When a humble petrol attendant gave away a few litres of fuel and slipped R100 into a stranger’s hand, he never imagined that gesture would inspire thousands to do the same… and remind South Africa what it means to really care.

Johannesburg, South Africa (31 July 2025) – When Justin Roderick’s story first landed on Good Things Guy, it moved the country in a way few stories ever do.

It wasn’t just about a car that ran out of petrol, or a family struggling to stay afloat. It was about what happened next… when a stranger named Warren Bhebhe, a petrol attendant in Bryanston, stepped forward and quietly, gently, changed everything. He paid for a 5-litre bottle of petrol out of his own pocket. Then, as Justin rushed back to the car with his two tearful daughters, Warren slipped a folded R100 into his hand. No big gesture. No “look at me” moment. Just kindness… quiet, sincere and powerful.

“He didn’t just bless me with petrol,” Justin wrote. “He gave me hope.”

And from that single act of compassion… something truly extraordinary began to grow. In the days since that moment was shared with the world, Justin has been overwhelmed, not by sympathy, but by connection.

“The pain and struggle of trying to keep my family okay has been immense,” he shared in an emotional update. “There were days I felt like my body was shutting down from the internal weight of it all. Hearing my girls cry from helplessness broke me in ways no words can explain.”

But what met that pain was nothing short of a miracle. Thousands of comments, shares, prayers and messages from people across South Africa and the world. People who had also felt helpless. People who knew what it meant to be at the end of your rope. People who were moved by Warren’s gesture and inspired to go out and do the same.

“My family no longer feels alone. I feel like I have a family of thousands. We feel loved, seen, and cared for. You’ve moved me in ways I cannot fully express.”

The story has reached radio stations, newspapers and online platforms, but more importantly, it’s reached hearts. It’s changed the way people see each other at petrol stations, in traffic and at school drop-offs. It’s reminded us that we are not alone, that we are each other’s keepers.

“We’re not just sharing a story anymore,” Justin wrote. “We’re exporting hope.”

And that hope “in action” is already happening.

People have been inspired to help one another. R20. R50. A loaf of bread. A conversation. A hug. A message. All in the name of The Warren Challenge, a call to do one kind thing for someone else and share it to keep the ripple going.

“If each of us helps just one person this week,” Justin wrote, “Warren’s R100 will multiply into millions of acts of kindness.”

There are whispers of a bigger dream forming, “The Warren Effect“, something that might one day become a platform to celebrate and multiply acts of kindness. But the most important message isn’t what’s being built, it’s that none of us are alone; we are all in this together.

“To those who’ve shared their own struggles in the comments, you are not alone. Your vulnerability gives others permission to be human.”

“To my daughters, you’ve now seen that angels exist, and sometimes they wear petrol attendant uniforms.”

“And to Warren, the world may now know your name. But more importantly, they know your heart.”

So whether you help by giving, by sharing, by praying, or simply by choosing love instead of anger today, you are part of the ripple. Because this is no longer just a story… it’s South Africa, remembering itself. One act of kindness at a time.

Sources: Interview with Justin Roderick

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Update: The Petrol Attendant Who Gave R100 Has Sparked A Kindness Revolution appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Leigh Todd met Edman after he found her missing wedding ring. He returned it in the sweetest way, and now, a year later, the story still fills hearts.

Randburg, South Africa (04 July 2024) – In a heartwarming throwback to a story from last year, we look at how Edman and Leigh became friends when Leigh accidentally lost her engagement ring at her local Sasol garage. Edman became the hero of the story, finding the ring and returning it in the sweetest way.

Leigh Todd, a teacher, shared that the ring was precious because it took her husband 11 years to pop the question. She was so excited when he proposed and cherished her ring. She lost it just one month before they were due to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. She was absolutely devastated by the loss of the ring and spent that whole weekend searching in tears.

Leigh had looked everywhere, retraced her steps and seen (thanks to CCTV footage at work) that she didn’t have the ring on her hand when she had gotten to school. That meant the ring had gone missing between her home and the school.

Lying in bed on the Sunday night after coming up empty in every search. She realised she likely had lost the ring at the garage where she stopped for a coffee before work.

By Monday, she was doing the last of retracing her steps and stopped at the Sasol garage to check if they had found anything. That was when she met Edman.

“He said‚ I have it but it’s at home, I didn’t want to walk around with it “I’m going home now as I’m finishing my shift but I’ll be back here at 6pm” The relief was visible on my face.

I must’ve hugged him 3 more times.

I ran off and shouted, thank you l’ll be back and I’ll be back with a reward, you’ve made my day Edman!!!!!!

6 o’clock I get to the station and I wait with another nice attendant and he’s talking to me while we wait for Edman to get into his uniform.

He says to me: “When he said he found it, I told my co workers to look how your face has just changed, the relief brightened your face and we were all so happy for you. He’s a good man (speaking about Edman), had it been anyone else that did not work here find that ring first, it would be gone.You are very lucky.

Edman came out the changing room, l hugged him again and said with a smile so big-do you have anything for me?

He said yes laughing and smiling (and what a smile he has!!)

Cheekily I said “how do you give a lady a ring”?

He got on one knee and said “would you like your ring back?”

To which he placed the ring on my finger and I said YES!”

She shared the post about Edman on her local community Facebook group and it was then picked up by local media.

“To everyone in this community, I need to let you know that this man, Edman, who works at the Sasol garage near Allen Glen High School, has restored my faith in humankind.

I lost my engagement/wedding ring on Friday morning… and on my way to work this morning (after panicking and crying all weekend) decided to have a last look at the places I had been… when I asked the attendants of anyone had seen my ring, he said “I found it!”.

Well I jumped on him and cried happy tears while giving him the biggest hug of relief and gratitude.. to which he then got on one knee and and gave me my ring!

Thank you, Edman!

If anyone visits that petrol station, please give him a high five and tell him you heard about his honesty and kindness!”

It may have been a year ago, but the kind deed still sits firmly in Leigh’s heart. She recently shared the story with Good Things Guy founder Brent Lindeque, and it inspired the team to share the heartwarming throwback again.

Since the original post, a few good things have happened for Edman. He was put forward as a hero to the Sasol head office and ended up being awarded R20,000 for his good deed.

Sources: Leigh Todd – Supplied

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Petrol Attendant Finds Missing Ring, Returns it to Owner in Sweetest Way appeared first on Good Things Guy.