Good Morning Angels Celebrates Two Decades of Changing Lives

Jacaranda FM, one of South Africa’s leading radio stations, proudly marks 20 years of life-changing impact with its beloved community upliftment initiative, Good Morning Angels.

Since its inception in 2005, the segment has become a beacon of hope, touching countless lives through moments of healing, generosity, and solidarity. Heard every Wednesday on Breakfast With Martin Bester, the feature has grown from a single weekly act of kindness into a powerful movement of change.

Over the past two decades, Good Morning Angels has raised and distributed more than R120 million to help South Africans in need — funding life-saving medical treatments, providing educational bursaries, assisting families in crisis, and even supporting animal welfare organisations.

This extraordinary success is driven by the unwavering compassion of Jacaranda FM’s listeners and the generous backing of corporate partners. Events like the annual Good Morning Angels Golf Day, which raised over R4.85 million in 2024 alone, highlight the initiative’s far-reaching impact.

To honour this milestone, Jacaranda FM has launched a special series titled Good Morning Angels: The Legacy. Over the next 20 weeks, every Monday morning will feature stories from past recipients, sharing how the kindness they received transformed their lives.

These deeply personal accounts will run alongside the traditional Wednesday morning segments, where the station continues to address urgent community needs.

Lordwick Kgatle – From Recycling Trash to Centre Manager

One of the most inspiring stories revisited during this anniversary celebration is that of Lordwick Kgatle. In December 2018, Lordwick was collecting and recycling trash in Rooiwal near Hammanskraal to fund his Business Management studies. His dreams were almost derailed when an outstanding debt of R8,000 threatened to block him from writing his final exams.

After sharing his story on Good Morning Angels, listeners and corporate partners rallied to help. Roman’s Pizza paid off his outstanding fees and fully covered his 2019 tuition, contributing R35,000 in total.

A listener, Willie Marais, added R8,000 directly to Lordwick’s account and even pledged to fund his third year if he stayed on track. Later, Atterbury Properties stepped in to provide him with an internship opportunity.

Today, Lordwick is the Centre Manager at Jubilee Crossing in Hammanskraal — a true testament to the lasting impact of this initiative.

Good Morning Angels is “The Beating Heart of Jacaranda FM”

“Good Morning Angels is more than a feature; it’s the beating heart of Jacaranda FM,” says Vuyani Dombo, Managing Director at Jacaranda FM. “Reaching 20 years is proof of the incredible generosity of our listeners and corporate partners. Their continued support has allowed us to deliver life-changing interventions across South Africa.”

Host Martin Bester adds: “Every Wednesday, and now every Monday morning with our legacy celebration, Good Morning Angels reminds us of the incredible power of collective kindness. To see the ripple effect of our listeners’ generosity is humbling — together, we are changing lives for good.”

As the initiative enters its third decade, Jacaranda FM remains committed to its mission: to change lives with dignity, hope, and opportunity.

The Monday legacy series and accompanying podcast will keep sharing stories of resilience, while Wednesday mornings continue to bring immediate assistance to those who need it most — proving that when communities unite, hope becomes action.

Watch this space for updates in the General News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.