“She’s Always Smiling”: BI Phakathi Gives Huge Tip to a Vendor Struggling to Sell Boerewors Rolls

• Philanthropist BI Phakathi approached a boerewors roll vendor named Natasha, selling her rolls for R35 outside Makro in Brakpan
• After ordering two rolls, the customers handed Natasha a R300 tip before revealing a much larger cash gift for her and her daughter
• South African viewers were moved by Natasha's humility and her determination to earn an honest living

A street food vendor from Brakpan became the talk of South Africa after a visit from a well-known philanthropist turned into a moment she will likely never forget. Natasha sells boerewors rolls for R35 each outside Makro in Brakpan. On 11 August 2026, TikTok user @biphakathi1, a South African philanthropist and humanitarian known for blessing hardworking strangers, stopped at her stall and placed an order for two rolls.

A tip that left her speechless

What started as a simple transaction quickly became something far bigger. After paying for the rolls, the customers handed Natasha R300 as a tip. She was already stunned. Then came the real surprise: a cash gift totalling R2,000, given in recognition of her hard work and dedication to providing for her daughter.

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Natasha hesitated. She felt uncomfortable accepting what she described as too much. But the customers encouraged her, praising her for showing up every day and doing the work honestly. Visibly emotional, she struggled to hold back tears as she accepted the gift. Her composure and gratitude were what struck viewers most. She was not begging. She was building something.

Watch the heartwarming moment unfold in the TikTok video below:

Mzansi rallies behind Natasha

South Africans flooded the comments with warmth and admiration for the vendor:

@Alicia Geyer said:

"She's not standing at a robot begging. She's trying to do something. May she be blessed 🙏."

@Prince wrote:

"She was raised well."

@Tiego Petra noted:

"You can hear she was trying very hard not to cry. Thanks for your acts of kindness."

@veegtante commented:

"This is what Cat Matlala was supposed to do with the money from Thembisa Hospital. I am just saying."

@Colette Stapelberg shared:

"I also buy from her next to Makro in Brakpan. She is always smiling no matter what's on her path."

@Sifiso_Gongz added:

"She is a real entrepreneur; she trusts her energy to generate her income. Her responses are sound."

3 Briefly News BI Phakathi-related articles

• Philanthropist BI Phakathi and a companion surprised a struggling spaza shop employee with cash gifts, giving her an unexpected R1,000 tip after she broke down in tears while sharing her daily financial hardships.
• BI Phakathi surprised an elderly woman with an unexpected R1,500 cash reward after she unhesitatingly handed over her last R5 to help him buy bread.
• Testing community compassion in an undercover experiment, BI Phakathi went undercover as a homeless beggar and endured harsh rejections until two compassionate individuals stepped up to help him.

Source: Briefly News