Love Potch

20/05/2026

Jy sal nie glo wat het onlangs in Potchefstroom plaasgevind nie!

Versoening tussen twee nasies, mensegroepe wat nie te lank terug nie teen mekaar oorlog gemaak het. Die Afrikaner en die Ndebele mense.

Love Potch was bevoorreg om genooi te word na die geleenthede en was ook getaak om sekere areas in die dorp wat besoek sou word, skoon te maak en reg te ruk.

Ons het sekere geskietkundige areas besoek soos Liebenbergs kop, "Slag van die Vaal" asook die Liebenberg grafte. Geskietkundige konteks is deur beide groepe gedeel en n besonderse geheelbeeld is gevorm oor ons gedeelde geskidenis. As deel van die Mthwakazi royal family wat al die pad van Bulawayo af gekom het was daar ook lede van die Zulu koninklike gesin teenwoordig.

'n volledige artikel sal in die toekoms op ons webtuiste verskyn, maar in die tussentyd, lees gerus deur 'n artikel wat deur een van die hoof sprekers van die naweek geskryf is hier:
https://gatewaynews.co.za/when-reconciliation-begins-in-small-gatherings-at-obscure-places-afrika-mhlophe/

Hier is die Herald artikel:
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/news/2026/05/03/matabele-and-afrikaner-nations-commit-to-reconciliation-at-historic-event-in-potchefstroom/

Almal van ons word gekonfronteer met n keuse oor wat ons kies om met ons eie toekoms te doen, daagliks, en my uitnodiging aan elke Potchefstromer is om saam met my n toekoms te kies en te bou waarop ons kan trots wees en graag aan ons kinders wil nalaat.

20/05/2026

Special things happen when you drive slow enough through town (to miss the potholes) and notice an event to one side. Potch never ceases to amaze with the unique experiences and opportunities for impactful stories. This event was organized by some students form town and was called the "Missions market". It saw 6 churches unite to host an evening to share opportunities of impact and raise funds for upcoming trips.

It might seem insignificant to most people but in a town of more than 200 churches in only the town area, to see churches of diverse backgrounds unite and build bridges instead of widening divides this was truly memorable to experience. It is also noteworthy that this entire initiative was driven by students and youth, once again highlighting the drive under our young people that we can decide for ourselves what kind of future we want to build towards.

Well done!
Looking forward to more of these events in town

20/05/2026

The setup story to this little garden on the bult sounds like it came directly off of a Naked insurance billboard and grew into something incredible. No one show up for event? Everything already sponsored? Good thing you Love Potch!

Slowly but surely, even with small steps like these and even if only one person shows up (me) we are transforming this town, one little garden, one little space and and one plant at a time...
..And then stories like this unfold:
Because I was unable to plant the 90+ sponsored plants all on my own, I reached out to one of Love Potch's most faithful volunteers, Heino for some help, and as we walked to the garden he suddenly mentions that this moment is special to him.

He then proceeds to share that the garden we are planting is around a pole with a cross on, where he prayed every night for help when he was a homeless drug addict living on the streets of Potchefstroom. To share a little bit of his story, as a young, married and aspiring man and father, him and his wife were run over by a reckless driver. The accident left him in ICU and his wife unfortunately passed away at the site.

The shock took its toll on him and drove him to substance abuse to numb the emotions. One thing lead to another and he soon ended up on the streets, helpless, homeless, addicted and rejected.

After many years, he was able to find help and proceeded through rehab. Today Heino is a changed man with hope in his heart, a warm smile and always loads of encouragement to give. The same cross he came to with nothing and at the end of himself years before, he now had the opportunity to decorate and beautify as a entirely new person.

Heino now runs an encouragement Whatsapp group for those in hopeless situations, instills hope in the youth by motivational speaking through the Lifting dreams movement and serves with Love Potch at most of our events throughout town.

Heino we honor you!
You are an incredible person with a heart of gold, a story of redemption and a passion to see South Africa transformed.
Thank you!
Potch truly loves you!

Huge shout out and thank you to Arthur Bullock from Eleganza landscaping and Leandro de Beer from the Cachet Park CID NPC Potchefstroom for the donations that turned this garden and story of impact into reality.

Read more about Heino's story here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/news/2018/08/03/ma-dankbaar-dat-seun-leef-na-ernstige-ongeluk/

13/05/2026

Love Howick continues to inspire! Thank you for this story. As we win hearts and trust in Potch we are seeing the same kind of stories emerge. Well done!

2 likes. "How One Mother Escaped Poverty: The Love uMngeni Pathway to Progress (South Africa)"

13/05/2026

Wat n voorreg om saam met die leiers van Bailie Park Laerskool hande te vat en een van Potchefstroom se ingange mooi skoon te maak.

22/04/2026

Small actions create big change. 💛 We came together to fix potholes in Potchefstroom—because a better community starts when we show up for it. Every donation, helping hand, and share makes a real difference. Join us in building the Potch we all deserve. 🙌

FixingPotch LocalImpact Volunteer DonateForChange BetterTogether

22/04/2026

Small actions create big change. 💛 We came together to fix potholes in Potchefstroom—because a better community starts when we show up for it. Every donation, helping hand, and share makes a real difference. Join us in building the Potch we all deserve. 🙌

FixingPotch LocalImpact Volunteer DonateForChange BetterTogether

10/04/2026

All the stats for all the impact we've seen in 2026!
We'd love for you to be a part of it all!

10/04/2026

All the stats for all the impact we've seen in 2026!
We'd love for you to be a part of it all! Follow the link below to partner with us monthly, or get in touch if you'd like to chat
https://lovepotch.org.za/product/monthly-donation/

26/03/2026

Potchefstroom se storie is besig om te verander — en jou besigheid kan deel wees hiervan.

LOVE Potch bou aan ’n nuwe, positiewe narratief vir ons dorp deur kragtige video-storievertelling wat gemeenskapsimpak, plaaslike trots en besigheidsblootstelling saambring.

Die inisiatief sluit sigbaarheid vir borge, sosiale media-erkenning en aansluiting by ’n groter nasionale LOVE Cities-netwerk in. Lees meer by die skakel hier onder en kom gesels saam oor hoe jou besigheid kan belê in Potch se toekoms.

Kliek hier: https://shorturl.at/h2jnF

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Potchefstroom’s story is changing — and your business can be a part of it.

LOVE Potch is building a new, positive narrative for our town through powerful video storytelling that brings together community impact, local pride and business exposure.

The initiative includes visibility for sponsors, social media recognition and connection to a larger national LOVE Cities network. Read more at the link below and come and chat about how your business can invest in Potch’s future.

Click here: https://shorturl.at/h2jnF