Lydea Horn had her faith in humanity restored when Petrol Attendant Donald gave her R50 so she could get home safely.
Cape Town, South Africa (07 May 2024)—This morning, we were informed of a heartwarming story about Donald Gogwe the Petrol Attendant and his R50 gift to mom, Lydea Horn. Lydea confirmed that we could share the moment that restored her faith in humanity.
She took to the popular South African Facebook group “The Village” to share her experience. She had been having a rather tough few days, facing challenges that had left her feeling frustrated and confused. To top it all off, she had tried sorting out her banking app, and blaming her age and well-worn bank card she was unable to read the numbers on the card to make the app function as needed.
After the school run, she headed for the petrol station, hoping she would be able to access the money needed to get enough fuel to get home again. Her car was warning that she had zero kilometres to go. Sitting there waiting to be attended, she started to panic that she couldn’t get her money onto the card.
“I just want to thank a young man today who showed kindness and concern for me, an older woman. This man had so little but gave so much of his own to help someone in distress.”
She shared that she arrived at the Caltex Paarden Eiland petrol station and waited her turn. It was then that Petrol Attendant Donald noticed her and could tell something wasn’t quite right.
“He asked me if I was safe. Well I was without words or a plan for a split second. He did not hesitate for a second. He took out R50 from his pocket and gave it to my attendant to put in the petrol, but not before he came quietly to my window to ask me if it was enough petrol for me to be safe and arrive home. He never asked me how I was going to pay him back.
Well this white privileged woman cried all the way home. I stopped at Caltex again to repay Donald his R50 in the afternoon when I fetched my daughter.
Donald had forgotten all about my little crises and I greeted him with a big hug which he received with open arms.
Such a kindness cannot be repaid with money. So I went in to the shop and I bought him a chocolate that said “big hug” a lunch bar and a bottle of coke. I also gave him back his R50. Was I right to do this? I did not want to tarnish any of the selfless gesture he made this morning by rewarding him with money. Money was not his motivation this morning. Kindness and caring for a stranger was his motivation.
So if any of you stop at Caltex Paarden Eiland, on the way from town to Milnerton or Bloubergstrand, and you feel so inclined, shake Donald’s hand, say thank you to him or buy him a chocolate. He is one of the good ones.
Thank you Donald.”
So, if you do find yourself on that side of town, be sure to give Donald and his colleagues a bit of kindness.
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