‘I have faith in humanity again’

What could’ve turned into another criminal incident that we are all too familiar with, turned into a good news story that we don’t hear enough of.

Last week I forgot my cellphone on the roof of my car and drove off from a petrol station near the Fresh Produce Market.

Shortly after that I realised my blunder and returned to the station. The phone was nowhere in sight.

I got someone to call my number. Although someone picked up my phone, we got cut off. Later that afternoon I got someone to call the number again. At that stage I did not expect anyone to answer the phone as I had presumed that someone had stolen the phone.

Surprisingly, someone did pick up. He explained that a driver from Cleveland-based Kayley’s Belgium Chocolates, Bonga Mhlawuli, had seen the phone on the road and had picked up the phone and later handed it to his manager, Max Dube, in the hope that someone would call to claim the phone.

When I met with Mhlawuli and Dube, Dube explained how his driver constantly checked if someone had called to claim the phone as he was most concerned that someone had lost their phone.

Mhlawuli didn’t have to return the phone but he chose to do the right thing!

This simple act of kindness has reignited my belief in humanity. In a world of negativity and bad news this thoughtful act demonstrates that we are surrounded by decent and caring people who make this world a better place.

Thank you Bonga Mhlawuli for being one of the good people!

Manny de Freitas