JEANNIE SWANEPOEL writes:
With all the reports surfacing of children who are stolen, I am very alert when outside the confines of my four walls to ensure my two girls are holding my hand at all times.
I was so concerned for them that I was reckless with another very important item.
On January 22, I was waiting for my daughter’s judo class to start. I still had 20 minutes to burn, so I grabbed a few groceries at Pick n Pay. After shopping, the normal routine of getting my daughter dressed for judo and to her class, and putting my baby in her car seat, followed.
That done and dusted, we went home and collected her later from the dojo.
Wednesday came and went. Thursday came and during the day I started realising I had no idea where my purse was (nothing new). I lose things in the house and car often.
By Thursday evening I started to think it was gone. I only missed it as we needed to put in fuel and buy more groceries. We searched the house and car top to bottom, but couldn’t find it anywhere. I knew I had the purse last at Pick n Pay and suspected I might have dropped it outside the car when I put my baby in her chair.
Where do you start searching? Centre management? Shops in front of where I was parked? Local police, hoping it was handed in?
I was certain all of these would be a dead end, so by Friday morning, I made the decision to take Monday off to go stand in the queues to replace all cards, passport, ID document and driver’s licence.
Midday Friday my phone rang and Truecaller told me it was Metropolitan. I answered although I was not in the mood for another sales pitch.
It was Tyler from my medical aid. An absolute angel picked up my wallet and had been making contact with all companies I had cards for. He forwarded me her contact details and I immediately reached out.
Sunette Vice tried all possible avenues to reach me to advise she had everything in her possession, even sending her son door to door in the complex, asking if anyone knew who I was.
The family went onto Facebook and shared my photo on some groups to inquire if anyone knew who I was.
The relief is indescribable. Sunette Vice and family, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reaching out and keeping my belongings safe.
