A Durban primary school takes a moment to celebrate Mpilo, its legendary security guard who greets every child by name.
Durban, South Africa (29 October 2026) – When learners walk into school at Virginia Preparatory each day, Mpilo is the first to greet them.
He knows them all by name, and saves a smile for each of them. No one is spared from his kindness – even when the rush of a school morning sometimes means he doesn’t receive a greeting back.
During the day, he watches over school grounds with hawk eyes, and when home time comes, and parents start arriving in droves, he greets them too. He knows every family, and calls for kids when he notices their lift has arrived.
Security officers are the everyday heroes of our schools.
They arrive long before the first bell, greet kids by name, help parents in and out, and even sort the traffic when the robot goes out. They become cheerleaders for learners entering school in the mornings, and rays of sunshine that see them out safely, too.
This week, Virginia Preparatory took to social media to celebrate Mpilo and his level of care and attention for pupils.
“Mpilo is just too cool – he greets everyone by their first names – what an absolute LEGEND!” it wrote, sharing a video of Mpilo greeting every little one by name.
Parents and community members jumped into the comments section, singing his praise too.
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“He amazes me how he knows all the parents too and shouts for the kids when he sees their car pulling up!” writes Jules.
“He’s such a great guy. Always there to greet with a friendly face.” adds Sheena.
The company Mpilo works for, Marshall Security, saw the post and recognised his efforts too!
“This is what it’s all about!” it wrote. “Mpilo, you’re an absolute gem! It’s the little things that make the biggest difference, and seeing the special bond you’ve built with these kids makes us incredibly proud to have you on our team!”
Security officers like Mpilo don’t always get the recognition they deserve, but they work hard and often go above and beyond. A warm smile can change the outcome of your day, and when it’s the first thing you’re greeted by, it matters even more. All the love to Mpilo and every security officer that makes a school community feel safe and seen, and does so with a smile!
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