When she couldn’t find her car keys anywhere, Kelly-Ann van der Meer’s lifesaver turned out to be a friendly helper in a reflective yellow jacket at a Randburg shopping centre!
Randburg, South Africa (10 November 2025) – We’ve all had those crazy days when we find ourselves rushing and overwhelmed before our brains can catch up, easily forgetting, misplacing, or losing the little-big things we need to survive those days.
One Small Act of Kindness Founder, Kelly-Ann van der Meer, found herself having one of those crazy days while rushing into the Ferndale on Republic shopping centre last week. Her car keys were that little-big thing that mistakenly slipped through the cracks – or rather, from her purse.
In a post, she opened up about how a moment of panic as she frantically searched for the keys turned into heartwarming relief thanks to a friendly helper in a reflective yellow jacket!
“While rushing into Ferndale on Republic, I thought I had popped the car keys in my handbag, but I dropped them in the parking lot.
“While walking out, I was searching and searching for the car keys in my handbag and starting to panic. I have three compartments ONLY, AND MY bag is tiny,” Kelly-Ann shared.
Soon, Josy, a friendly car guard, approached her, smiling before asking whether she was okay.
“I think he could see the panic.”
Kelly-Ann informed Josy that she was looking for her keys. Josy responded with “many many questions” about what the keys in question looked like before pulling them out with a simple and smiley: “I got them”.
He went on to explain that she had dropped them in the parking lot – instantly becoming Kelly-Ann’s shining light!
“My heart danced, that’s for sure. Thank you, Josy, for being you and your heart! I can’t tell you what a blessing you were to me that day! Now, when I visit Ferndale I have a new friend,” she said with palpable appreciation.
Thanks to the friendly and kind car guard, a hectic day that could have spiralled into disaster instead concluded on a heartwarming note. His gesture is a beautiful reminder of the power of helping one another, especially when life gets “a little too crazy.”
Sources: Kelly-Ann van der Meer
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 