy. And I’m incredibly lucky to call her mine. Happy mom’s day mom. And to all the moms. We love and appreciate you. Okay. Love you.

@BlueHouseZA @GoodThingsGuy I love that Deanne. David Attenborough is such a legend. ❤️

@BrentLindeque @GoodThingsGuy Love you too. You're the best thing that ever happened to us. Mental health is important. Do a David Attenborough - live to 100, dispensing Good News as you go. Talking about that, Google 'David Attenborough' and see what Google has done. 👏

It’s been a year. A whole year at eNCA. Ja, a year ago I signed my contract. And a week later, I set my alarm for 5am on a Friday to make it to studio on time. To share our good things with a new audience. 11 years ago, I started @GoodThingsGuy. Some people thought I was nuts. “Good news doesn’t sell... it will never work.” And then it did. And others followed suit. You can now find good news in most publications. Some have even created their own good news sections. But that didn’t exist before. Mainstream media rarely covered good news unless it was something trending. Now they look for it. And sometimes even look to us to find it. We have MANY journalists subscribed to our weekly newsletter. I see your email addresses. And it makes me smile. A couple of years ago, a university student sent me their MBA dissertation on Good Things Guy, unpacking how we had changed the media landscape in South Africa. How we were the little butterfly flap that caused a tornado. Listen, when I got that email and read their 20,000-word thesis, I cried. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be some sort of “Chaos Theory” for good news. Funny thing is my first company I started was called Chaos Theory. Andrew sold his massive company to an even bigger global company to take over Chaos Theory when Good Things Guy started to take over my life. When it became bigger than me. I digress. Jammer. I love that Good Things Guy has made people realise how important good news is. Especially in mainstream media. We need balance. And I love that other publications are leaning into this. I think it’s so important. You don’t need to visit us to get your good news. It’s all around. It’s where you are. It’s where you find your news. Even in your own communities. Good things are happening all the time. I started Good Things Guy with a simple mission: Share 1 good news story with South Africa every day. We now share 20 articles a day. This week, on Thursday, we shared 29. New record. And you can find us on our platform. Or on our socials. Or on all the mall screens around the country. Or at all the Sasols and BPs (in the forecourts, look at the screens). Or on 947, 702, Cape Talk, Die Groot Ontbyt. Or on my poddie. And for the last year… also on eNCA. A whole year. I am humbled. And deeply grateful. Oh, what a life. So many good things. Okay. Love you. Bye.

@mammachefjozi @GoodThingsGuy Thank you Jeanne. Chaos Theory is still going strong, Andrew is such an incredible leader… me, I’m all about the Good Things now. ❤️🇿🇦

@BrentLindeque @GoodThingsGuy It’s not just a wonderful achievement, it’s a living legacy! 👏 SO many good things to celebrate. PS, even me I did some work for Chaos Theory some moons ago 😃 Anyway, keep spreading the Good Things! Every single person in the world needs it 💛

@zilevandamme @GoodThingsGuy Thank you Phumzile, it’s definitely been a journey. A really, really good one. ❤️🇿🇦

@BrentLindeque @GoodThingsGuy BRENTTTTTT! So excited and proud of you. No one deserves to win more than you. Keep on keeping on. ♥️

About last night: Fire places. Wine. Dinner. Fabulous company. All for Anton’s 40th. ❤️

I just ticked off something that was planned (on my to-do list) for Monday. I think I am now done with Friday. The weekend starts now.

We crossed the 300 mark recently! To every organisation that has joined us so far, thank you. Thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch, and the hope you bring into communities every single day. It is an honour to help shine a light on your impact.💛

In case you missed it, @BrentLindeque recently chatted to the CapeTalk team about "Why the stories we tell shape the country we become". primediaplus.com/why-the-storie… @GoodThingsGuy

If “Selling Sunset” was all about “Good Things”. The Good Things Guy team joined the Met Gala AI trend. They sent this to me. I love it. Jotted down that our next YAY day lunch will require full-on couture evening wear. Even if it’s just at a random bar. On a random Tuesday. We will be bringing the bling. And the good things. Miranda Priestly eat your heart out. That’s all. Okay. Love you. Bye.

Timeline cleanser: warm cuddly pups on a very chilly day. ❤️