Latest news with #JohanKotze
News24
2 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Finding Luigi: Homeless Bok superfan's family reported him missing, then saw him on News24
Homeless Springboks fan Alan Strydom, aka Luigi, shot to fame this month when Johan Kotze decided to take him to the Springboks vs Barbarians game in Cape Town. It has since emerged that his family has been looking for him since February. His sister, Charmelle, said the family saw News24's article via its WhatsApp channel and couldn't believe it was him. When Johan Kotze took a homeless man to watch the Springboks play in Cape Town, he didn't know the kind gesture could reunite the man with his long-lost family. After the story of Kotze and Alan Strydom, nicknamed Luigi, went public, the homeless man's family came forward. The family is based in Gqeberha and haven't seen Strydom since February… until they saw his face in an article on News24's WhatsApp channel last week. Kotze and Strydom captured the nation's hearts last week after Johan offered his spare Springboks ticket to Alan, who was preparing to sleep under the circle close to DHL Stadium at the time. The pair began chatting and Kotze learnt that he was an avid rugby fan. Moved by his story, Kotze decided to take him along. Now a reunion for the Strydom family is on the cards. 'As a family, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy after discovering that our beloved brother, Alan Strydom, was spotted at the Springboks game at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town,' his sister Charmelle said in a letter to News24. 'Imagine our surprise and relief when we stumbled upon an article featuring Alan, accompanied by Johan Kotze, enjoying the rugby match. The article highlighted Johan's humanitarian act of taking a homeless man to the game, unaware that the man in question was our brother.' Alan, a psychiatric patient at Fort England Psychiatric Institution in Makhanda, has been missing since 15 February 2025. 'We were beside ourselves with worry, unsure of his whereabouts or well-being. Our mother's health deteriorated rapidly since Alan went missing,' Charmelle continued. According to the family, the hospital's programmes have been instrumental in helping him manage his condition, teaching him valuable coping mechanisms. 'He also became a facilitator of these programmes at Fort England hospital, helping others with the same problems as his. 'However, he still needs to take his medication and report back to the hospital from time to time. He defaulted on his leave from hospital when he left home without informing anyone of his whereabouts.' Supplied by Charmelle Oliveira News24 spent three nights last week searching for Strydom at known homeless spots on the Atlantic Seaboard, with no success. Only one person knew him but couldn't say where he was. Kotze, of Riebeek West, also returned to Cape Town last week to try and find his new friend, with no success either. He also appeared on SABC's Expresso show on Monday to relay the inspiring story from the Barbarians game. In keeping with the ripple effect of kindness emanating from this story, a viewer of the show, Aphiwe Nsimbi, offered to give Charmelle his ticket to the Springboks match against Italy in Gqeberha this coming Saturday, 12 July, because he is no longer able to make it. News24 would like to reunite the family and Kotze with Strydom. If you have any leads on how to contact Strydom, please reach out to or WhatsApp 083 681 5927. 'If this is the ending to the story to reunite the family with Luigi, I will be so, so happy. Amen,' said Kotze. Left with the last word, Charmelle thanked Johan again for his kindness and generosity, hopeful that his compassion would help their brother in more ways than one. She said: Taking Alan to the Springboks game was an incredible experience for him, and we're grateful for the positive impact it had on his well-being. 'We're thrilled that Johan's actions brought a smile to Alan's face and hope that this experience will have a lasting positive effect on his life. Our father, who died in 2018, was the one who instilled the love for rugby in us as his children. 'Once again, we thank Johan Kotze for being a true 'good Samaritan' and making a difference in our brother's life. We hope that his selfless act will inspire others to pay it forward and make a positive impact on those around them.'
News24
01-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
Homeless man scores Boks ticket; Missing baby found: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Lisalee Solomons/News24 Missing Cape Town baby found safe, 37-year-old woman arrested - A newborn baby boy, kidnapped from a mall in Bellville on Saturday, has been found safe in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. - Police arrested a 37-year-old woman, who is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on a kidnapping charge. - The baby's grandmother expressed immense relief and gratitude for the police's efforts in finding the child. This man gave his spare Boks game ticket to a homeless superfan. They had a ball of a time - Johan Kotze took a homeless man named Luigi to a Springboks game in Cape Town after his original plus-one couldn't make it. - Luigi, a former teacher and avid rugby fan, had never been to a Springboks game and was overjoyed by the experience. - Kotze and Luigi shared a memorable night, bonding over rugby and creating a heartwarming story that touched many. Mbenenge advocate argues expert evidence that 'no means no' ignores Xhosa courting culture - Judge President Selby Mbenenge is facing a JSC tribunal over sexual harassment allegations made by his secretary, Andiswa Mengo, based on sexually suggestive WhatsApp exchanges. - Gender expert Dr Lisa Vetten testified that Mengo appeared reluctant and unenthusiastic in the exchanges, suggesting she was not a willing participant, and that Mbenenge's repeated requests for intimate pictures were an abuse of power. - Mbenenge's defence argued that Vetten's analysis might be flawed due to her not being Xhosa and potentially misinterpreting the cultural context of the language used in the messages. DA's mooted no confidence motion against Ramaphosa would need GNU partners' votes to pass - The DA is considering a motion of no confidence against President Ramaphosa after the firing of their MP, Andrew Whitfield, as deputy minister. - For the motion to succeed, the DA needs a simple majority in the National Assembly, requiring support from opposition parties and potentially some members of the GNU. - If the motion passes, Ramaphosa and his Cabinet must resign, and if a new president isn't elected within 30 days, Parliament will be dissolved, leading to fresh elections. - South African motorists will face higher petrol and diesel prices from Wednesday due to an oil price spike following attacks on Iran. - The increase is attributed to rising international oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, despite a slightly stronger rand. - While tensions have subsided and oil prices have fallen, illuminating paraffin will increase, while LP gas will decrease. OJ Koliti/Gallo Images Farming out the props: Why scrum doctor Human trusts the Boks' depth stress test process - Springbok scrum coach Daan Human emphasises building depth in the front row with upcoming tests against Italy and Georgia. - Human is focused on developing front-row stocks, identifying players, and ensuring they are ready to step up when given the chance. - Human highlights the importance of conditioning for scrumming and believes in practising against real opposition rather than machines, while respecting the challenge Italy will pose. Fahroni/Getty Images Plugged in: The South African traveller's guide to power adapters abroad - South Africa uses a mix of plug types, making it essential for travellers to be prepared with the correct adapters when going abroad. - Compatibility varies by region, with Europe needing EU/UK adapters, the US requiring voltage checks, and Asia demanding a universal adapter for its diverse sockets. - Travellers should invest in universal adapters, check charger voltage compatibility, pack the right cables (USB-A and USB-C), and consider a power bank for convenient charging. Show Comments ()
