The global white sock challenge trend, which has captured the curiosity of millions on TikTok, has officially landed in South Africa – and the results have sparked conversation about the cleanliness of Mzansi’s cities.
The challenge, made viral by international content creator Jimbo Hall, involves wearing a brand-new pair of white socks while walking through various cities – and then showing how dirty they become by the end of the day.
It’s a simple but striking way to visually measure just how clean (or dirty) public streets really are.
Hall’s sock tests from the ultra-clean streets of Tokyo, the glitzy walkways of Dubai, and London’s underground have racked up hundreds of millions of views, revealing stark differences in urban hygiene.
@jimbo.h I was actually surprised by this 😂 #london #challenge ♬ Blue Danube Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra
Stellenbosch creator takes the challenge
Back home, Tim Morrel, a Stellenbosch-based content creator known for his social experiments and pranks, decided to bring the trend to South Africa – with a twist.
You might remember Morrel as the guy who:
- Started a full-blown concert during a university lecture
- Filmed what a car guard would do if someone tried to steal his vehicle
Now, he’s turning his lens toward public hygiene.
What happened on Stellenbosch’s streets?
In his video, Morrel walked through central Stellenbosch and the taxi rank area in his white socks, camera in hand.
While filming, he was nearly mugged, showing that doing such challenges in South Africa also comes with safety risks not often faced in other global cities.
But beyond the drama, the footage showed just how grimy the socks became – caked with dirt, dust, and black smudges after just a few hours.
Morrel didn’t hold back in his commentary: “We’re either not using the cleaning budget properly, or there’s just no accountability. It shouldn’t be this bad.”
What the challenge reveals
While some may view the white sock challenge as just another quirky trend, its underlying message hits home – clean streets are a basic sign of public health, infrastructure efficiency, and civic pride.
In Morrel’s words: “It’s more than a sock test. It shows us how far we have to go to make our spaces livable and safe.”
Clean streets, clean society?
The reaction online has been split.
Many South Africans praised Morrel for raising awareness in a light-hearted yet powerful way.
Others were quick to point out the need for better waste management, regular street cleaning, and civic education about littering.
One user commented: “Maybe if we had more people showing this side of things, we’d start taking responsibility for our environments.”
Go on, take the ‘white sock challenge’ and send us the results!
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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