AN older lady asked me if I would accompany her to wait in the queue at Home Affairs Pinetown to collect her Passport and smart ID card.
The staff had advised her to be in the queue by 4.30am to ensure she was served, as sometimes they go off-line later in the day.
I agreed to do this, but told her to arrive after 7am as it would be bright, safer, and less time to stand on the steep slope where the people wait.
The parking across the road at Link Centre was locked and I parked further down the road. I did not know that there was parking at Home Affairs.
Following the article printed on Page 2 of 8 February edition of the Highway Mail, I left my cellphone and wallet in my car.
As I entered the intersection of Glenugie and Old Main Rd, I heard some shouting coming from near the traffic light closest to Home Affairs. I heard them shouting about ‘mlungu’ and ‘madala’ (old white man).
I stopped halfway through the intersection and five or six young men came towards me. I knew that I could not outrun them or defend myself and waited for the worst.
A Quantum taxi stopped between me and the youth and the driver shouted something at them. A second taxi stopped and that driver got out with a sjambok. The first driver told me to go.
I tried to thank him but he just shouted at me to go. I quickly walked to the bottom of the ramp where people queue, praying that there were people in the queue.
Thank God there were at least 50 people standing there like a bunch of sheep, waiting for the grand officials who most likely had not yet woken up for the day.
I joined the flock and appreciated the apparent safety in numbers.
If those two wonderful taxi drivers had not intervened, I may not have been able to write the above. Thank God for their presence. I will never curse them again.
We forget that most of these are professional drivers and only a handful cause the negative reputation. My greatest regret is that I cannot thank them personally.
