Caledon Grade 6 Boy Polishes Shoes Before School to Support His Family

• Danville Witbooi, a Grade 6 learner from Caledon, sits outside the local SPAR every day polishing shoes to earn money for his family
• The young boy lives with his grandparents after losing both parents, and his story moved an entire community to want to help
• A Facebook post by Leejay Dylan Leukes went viral after he tracked down Danville's aunt and shared her contact details for those wanting to donate

A Grade 6 boy from Caledon in the Western Cape has captured the hearts of South Africans. A Facebook post revealed how he spends his mornings polishing strangers' shoes outside the local SPAR to bring money home.

Danville Witbooi is only in Grade 6, but he shows up every day before school with his polish and brushes, doing honest work while most children his age are still getting ready for class. Facebook user Leejay Dylan Leukes shared his story on 19 August 2026, saying he did not know the boy personally but was so moved by what he saw that he felt compelled to spread the word.

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According to Leukes, several people in the community mentioned that Danville lost both his parents and currently lives with his grandparents along with his siblings.

After the post by Leejay gained traction, Leukes reached out and managed to make contact with Danville's aunt, who is his late mother's sister. He shared her contact details publicly so that anyone wishing to help could get in touch directly. He asked people to consider donating brushes, polish, a comfortable chair, a proper table, or even helping him make a better sign for his little setup.

Leukes wrote, "Let's help him grow his business and shared bank details of how to donate. See the original post that started it all:

SA praises Caledon learner hustles

South Africans flooded the comments with encouragement and admiration:

Jane Vanessa Page wrote:

"That's right, boy, show the drug addicts what it means to work for your money."

Engela Gildenhuys said:

"You have the right idea. Keep building on it."

Elizabeth Govender shared:

"Blessed boy. Psalm 23 over you"

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Androline Walters added:

"If a child can be responsible, why is it so difficult for adults) "Well done seun, may God keep on blessing you"

Mark Esra Hendricks wrote:

"Your future is blessed, my child, may you never go to sleep hungry."

Linda Olkers said:

"Example for the lazy ones who only steal and use drugs.)\"

Other Briefly New stories about hard workers

• A young boy attempted to sell a scrap tyre to buy food, only to be rescued by South Africa’s faceless philanthropist, BI Phakathi.
• People were moved by a kid street vendor selling homemade cotton candy captured the hearts of South Africans after a viral video.
• A 16-year-old schoolboy inspired many after sharing his journey of building rental apartments through a viral TikTok video.

Source: Briefly News