BRINGING A LITTLE SUNSHINE

The Good Things Guy is an eternal optimist who wants people to be kind and spread joy

- NOKUTHULA ZWANE-EJIKE

A RANDOM act of kindness changed everything and sparked the foundation of the life he lives today. Thanks to that moment he’s become the guy who brings good news to South Africans who are worn and weary of death, destruction and despair.

Brent Lindeque is the man behind the Good Things Guy website, which has become immensely popular thanks to its feel-good vibes and positive stories about South Africans.

And today, a day after celebrating the eighth anniversary of launching his popular site, he’s welcoming us into his home in Fourways, Johannesburg.

It’s as bright as he is. Pictures of his blended family grace the walls and his 14-year-old cat, Smudge, is settled on the couch, trying to catch the rays of the winter sun streaming through a nearby window.

His fiancé, Andrew Ross, would’ve been here too but had to take their pooches, Ruby and Nova, for grooming, Brent says. “We have our own modern family.”

He’s just come back from the gym, as is his usual habit in the morning, before getting stuck into a busy day. There are plenty of good stories to be told, after all, and he’s just the guy to do it.

Brent’s path to becoming the Good Things Guy started in 2015 when he gave a twist to a reckless social-media challenge that had gone viral. Neknomination was a drinking game where people shared videos of themselves downing an alcoholic drink as fast as possible then nominating friends to do the same.

Brent changed it to RAKnomination, hoping to make random acts of kindness nomination a thing – and he did.