Man Pretends to Be Homeless to See How Much Money They Make

• A content creator experimented by pretending to be homeless at a busy intersection to see how much money he could make
• He tried different messages on his sign, noticing how people reacted differently depending on what he wrote
• The video mixed conversations online about the experiment, with some applauding the hustling spirit of beggars

South Africans reacted to a social experiment in which a content creator pretended to be homeless for a day, sparking a discussion about generosity and street survival.

Content creator Keith Dodgen recently sparked a conversation on social media after carrying out an unusual experiment. He wanted to explore how much money a person could earn pretending to be homeless at a busy intersection. He decided to step into the shoes of a beggar for 24 hours, and with a cardboard sign in hand, he stood by the robots and observed how people reacted to him. Some passed by without a glance, but soon the coins and notes began trickling in.

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Within just one hour, he had already counted R68, a figure he compared to what he once earned working in IT, where he made roughly R52 an hour. Keith explained that one of the biggest challenges in the experiment was learning to manage his emotions while standing in front of strangers. His first sign explained that he needed money to keep his kids in school, which quickly gained sympathy and drew donations. But when he changed his board to read that he wanted money for beer, the responses shifted.

According to his observation, fewer women responded positively to this approach, while the 'kids' story resonated more deeply with their hearts. It highlighted how the displayed message could influence people’s willingness to give. At one point in the experiment, a man stopped and handed him R100. Instead of pocketing it all, Keith decided to do something special with the money. He then shared some of what he had collected with others he found selling items at the roadside, explaining that they, too, were hustling hard in their own way.

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Social experiment sparks mixed reactions

By doing this, Keith wanted to show that while the experiment was about numbers, it was also about recognising the different struggles people face to survive each day. The video of his 24-hour challenge quickly spread online, drawing both praise and concern. Some viewers admired how he took time to share the donations with others. Others, however, felt the experiment highlighted uncomfortable realities about homelessness and survival in South Africa.

Mzansi reacted to the video

MilkstoutPapi Kayise said:

"I’m quitting my job first thing tomorrow morning and going begging, because after seeing this, I realise there might be more money standing at a traffic light than sitting at a desk."

Munyayi Johanna Nthabiseng said:

"Back in December 2023, I decided to try car guarding for just one week during the holidays at Springs Mall. On Christmas Eve, I made R600, and on Christmas Day, when it was raining, people gave me R1105 in tips; R200s, R100s, R50s, just saying 'Merry Christmas.' Honestly, it shocked me more than my usual work as an entrepreneur."

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Jason Chesworth said:

"This idea was so clever, Keith. You’re honestly on a whole different level when it comes to South African content creation. Big ups to you, brother; your consistency and creativity are truly commendable."

Fahtima Essack said:

"That’s literally my traffic light on the way to work! If I had seen you there, I would’ve given you a R100 on the spot. Such a beautiful experiment, it really touched me."

Ashley Jr Manenzhe said:

"Bro, I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have given you that money because you don’t look homeless enough. You’re too clean to convince me you were really struggling."

Leigh Love Badenhorst said:

"Please keep doing more social experiments like this, Keith. It felt so raw, so real, and honestly eye-opening. Thank you for using your platform for something meaningful."

Babatsang Romeo Sekele said:

"I love what you’re doing, bro. Beyond just entertaining us, you’re actually doing something good for the community and sparking conversations that matter. May God bless you; I hope to meet you one day."

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UltiSbo Sbhono said:

"You’d be shocked at how much money real beggars make daily. That’s why sometimes they give you a dirty look when you hand them food instead of cash; the business is different from what people think."

Check out the Facebook reel below:

3 Briefly News stories related to homelessness

• South African actress Pebetsi Matlaila has revealed that she and her children are staying at a homeless shelter.
• A Cape Town mother revealed her experience of staying in a night shelter for the homeless with her children.
• A homeless woman reflected on her life after hitting rock bottom and was granted an opportunity to change her life around.

Source: Briefly News