“Some of the Hardest Working People”: Cool Story Bro Spends a Day as a Petrol Attendant in SA

• A content creator spent a full day working as a petrol attendant at an Engen station in South Africa and shared how his day went
• Trainer Johannes put him through his paces, from filling tanks and washing windows to pumping tyres and sweeping floors
• The video sparked an outpouring of respect for petrol attendants from South Africans online

A content creator swapped his camera for a squeegee and spent an entire day working as a petrol attendant at an Engen station in South Africa, and it changed how he sees the job completely.

Posted on 20 August 2026, the video opens with a simple challenge: find out how tough the life of a petrol attendant really is. What followed was a crash course that left him sweating within the first ten minutes.

A day in the shoes of a petrol attendant

Trainer Johannes walked him through everything, filling up tanks, washing windscreens, checking oil and water levels, inflating tyres, running back and forth to the kiosk, and sweeping the forecourt. The creator admitted that even window washing humbled him; Johannes had to step in and correct his technique. The list of tasks, he said, felt endless.

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What struck him most was not just the physical demand of the work, but the expectation that attendants remain friendly and helpful regardless of how customers treat them. He noted that petrol attendants do this every single day, standing for hours in the cold at night or under a scorching midday sun, often without receiving the same courtesy in return.

At the end of his shift, he thanked Johannes personally on camera and, alongside his team at Tappy, gave him something to show their appreciation.

His caption summed it up simply:

"Petrol attendants are some of the hardest-working people in South Africa."

View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi rallies behind the petrol attendants

South Africans on the page were moved by the gesture and had plenty to say:

@jovankapp wrote:

"This is why we have to go the extra mile for these guys; they are all legends! 🔥🙌❤️"

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@knowlesnicky shared:

"I totally respect petrol attendants. My mom was one, and it's not as easy as it looks. Much respect 🫡"

@aysha_sacoor_h wrote:

"They are the best people in SA! Thank you for all your hard work 👏"

@prudyyt commented:

"That's why I always tip them, cause ain't nothing like that in Europe 😂 I really appreciate these guys 👌"

@adrian_y31 said:

"As a South African who recently moved to the Netherlands, I miss these guys almost as much as my family 🙌😂"

@carissa_bosman added:

"I love petrol attendants; they are always such a pleasure to meet and are always so helpful! They always deserve our respect and a tip for their service 🇿🇦❤️"

More Briefly News stories on petrol attendants

• A South African biker amused petrol attendants after showcasing his floating Insta360 X4 Air camera at a petrol station, leaving them curious about the unusual gadget.
• A talented petrol attendant impressed Cassper Nyovest with song and presentation skills during a garage fill-up, earning praise from the South African rapper.
• A viral video showing Bloemfontein petrol attendants assaulting men allegedly trying to leave without paying for fuel sparked debate over whether their actions were justified.

Source: Briefly News