“We Call It Ubuntu”: Coolstorybru Praises Ayakha Godlwana for Rescuing Gogo From Durban Fire

• Coolstorybru praised Ayakha Godlwana for risking his life to rescue a 70-year-old woman trapped inside a burning Greek restaurant in Durban
• Ayakha soaked himself in water before entering the flaming building multiple times to reach the elderly woman
• The KZN hero quietly slipped away after the rescue and was only found by the community the next day to be recognised

A young South African man became an unlikely hero after running into a burning Durban restaurant multiple times to save an elderly woman who had been left behind.

The story of Ayakha Godlwana went viral after TikTok account @coolstorybru_ shared the video on 6 September 2026. The clip recounted how a popular Greek restaurant in Durban had caught fire, and while everyone else managed to escape, a 70-year-old woman remained trapped inside.

Ayakha's daring rescue

Godlwana did not hesitate. He soaked himself in water as a makeshift shield against the flames, then ran into the burning building. He entered the fire up to five times before he was finally able to bring the elderly woman out to safety.

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What made his actions even more remarkable was what happened afterwards. Rather than waiting for praise or recognition, Godlwana quietly left the scene once the woman was safe. The community had to track him down the following day to acknowledge what he had done.

Watch the Coolstorybru praise Ayakha in the TikTok video below:

Mzansi hails Durban hero

South Africans flooded the comments section with admiration for Godlwana's selfless courage.

@LOORI-J wrote:

"Who needs Superman when we've got this man."

@khlantia declared:

"Greatest country on earth!"

@user6201335015%32 said:

"He deserves something big. In South Africa, we call it ubuntu."

@Rodger007 noted:

"In America they would have made him an instant hero, met the president. They'd buy him a house and cars and be all over the media. I guess they are bored 😊."

@ble Men Projects wrote:

"Humble heroes are barely recognised. Thank you for posting this video."

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@Sharon said:

"Thank you. God bless you abundantly."

3 Briefly News articles about heroic actions

• A selfless local earned praise as a real-life superhero after carrying children on his back to help them cross a flowing stream safely.
• The hero petrol attendant detailed how he stepped in to help a pregnant woman safely deliver her baby at a local filling station.
• A head teacher in Nepal earned high praise after safely evacuating 900 students before deadly floodwaters submerged the school.

Source: Briefly News