"His Spirit Remains": Ramsgate's Solly Dindikazi Honoured for Decades of Service and Lifesaving Acts

• The Waffle House in Ramsgate paid tribute to Solomon Dindikazi, a beloved staff member who shaped the restaurant's history from 1956
• Solly built the iconic boulder-stone Gaze Gallery in 1967 and rescued lives in the local community during his years of service
• South Africans shared fond memories of the man who walked daily just to say hello, even after retirement

The Waffle House in Ramsgate honoured Solomon Dindikazi, known simply as Solly, in a heartfelt tribute shared on Facebook on 30 October 2026. The post celebrated a man whose connection to the South Coast landmark stretched back nearly seven decades.

Solly arrived in 1956 as a painter, before the Tea House of the Blue Lagoon had even opened its doors. He worked his way from general building assistant to kitchen assistant and, eventually, to becoming what the restaurant describes as an exceptional waiter. His contributions were not only in service but in construction. In 1967, he built the boulder-stone Gaze Gallery, which today serves as the Deli. He also helped construct and paint the building when it was renamed The Waffle House in 1991.

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A man who saved lives

Solly's impact stretched far beyond the walls of the restaurant. On two separate occasions, he stepped in to protect others in moments of crisis. He pulled a regular Sunday customer to safety after her car overturned and fell into the lagoon. He also intervened when a person near Marina Beach was a danger to themselves, personally driving him to the police station to ensure he received help.

After retiring and moving to Margate, Solly continued to make the daily walk from Extension 3 to The Waffle House, umbrella in hand, simply to greet the people he had spent a lifetime working alongside. He passed away in December 2011.

Read The Waffle House's tribute to Solly here.

Mzansi remembers Solly

The post on the Facebook page moved many who knew him personally, with commenters sharing their own stories:

@Pauline Lee said:

"What a special man ❤️! Beautiful."

@Nhlakanipho Mthwane wrote:

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"A man who said he doesn't want his body to be taken to the mortuary and doesn't want to be buried in a coffin; the family respected his wish."

@Samuel Moodley shared:

"Wow. What an amazing journey Solly has walked. The Waffle House was his second home, as it seems. An honourable gesture, Waffle House 👏🏽"

@Hazel Patricia Adams said:

"Solomon Dindigazi was a very wise and respected man in my life."

@Georgie Savvas wrote:

"I remember Solly when we used to visit as youngsters. We all loved him ❤️"

@Marlene Bowker added:

"A beautiful tribute to an extraordinary man! Lovely people who built Waffle House through time into what it is today. Well done 🥂"

More on South African heroes and tributes

• Briefly News recently reported that Warrant Officer Karl Sander received the Heroes of Integrity Award after years of workplace victimisation following his exposure of a drug syndicate.
• Russia honoured ANC hero Oliver Tambo at a Gauteng cemetery, reflecting decades of ties between Moscow and the liberation movement.
• Patrick Stewart, beloved for his roles in Star Trek and X-Men, died at 86, prompting tributes from fellow actors and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Source: Briefly News