Shoe hero Gerald Nomlala says he’s been left humiliated after cops rocked up and wanted to raid his home, claiming he had stolen the shoes he has been collecting for poor school children.
The dad of three, who has devoted his life to placing school shoes on the feet of arme laaities across the country, says he was treated like a criminal by police.
Gerald is the founder of the Kasi Angels Foundation, and relies on donations and his own pocket to buy the school shoes.
The foundation also does media and marketing work to generate an income.
Gerald often works with Bata SA, which donates hundreds of pairs of school shoes to children annually.
He says last Thursday, eight cops in three police vans arrived at his house in Khayelitsha, claiming they had received a tip-off about gesteelde skoene.
Gerald, 48, says he refused to allow the officers entry because they didn’t have a warrant.
He says one of the officers also threatened to harm him.
He says cops arrived at his home, making accusations that he was a thief who gave children shoes that were stolen.
“After this happened, I feel unsafe and humiliated,” he says.
“They said I had stolen shoes inside. I didn’t allow them entry to my property and this was when one
of them said he is going to shoot me and come back
for me.”
Cops accused Kasi Angels Foundation founder, Gerald Nomlala of theft of the school shoes.
Gerald has since opened a case against the cops.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirms the case: “Please be advised that a case of intimidation and crimen injuria is under investigation with no arrests so far.”
But cops could not confirm details of the search at his property.
In December, Gerald also made headlines when he fought off intruders at his home in front of his children.
The brave dad was stabbed four times, but prevented the skelms from harming his children.
One of the robbers managed to escape with two laptops, two hard drives and 40 pairs of school shoes, while the other was hospitalised and later arrested.
Gerald previously made headlines when he fought off intruders at his home in front of his children.
Earlier this year, Gerald went on a countrywide campaign, visiting several towns to deliver school shoes to needy kids.
Gerald was expected to leave for Mpumalanga this week to deliver more school shoes to needy children, but says he is feeling disheartened.
“My spirit is so low and character tainted,” he says.
“For them (police) to come here and treat me like a criminal made me feel like a criminal which I am not. These shoes come out of my pocket via my foundation.”
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za