Man in suit stood at traffic light each day picking up trash — until one small act from a stranger changed his life

Constantly showing up can work in a person's favor in many scenarios. One man who stood at a traffic light to pick up trash while wearing a suit is a testimony to that. The man, Sthembiso (Lloyd) Nkuna, lost his job at the beginning of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The man would stand at a traffic signal each day and collect trash from people's cars in hopes of making some money and a passerby, Lorrel Singh, hoped to help him get a job, per a post by @loversofhumaitysa.

The man used to work "at Clientele Life and TS Legal as a Sales & Marketing Agent and a Debt Collector" before he lost his job. "Sthembiso also obtained his matric from Okani High School in Limpopo." The page posted the man's story in the hopes of helping him get a job. "If you've ever driven to Midrand, Johannesburg, you may have seen Sthembiso standing at the corner of Harry Gaulan and Berger Road." It further read, "His daily attire is what caught my attention because it told me that 'he is showing up for the job he wants!'" The man was looking for a job in the Midrand / Sunninghill areas and has two sons who live with him. Singh shared that she would sponsor money for the man's transport if someone could help him get an interview.

"When I first saw him, dressed like he was going for an interview, I knew immediately that this was someone who hadn’t given up on himself," Singh expressed in her note for Sthembiso's BackaBuddy campaign. "After months of job hunting, failed leads, and moments of despair, we’ve finally had a breakthrough." The man then started training at a restaurant in Waterfall, Johannesburg. Sthembiso was building his life from scratch and Singh was determined to help him throughout his journey. "This campaign is about more than just one man—it’s about giving a father, a husband and a provider the tools he needs to support his family with dignity," the woman pointed out.

The campaign was opened 6 days ago and aimed to collect a sum of R 50,000 ($2,790) for the man and had managed to collect R 4,700 ($262.33) at the time of writing this article. The funds were supposed to help the man get to and from his workplace and house. It would also help his wife expand her informal business of selling Tupperware, or even find full-time employment. It would also come in handy for the man's four children and help him get a new cellphone. "Sthembiso will use some of the funds to purchase a smartphone so that he can easily communicate with friends and family on WhatsApp."

Singh went on, "He will also be able to make use of his internet banking, send and receive emails and stay on top of news and online training—something that he cannot do currently." The woman suggested, "This is not just about helping someone survive. It’s about giving them the tools to thrive. It’s about saying, 'We see you, we believe in you and we’re here for you.'" She continued, "As Sthembiso says, 'Never give up. It's never too late to fight for your dreams.' Let’s be the reason someone gets to keep fighting."