There are moments in life when an opportunity to help someone in need presents itself.
For some, like concerned citizen BI Phakathi, going above and beyond to make a difference has become a life mission. After witnessing a young boy walking alone without proper shoes, Phakathi didn’t hesitate to reach out to him.
“Where are your shoes?” “What happened?”
Phakathi learns that the boy, Rego, had been walking over eight hours from a friend’s house in Magaliesburg to Alberton, South Africa.
Rego tells Phakathi that he overheard his friend’s parents say he could not stay so he scrambled to get what he could and ran.
“And then I decided I’m unwanted and grabbed everything that I could and unfortunately my shoes were in the room where they were talking.”
Phakathi learns that Rego was staying with a friend because he had nowhere else to go. His parents had died when he was only 3-months-old. Sadly, he was on the move again.
“It is kilometers away how are you going to get there?”
The boy tells Phakathi that he was walking to Alberton, hoping to stay with another friend. Phakathi is shocked that he is attempting to walk such a long distance without any belongings. It becomes very clear to Phakathi that Rego is not only alone but has nothing to his name.
He offers to help him but the boy has no idea what is in store for him.
“You don’t have clothes and you don’t have shoes…What do you need? How can I help you?”
Phakathi walks to a local department store with Rego to purchase not only new shoes but an entire outfit along with a jacket. Rego comes out of the dressing room proudly wearing his new clothes.
“You look great, you have new shoes now…awesome!”
They then sit down to a meal together. The look on Rego’s face is one of hope and relief as he realizes the positive turn of events that are taking place.
Like a caring parent, Phakathi gives Rego some money for a taxi and money to purchase a cell phone.
“This is going to help you along the way…Make sure when you get there you call me.”
With a smile, Rego puts the money in his pocket and nods his head at Phakathi.
“Just making sure I don’t lose it.”
What Rego doesn’t realize is that he is just one of many that Phakathi has helped. So many in fact that he has gained a huge following on social media. Buying groceries, coffee, clothing to name a few, Phakathi has accomplished countless good deeds without once revealing his identity.
Phakathi’s anonymity and selfless acts have given him the nickname ‘South Africa’s Secret Santa.’
For Rego, his day and possibly his life just got a lot easier. At that moment, someone in the world cared about his well-being. That sort of compassion and generosity can have a positive impact, especially for a child.
Now watch this heartwarming video below.
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