“Help Me”: Man Comically Pleads for Assistance As June School Holidays Begin

• A man from KwaZulu-Natal had a vent session and begged for help when he spoke about the current school holidays
• Term 2's school holidays are roughly four weeks long and will see learners going back to school on 22 July
• Several local social media users related to the man and shared their experiences at home
• Briefly News contacted a registered counsellor, who explained how frustration during the school holidays affects family dynamics

A KwaZulu-Natal man hopped onto social media to comically vent about how the current school holidays have affected him and asked the public for help, even though the children's time at home had barely begun.

The man, going by the name Giggzy, took to his TikTok account on Monday and said the following:

"I bought groceries for the month on Friday. Today is Monday. The hunger has wiped out everything. The TV is forever on; it's not going off. They are constantly charging their phones. Help me!"

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SA relates to school holidays rant

The man's video received over one million views since posting, with thousands of South Africans heading towards the comment section with relatable messages.

Some parents and caregivers also voiced concerns about Roblox, an online game platform that has many kids glued to their phones.

@ladyjane923 told the online community:

"People, that's why I don't buy monthly groceries. I buy enough for the week, and if it's gone, then the piranhas must wait for a stock-up for the following week. Peanut butter and jam is julle go-to."

@mosdefjam1984 laughed and said:

"One guy was complaining at work that he could smell popcorn at midnight."

@okuhle_xaba shared their reality:

"My son is seven, turning eight, and he eats six slices of bread."

@tdkkadube09 curiously asked the public:

"Why are they always charging their phones? Which company is going to call them for an interview?"

@kriba.naidoo, who noted they were a teacher, humorously added in the comment section with enthusiasm:

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"The monsters have been returned to their rightful owners. Good luck!"

@makhosi_zinhle spoke to those who couldn't relate to the parents, comically writing:

"Child-free community, let’s gather here and sympathise with them even though we don’t understand what they are talking about."

How does frustration impact family dynamics?

Registered counsellor Aniqa Johnson explained to Briefly News how feelings of frustration during the school holidays affect family dynamics and how people can overcome those impacts.

She noted that with any feeling, sometimes people might feel it doesn't make sense, adding:

"Frustration can come from many different angles — frustration of the struggle of having to balance work and kids, the frustration of time management, or providing more now that the kids are home. If we aren't emotionally regulating ourselves, identifying what we are feeling, and allowing ourselves to feel, it will build up."

Aniqia states that many ripple effects come from that, which can impact family dynamics, such as a lack of communication.

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"When communication lacks regarding frustration, it's usually due to the frustration building up and becoming impatient. The impatience will then make a parent have a shorter fuse."

The registered counsellor further explained that any emotion can be contagious, and frustration is no exception.

"If you are frustrated and your kids try to speak to you, try not to show it. It might come out in your tone or behaviour in little ways, then your kids will also become frustrated.

"Through that, you will have communication issues. That will impact how families interact with one another. If it has that ripple effect, it can isolate everyone."

Regarding how to overcome such impacts, Aniqa stated that we need to identify our emotions, acknowledge what we're feeling, and reflect and regulate those emotions. If we don't do that, the frustration will build.

When are the school holidays?

Following the completion of the June exams, children in South Africa ended Term 2 on Friday, 27 June 2025. They are set to return to their learning institutions on 22 July 2025, having nearly four weeks of school holidays.

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During the second term, learners had 51 days of school and eight days of public holidays. These holidays included Good Friday (18 April), Family Day (21 April), Freedom Day observed (28 April), special school holidays from 29 to 30 April, Workers' Day (1 May), a special school holiday on 2 May, and Youth Day (16 June).

For Term 3, learners will end the quarter on 3 October, quickly returning on 13 October.

Watch the TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about school holidays

• In another article, Briefly News reported on South African teachers celebrating the school holidays, while parents expressed concern about what to do with their children.
• A woman showcased the harsh reality some learners face when schools close. The clip sparked calls for community action and support for at-risk youth during school holidays.
• Last year, Briefly News showed how record producer Prince Kaybee enjoyed the school holidays with his children. Fans loved how he switched on dad mode.

Source: Briefly News