Junaid Letoli's response when asked about his gifts and what he wants to be one day.
Video screenshot/Marika Smit
- A pediatric neurologist's heartfelt condolences fulfilled a student suffering from cerebral palsy's dream of becoming a police officer.
- The viral video of Junaid Letoli receiving a symbolic police gift highlights how a small gesture of kindness can brighten a child's world.
- Junaid said he loved his gift, and if given the chance, he would “put criminals in jail!”
A heartwarming video of Alta du Toit School gifting a boy with cerebral palsy with his dream police uniform has gone viral, reminding many South Africans of the power of a simple act of kindness.
The clip, shared on the school's Facebook page, shows pediatric neurologist Dr Magritte Van Niekerk surprising cerebral palsy student Junaid Letoli with a police badge, hat and blue beacon.
The gifts fulfilled his longtime dream of becoming a police officer. Within days, the video received over 140,000 views, with social media users praising the touching moment between the doctor and the student.
In its post, the Cape Town-based school described the moment as proof that dreams do come true. It was reported that from the first day Dr Van Niekerk met Junaid, he constantly shared his ambition of becoming a policeman.
Junaid uses a wheelchair and also has moderate to severe intellectual impairment. The school helps him through physical therapy to strengthen his muscles and maintain mobility. Despite the physical challenges he has experienced, staff describe him as cheerful, determined and full of personality.
Dr van Niekerk works as a pediatrician at Tygerberg Hospital and visits Alta du Toit twice a year as part of an outreach clinic. She reviews and manages the treatment of approximately 30 students who would otherwise come to the hospital's Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic.
His first meeting with Junaid was in 2021.
“Their immense happiness, despite their obvious difficulties, impressed me from the first moment I met them,” he said. “And at every meeting, he would tell me how he would be a policeman one day and drive very fast in a car with blue lights.”
Over time, his dream became the focus of his counseling.
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“It's a dream of his that I hear about on every tour,” Van Niekerk said. “He would sometimes ask me to stop talking so he could have a chance to speak, because sometimes it took him a while to get his point across, and he would tell me in detail about his policeman dreams. How could I not respond to him sharing his heart's content with me?”
small surprise, big impact
She decided to organize a small surprise and bought him a police badge, a hat and a blue light. Initially, the staff told her that Junaid could not attend his clinic appointment that day, so she asked them to hand over the gift to him. A few moments later, they brought him inside, a broad smile on his face.
Van Niekerk said, “I actually didn't know they would record it. I thought it would just be a photo in the end.”
There is no greater gift than seeing a child respond with complete joy to such a simple, small gift.
In a short video recorded for News24 by his teacher, Junaid expressed his gratitude and excitement.
When he was asked what he wanted to become, he replied with a big smile that he wanted to be a police officer.
When asked how he felt after receiving the gift, his face immediately lit up.
He said he was “very happy” and would put the lights on his car and drive it.
When asked what he thought of his doctor, he said she was good, “very good”.
'Put them in jail!'
When asked what he would do with criminals when he became a police officer one day, he confidently replied: “Put them in jail!”
He ended his message with heartfelt thanks. He said, “Thank you very much that the doctor believed in me.”
He also shared a simple message for humanity: “Tolerate each other.”
Marika Smit, content creator and LSEN teacher at Alta du Toit School, said the school values Dr. Van Niekerk's commitment to its students.
Smit said, “She puts extra effort into everything she does. Her interactions with our learners are heartfelt and honest, and she truly feels called to serve with compassion and excellence.”
She said the moment highlighted the importance of students looking beyond their diagnosis.
“Their example highlights the importance of integrating learners with special needs into society, a priority close to our hearts. When we look beyond diagnoses or labels and see each child as a valuable individual with unique gifts, dreams and contributions, we create space for respect, belonging and opportunity,” she said.
“Even the smallest gesture can have the biggest impact. May her example inspire us to perform random acts of kindness in our communities and help create a world where everyone feels loved, seen and included.”
Do you have a heartwarming story to tell? Email feelgood@news24.com.