5 SOUTH AFRICANS WHO INSPIRED US DURING LOCKDOWN

Image Source: Triplet Mommy, BI Phakathi, Tumi Sole, LesDaChef, Valencia Maseko

As lockdown restrictions lift and things feel (slightly) more normal, Level 5 already feels like a distant memory. One thing we’ll never forget? Those who kept us going with their uplifting posts and positive outlook when we needed it most. Follow them for feel-good posts when you need a boost!

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Tiyiselani wanted a hair band too 😅#babytuesday #silbingslove #tripletbabies #love #parenting

A post shared by The Triplets (@tsakanis_triplets) on Oct 20, 2020 at 5:19am PDT

Triplet Mommy for advice on #ParentingInAPandemic 

Not only a professional nurse working through a pandemic but also a mother to toddler triplets (and a six-year-old!), Tsakani Ndlovu – known as @Mommy_Triplet on Twitter – kept us in parenting tips and adorable videos of her little ones pottering around the house. It was just the kind of wholesome, feel-good content we needed to balance out 2020’s stream of bad news headlines.

BI Phakathi for #RAOK

Motivational speaker, filmmaker and life coach, BI Phakathi – also known as ‘Mr Good Deeds’ – records videos of himself performing random acts of kindness, such as giving meals to homeless people or paying a stranger’s rent. Lockdown didn’t slow him down and his generosity warmed our hearts when we were in sore need of good news and evidence of human kindness. Find him on facebook: @biphakathi.

#CountryDuty @CountryDutyZA team was in the North West today & aided with some groceries for families impacted by Covid-19.

Thanks @OscarMagud and your team for assisting with the deliveries as always pic.twitter.com/cTIo26cKG7

— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) October 17, 2020

Tumi Sole for social justice activism

A corporate lawyer with a passion for human rights and social justice, Tumi Sole started a non-profit organisation called Country Duty, which uses its Twitter profile to influence and hold both private and public officials to account. During lockdown, #CountryDuty gave valuable information and advice for employees, tenants and others in difficulty. #CountryDuty also provided groceries and supplies to people in need and did an all-round good job of spreading ubuntu in its truest sense.

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IMBO White bean dip. Perfect for lazy weekends on the couch (like I'm planning for this weekend). Can be served warm or cold. 😉 ½ cup @imbo_beans Small White Beans 1 ½ cups boiling water (plus extra for cooking) ½ cup grated, mature white cheddar cheese 3/4 cup sour cream 1 cup plain cream cheese 1/2 tsp chili powder ½ tsp ground coriander Salt & pepper to taste 1. Quick-soak the beans in the boiling water for an hour, as per the instructions on the pack. Drain and rinse the beans and place them in a pan and cover them with enough boiling water to cover them. 2. Place the pan on the stove and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and let the beans simmer on a medium heat for 45 minutes to an hour or until cooked through. 3. Drain and allow the beans to cool at room temperature. 4. Place the beans into a blender and add the cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, chilli powder and coriander. 5. Blend until smooth. Taste the dip and season if necessary. 6. Serve with fresh vegetable sticks, crackers or nachos or enjoy as a spread on fresh bread or toast. #MyIMBORecipe

A post shared by Lesego Semenya (@lesdachef) on Sep 4, 2020 at 1:24am PDT

LesDaChef for simple, delicious recipes

Award-winning chef and author Lesego Semenya, known as @LesDaChef, shared seriously useful (and seriously delicious) tips, facts and recipes during lockdown, when we were all spending so much more time in the kitchen. From restaurant-grade mashed potatoes (spoiler alert: don’t use a potato masher!) to South African butternut soup, ox liver and magwinya, he gave us good food without the snobbery, just as his videos promised.

Some blessings and people can only be visible to you after you have done the inner work. We are sometimes required to work on ourselves so that we are able to maintain and sustain great relationships, jobs, money...

— Valencia (@MasekoValencia) September 18, 2020

Valencia Maseko for mental health reminders 

Mental health activist and PhD candidate Valencia Maseko – @MasekoValencia on Twitter – shared her thoughts on anxiety, relationships, self-worth and resilience during a time when so many of us were taking strain. Her positive outlook and reminders of the importance of being kind to yourself helped hundreds of thousands of followers through the stress and uncertainty of lockdown.