He Wore a Suit Asking for Work. She Stopped. The Rest Is a Story of Heart.

Photo Credit: Lorrel Singh

When Lorrel Singh saw Sthembiso Nkuna standing at a Midrand intersection in a suit, she saw someone who hadn’t given up. Now he’s working, smiling, and a community crowdfund will help his family thrive again.

Midrand, South Africa (15 July 2025) – Every morning, Sthembiso Nkuna stood at a busy intersection in Midrand wearing a suit, not because he had a job to go to, but because he believed in showing up for the one he still hoped to find. That quiet commitment didn’t go unnoticed. In August 2023, Lorrel Singh drove past the intersection and was struck by the man in the blazer at the robots, offering to collect rubbish from motorists in exchange for a few coins. She didn’t just see a recycler, she saw someone who hadn’t given up.

“When I saw Sthembiso standing at the traffic lights in a suit, I could tell he hadn’t given up on himself.”

“That suit told me he was “showing up as if he already had the job”—and I couldn’t ignore that kind of courage.” – Lorrel Singh

After losing his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sthembiso began recycling and offering roadside services to support his wife and four children. His eldest son is now in his second year studying Mechanical Engineering at Vaal University, while his youngest is still a toddler. Every bottle collected, every bag of trash removed, was a step toward keeping their dreams alive.

What began as a small gesture, stopping to offer help, has now become a full-circle story of hope. Lorrel, who runs Lovers of Humanity, an initiative promoting community kindness, took Sthembiso under her wing and helped him search for employment. After months of job hunting, Sthembiso finally landed a position at Lupa Osteria in Waterfall, where he’s currently in training.

“I enjoy seeing families come together, and I really value the customer service side of the job. My background is in call centres, so dealing with people is something I’ve always been passionate about.” – Sthembiso Nkuna

His time on the roadside, collecting what he could to keep his family fed, was tough. When asked what motivated him to keep pushing, the answer was simple: family.

“Everything I do is for them. When I started recycling, they were still young. Today, my eldest is in his second year studying Mechanical Engineering at Vaal University. He received a bursary and lives in residence. My second child is in matric and stays with my wife in Soweto. She sells Tupperware to support the household. I stay in Ivory Park, and travel costs make it hard to visit them often. We also have two younger children, aged 9 and 1½. They are the reason I push forward every day”
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Having spent so much time trying to get by, Lorrel felt compelled to make things a whole lot easier for the family. She initially shared the story on her community group, where we found it, asking for help in getting the family back on track since Sthembiso had finally landed a job.

Lorrel has since launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Sthembiso and his family take the next steps in their journey. The funds will go towards daily transport, groceries, school supplies, and even a smartphone to help him stay connected and access job tools like internet banking and email.

Sthembiso’s story is one of quiet courage: of a man who refused to give up, and a woman who refused to let him go unnoticed. It’s proof that hope can wear a suit, and that kindness can change a life.

“I had to put my pride aside and stand at the robot just to survive. This job is a blessing. And what Lorrel has done for me and my family… that’s something I’ll never forget. She’s been consistent in helping me, even when others made promises they didn’t keep.”

And with a little help from people like Lorrel, and hopefully, you, that fight becomes a future.

“You don’t always have to give money or food. Ask your circle to pitch in, you’d be amazed at the support you’ll find.

I truly believe: “Your Kind Gesture Could Be The Miracle That Someone Is Waiting For.” – Lorrel ends.