SA man rejects BI Phakathi’s money.
A man lying on the ground outside became an unlikely internet sensation after turning down money offered by well-known philanthropist BI Phakathi.
The footage, posted on 17 August 2026, showed BI Phakathi approaching a man outdoors and offering him cash to buy food. What made the moment stand out was what came next. The man refused. He told BI Phakathi he had a trolley and earned his own money, wanting nothing from anyone.
The man responded to BI, saying:
“I want nothing, I don’t want anything.”
For many viewers, it was the first time they had seen someone turn down the kind of gesture BI Phakathi is known for.
A man who lives by his own rules
The man’s refusal was not aggressive or ungrateful. He simply held his ground. His trolley, it seemed, represented more than transport. It stood for the work he did on his own terms. That quiet dignity caught people off guard and sparked a wave of conversation online about pride, trust and survival on the streets.
View the Facebook video below:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1675939233504413/?app=fbl
Mzansi reacts to the rare refusal
South Africans in the comments section had plenty to say:
Raw Tshepo Makola wrote:
“I’m so proud of him, bro. Nothing is for free in this world he proudly said ke na le trolley [I have a trolley]. He works for his money Danko San”
Tshilidzi Bobodi said:
“My first time seeing the enemy of money.”
Luvuyo Mdala noted:
“Most people have gotten in trouble by trusting the wrong people. This guy knows that there’s nothing for free in life.”
Sonnicky Nakandjembo laughed:
“He thinks maybe is ritual; he is scared poor him, he missed out “