Humiliated by a BMW customer, South African security guard gets surprise car gift
A South African security guard who was told he would “never own a BMW” now drives one. Teboho Kabayi, 27, received a BMW 1 Series. Humiliated — full details…
A South African security guard who was told he would “never own a BMW” now drives one. Teboho Kabayi, 27, received a BMW 1 Series after a humiliating encounter at work turned into a wave of public sympathy and donations.
The incident happened about two weeks ago at the BMW dealership where Kabayi works in Kempton Park, in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. Video of the exchange spread online after a customer, sitting in a BMW with a passenger recording, berated the guard as he tried to do his job at the gate.
From insult to handover
According to the accounts circulating online, Kabayi asked the visitor which department he was looking for and asked to scan the driver’s licence before allowing the car through. The driver then launched into a heated exchange, boasting about his wealth and telling the guard he would never be able to afford the same brand.
That clip did what viral clips often do. It travelled fast, and it drew a backlash. South Africans rallied around Kabayi, and donations began to come in.
By Wednesday, security firm ScaryByte said it had stepped in with a bigger surprise: a BMW and a R30,000 cheque. The company posted handover photos on X, saying Kabayi now “totally owns” one after the earlier humiliation.
Money, a car and a plan
The gift followed an earlier crowdfunding effort that raised R31,900 for Kabayi. He said he planned to save that money to help open a bakery. The added cheque gives him more room to plan beyond the day job.
Kabayi said he was still taking it all in. “I was overwhelmed by the happiness,” he told News24 after the surprise. Speaking separately to Sowetan, he said, “I am cruising nicely.”
The episode has also sharpened the contrast between the original insult and the response it triggered. A brief encounter at a dealership gate ended with a new car, public support and cash. Not the outcome the driver expected.
The handover pictures posted by ScaryByte showed the guard smiling beside the vehicle, a sharp end to a clip that began with humiliation and spread well beyond Kempton Park. “Someone said he won’t be able to afford a BMW! He totally owns one!” the company wrote.
