"He Will Grow With It": Grade R Learner’s Oversized Uniform Has Mzansi Talking

• A wholesome video of a Grade R learner's oversized uniform went viral, amusing TikTok users across South Africa
• Parents on the platform are sharing relatable humour about costly uniforms amid rising expenses and children's rapid growth
• Other Mzansi people are reacting with laughter, envisioning the child wearing the uniform all the way to matriculation and beyond

South Africans have a soft spot for back-to-school moments, especially when they come wrapped in humour and a bit of childhood chaos.

As the festive season fever continues to fade and parents brace themselves for January expenses, one Grade R learner has unknowingly become the face of the annual uniform struggle, giving Mzansi something to laugh about before schools reopen.

With uniforms and other school accessories getting pricier every year and children seemingly growing overnight, parents often opt for “future-proof” sizes. This time, however, the strategy seems to have resulted in a school uniform so oversized that it turned a simple dressing routine into viral comedy.

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What made the moment stand out was the innocence of the child at the centre of it all. Too young to care about appearances, he calmly allowed himself to pose in his uniform, unaware that he was entertaining thousands of strangers online.

In a TikTok clip posted on 31 December, 2025, a mother is seen with her young son, dressed up for the upcoming school year, carefully pulling on a uniform that clearly dwarfs his tiny frame. The video captured the boy swallowed by fabric, with sleeves hanging past his hands and trousers pooling at his ankles. The video shared by TikTok user @tshegow6z spread across the platform, racking up more than 130,000 likes and over 1,400 comments as viewers couldn’t resist reacting to the scene.

Most South African schools are set to reopen on 14 January 2026, and families are well into their back-to-school preparations.

Watch the TikTok video below:

Mzansi jokes about uniform lasting until matric

Mzansi’s sense of humour came out in full force in the comment section. Many joked that the boy looked ready to wear the same uniform all the way to matric, while others teased that the jersey alone could see him through primary school and beyond. Some imagined him returning home exhausted, weighed down by the sheer size of his clothes.

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@Choosen🩷💙daughter👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 commented:

"The poor child will come back from school tire because the uniform seems heavy for him😂."

@Smurf101 said:

"The boy got his jersey sorted for matric already 😭."

@tazzzareen0 commented:

"He has his uniform sorted until end of primary school🤣."

@user05725598019 highlighted:

"He can push until he finishes matric, uniforms are too expensive."

@Mudau Mpfariseni Reginah noted:

"He will wear it until his first year at university. He will grow up in them😅😂."

@tholumusazuluboyz said:

"😭Social workers must intervene. Parents are getting away with a lot."

@Charlene Manhenda commented:

"Wait until he is grade 5 😂, he won’t agree to wear like this. 😂"

@ntobehpngubane🇿🇦in🇨🇳 said:

"I hope you also got him size 10 shoes.🥺"

@HazelS05:

"This is for Grade R up until grade 12. 😭 What an injustice😳."

More Briefly News back-to-school stories from Mzansi

• Briefly News recently reported that thousands of Gauteng pupils are starting the school year without confirmed placements due to capacity shortages.
• A local woman shared her stationery price comparison journey after visiting multiple stores in Pretoria to find the best deals for the new school year.
• Barbers in Cape Town offered free haircuts and styling services to children before schools reopened.

Source: Briefly News