I was parked in Port Edward recently when a man, 30-ish (difficult to judge in a mask) remarked about a crack in my windshield.
He told me that he could repair it for me in five minutes.
I was hesitant at first but after naming the company he worked for, and saying it would only cost R250, plus the fact that the crack was across my vision, I let him go ahead.
Five minutes later, after a smear of epoxy and small strips of transparent covering, the deal was done.
Fortunately, I had R250 cash on me and gave it to him.
No, he said it is R2 500.
I stood rooted to the spot in shock. I was stunned but felt obliged to pay.
Making my way to the ATM with him in tow, I made sure that he wasn’t looking as I entered my pin number.
The problem came when the screen popped up with amounts to be withdrawn.
I was too slow for his liking and he quickly punched in ‘own amount’ and immediately the amount withdrawing the cash.
I suggested that I should count the money but he said, no it would be fine.
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Being in my late 80s and widowed not too long ago, I felt sad and alone but decided not to allow the incident to get me down.
My bigger shock was to come when on opening my cellphone later I discovered that he had pressed the 3 and not 2.
A R250 repair had cost me R3 500.
I pray that this relating of the incident will save someone else from the same fate.
OCTAGENARIAN
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