What started as a mission to attend his matric dance has become something much bigger: a viral wave of support for a teen with the heart of a giant.
Western Cape, South Africa (03 June 2025) – South Africa, meet Rudolf Lakay, a young matric student whose drive, heart and hustle are reminding us of the power of grit and hope.
At just 18 years old, Rudolf, a matriculant at Florida High School in Ravensmead, has taken on more than just exams and assignments. Every morning before school, he’s up early, standing at the Mitchells Plain town centre taxi rank with a tray of sweets in hand, selling to commuters.
His goal? To raise enough money for his matric dance, a rite of passage for so many South African learners, while also helping support his family at home.
His story, shared by “021 News” on Facebook, has touched thousands. In the post, it describes how this determined teen spends his mornings at the taxi rank, not begging, not asking for handouts but selling packets of sweets to make his dream a reality.
You can watch the video posted to social media below:
And the internet responded. Within 24 hours of his story going viral, South Africans showed up in full force. Renaldo Gouws launched a Backabuddy Campaign to help Rudolf reach his goal. The aim was to raise R10,000… but in just 30 minutes, the fundraiser smashed that target and soared past R35,000.
“Let’s show this young man that hard work is rewarded and that there are many kind souls out there who will always assist those who are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel,” Renaldo shared. “All funds above the R10,000 goal will be allocated to Rudolph, enabling him to support his family with their day-to-day expenses. Thank you again for your amazing support and donations!”
He later posted an update as donations continued to pour in:
“Thanks so much for the overwhelming support. All funds above the initial goal will go towards Rudolph and his family to assist them in ensuring a better future for Rudolph and his siblings!”
This is more than just a story about a young man selling sweets. It’s about a future leader showing resilience in the face of challenge. It’s about a community responding with love. And it’s about all the good things that happen when we show up for each other.
Rudolf, we see you. We’re cheering for you. And we’re inspired by you.
*At the time of publishing our original article, the Crowdfund amounted to R35,000; that number has since increased to R66,967.
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