Honest car guard returns lost watch

We have all lost items and very rarely ever see them again.

Fortunately, this was not the case for Brakpan resident Shirley Hayes (83), when her gold watch fell off her wrist in the parking lot of Jansens Meat Market on Friday, November 8.

The watch was returned to her a few days later by car guard Aaron Sibanyoli (48).

Shirley emigrated from the UK in 1976 and her experience with Aaron is just one of the many reasons she chooses to stay in South Africa.

Shirley told the Herald she had left the butchery and was already in the car on her way home when she realised her precious watch was missing.

Also read: ‘Tis the season for giving

Unsure of whether she had worn the watch that day, she returned home to double check, but the watch was not there either.

“I wasn’t sure whether I had worn the watch that day, but once I realised it wasn’t at home I called Jansens to ask if anyone had handed it in,” said Shirley .

Despite calling several times, the answering machine was the only response she received.

The following Tuesday, Shirley returned to the butchery and inquired about her watch, however, only a cellphone had been handed in.

Feeling defeated, she made her way back to her car where she asked a car guard if he had found a gold watch.

Aaron, who has worked as a car guard for 15 years, had helped Shirley take her groceries to her car the day her watch went missing.

“I asked Aaron completely by chance,” she said.

“And it was a good thing I came to check on a Tuesday because Aaron doesn’t work on Mondays.”

Aaron had picked up the watch and waited for someone to come and claim it, but when no one showed up he had taken it home to keep it safe.

“I thought someone would come to collect it,” he said.

“When no one came, I took it home and put it on top of my fridge.”

After discovering her gold watch was safely stashed at Aaron’s house, they organised to meet the following day so Aaron could return it.

“Aaron is a very honest man,” said Shirley .

“It’s amazing how much kindness he showed me.”

Also read: Kind act leaves a lasting impression

Aaron explained he loves his job and doesn’t want “skelms thinking they can come here where I work.”

“I grew up here and I need my job to support my child,” he said.

The following Wednesday, Shirley met with Aaron and her prized gold watch was safely back on her wrist.

“I gave him a nice tip,” she said.

“He truly deserved it.”

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Thelma Koorts  (editor) brakpanherald@caxton.co.za

or Stacy Slatter (news editor) stacys@caxton.co.za

 or Miné Fourie (journalist) minev@caxton.co.za

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