• Western Cape matric pupil Miguel Hendricks is selling grapes and other fruits to fund his own matric ball in Wellington.
• He has raised just over R10 000 so far spending every day since February selling punnets for R20, but will cut down to just weekends ahead of exams.
• The shy teen said he chose to fund it himself as his mother was unable to financially support the farewell, with some of his money going toward household expenses too.

While many matric pupils are counting down the days to the final school dance, 18-year-old Wellington matric pupil Miguel Hendricks has been working tirelessly to make sure he can afford to attend his.

Armed with determination, a warm smile and punnets of seedless grapes, the teenager has spent every day since February selling the fruit for R20 a punnet to raise money.

For Miguel, the event is more than just a glamorous evening of suits, photographs and celebration. It is the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice – and a milestone he is determined to experience without putting more financial strain on his mother.

Miguel is the youngest of four children of single mother Kollana Hendricks, who works on a farm to provide for her family. Like many parents, she dreams of giving her son everything he desires, but the rising cost of living and the financial pressures faced by farm workers have made that increasingly difficult.

Rather than watch his mother struggle to cover the costs of his matric farewell, Miguel made a decision that has inspired many in his community.

He took matters into his own hands.

Every day after school and during his spare time, Miguel can be found selling grapes to residents and passers-by, carefully putting aside every rand he earns aside.

So far, the teen has raised more than R10 000, the bulk of which will go to shoes, suit hire, a car, and grooming.

He has also used some of it to contibute to his school fees and assist his family with food and electricity.

The family of six live in a two-bedroom home on a remote farm about 40 minutes from Wellington’s town centre.

“Life is not easy living on a farm, far away from everything and everyone. But I have been living here all my life, it’s safe, and I am used to being on my own and just with my family,” he said.

His determination has not gone unnoticed.

Miguel said he started selling fruit after a serious conversation with his mother and sister, Natiley, who told him they would try to give him a “nice send-off” but could not promise it would happen.

“I was never going to put pressure on my mother and sister because I know and could see that our home situation doesn’t allow us to spend money on unnecessary things. And so I decided that I would see how I can fund the ball myself,” Miguel told News24 outside his Wellington home.

He approached a local grape-packing company and explained that he wanted to sell fruit to raise money for his matric farewell.

The company’s owner then provided him with punnets that he could buy for R10 each – more than 80% below the normal selling price.

Miguel said he was grateful to the owners who understood his determination to succeed.

His sister said her brother was the last of the siblings to reach matric and that their mother was heartbroken that she could not help him financially.

“Despite the hardship and sometimes not nice times here at home, we felt that Miguel must have a proper ending to his school year because he really worked his butt off to get himself to this level of his education, and we are so proud of him,” an emotional Natiley said.

Miguel said his ideal matric ball would be to arrive at the venue in Paarl in September in a fancy vehicle and to ultimately pay off the hire costs for his suit and shoes.

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Studies come first

However, with mid-year examinations approaching, he has had to reduce the amount of time he spends selling fruit.

“As much as I would like a really nice matric ball, I am fully aware that the studies come first and that it is my number one priority. So now I only sell the fruit on Fridays and weekends,” said Miguel.

To add to that, grapes are out of season, so he has shifted to selling other fruit, which he packages himself before selling to residents.

“Business has been good in the beginning, but then extra classes started at school, and I needed to study, so selling every day has now been reduced to fewer days, which means less money making,” Miguel said.

The shy Bergrivier High School pupil said his childhood was not easy, particularly after losing his father at the age of 13.

“I miss my old man so much. He was the voice of reason, the reason why I must succeed in this life, because he believed I was destined for greatness. He also encouraged me to make lots of money so that I can leave the farm life and provide for my mommy and siblings,” said Miguel.

He said grapes were his father’s favourite fruit.

Most of his customers are teachers, fellow pupils and people passing by on their way to work or to take public transport.

“People are supportive. I don’t go around telling people to buy my stuff. If they feel like supporting, then great, thank you. If they don’t want to support, that’s perfectly fine,” said Miguel.

When News24 visited the family home on Tuesday, Miguel was packaging fruit that he planned to sell over the weekend.

“My sister managed to open a bank account for me, so now all the money I make, I put directly into my account so that I can build up enough to see to my matric ball,” Miguel said.

Local residents have praised the teenager’s work ethic, describing him as a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance, responsibility and self-belief.

‘I am so proud of this boy of mine’

In a time when many young people are confronted by social challenges, unemployment and limited opportunities, Miguel’s story stands as a powerful reminder that hard work and determination can still open doors.

For his mother, watching her son take such initiative has been both emotional and inspiring.

“I am so proud of this boy of mine. Whenever he puts his mind to something, there is nothing that will stand in his way,” Kollana said, adding that she is planning to provide a table filled with treats at the family home on her son’s special day.

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Despite the hardships they face, Miguel has refused to allow his circumstances to define his future. Instead, he has chosen to work for what he wants, proving that resilience often grows from humble beginnings.

As matric pupils across the country prepare for one of the most memorable moments of their school careers, the Wellington teenager is not only saving for his matric ball - he is encouraging an entire community with a lesson in perseverance, one punnet of grapes at a time.

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