“Any Job Is Better Than No Job”: Afrikaner Refugee Appreciates Walmart on Her First Day, SA Moved
- Sonet, an Afrikaner woman living in the US under a refugee programme, filmed herself during a midnight break at her Walmart job
- She recorded the clip at 12:10 AM while packing racks, sending a powerful message to anyone who feels ashamed of their work
- South Africans and international viewers flooded the comments with support and praised her attitude
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: TikTok
Sonet, an Afrikaner woman who relocated to the United States under a refugee programme, is winning hearts online after sharing an unexpected moment of motivation from the Walmart floor.
On 7 August 2026, at 12:10 AM, she paused her night shift to speak directly to the camera. Surrounded by racks mid-pack, she delivered a message that struck a nerve well beyond her audience.
She told viewers to hold their heads high, no matter what kind of work they do. Her point was simple: showing up, contributing to a company, and putting food on the table for one's family is something to be proud of, not embarrassed about. She reminded people that every industry depends on workers at every level, and that dignity is not reserved for certain job titles.
Why Sonet's words hit close to home
For many South Africans watching, her message carried particular weight. Adjusting to life in a new country often means starting over, and that can mean taking jobs that feel far removed from what you once imagined for yourself. Sonet did not frame her Walmart shift as a setback. She spoke about it as a stepping stone and a source of genuine self-respect. Her TikTok account @lifeinaustin has been documenting her life in Austin, Texas, and this clip sparked a massive reaction.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Watch the midnight message in the TikTok video below:
Mzansi and viewers abroad back Sonet up
The response in the comments was overwhelmingly warm:
User @ItBeChilly wrote:
"It's a standard immigrant experience; we cannot expect to move to a new country and start with a dream job on day one. We work hard and move forward. Any job is better than no job! Well said, Sonet."
User @Ernestine Watson335🇿🇦 said:
"You are just an amazing example of SA resilience. I am sure that once you are settled, good things will come to good people like you."
User @🤍Jenny🤍 noted:
"It's only in SA where people look down on each other for a job someone does. In the UK, it's a case of: are you working or not 😊?"
User @izzie602 added:
"In America, there's no such thing as a 'common job'; a job is a job. Well done, Sonet. Can't wait to start working as well."
User @Sloan commented:
"Congratulations on your new job! It's awesome!"
User @Hanli 🇿🇦 South Africa 😆 summed it up:
"Any work is good work. Any person who is willing to do any type of work is 100% great in my book."
3 Briefly: News articles about South Africans in America
- A family from the Eastern Cape celebrated their six-month milestone after relocating to the United States with good news of the mom's promotion at work.
- A South African family who emigrated to Texas shared a heartwarming glimpse of their peaceful life abroad, leaving many viewers wishing to trade places with them.
- An Afrikaner family that enrolled in a refugee program shared a post about their relocation journey from South Africa to America, while professing their love for Mzansi
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
