A taxi gaatjie who lived most of his life on the streets has died a hero after he was struck by a car while attempting to save a woman from being robbed.
The driver of the car who hit Marlin Adonis, 29, on Jakes Gerwel Drive near Hanover Park on 24 May had been rushing his sick child to hospital.
Friends say Marlin had lived for 15 years on the streets and just seven months ago, he turned his life around.
Marlin was employed as a taxi gaatjie by the Route 6 Taxi Association in Town Centre, Mitchells Plain.
His boss, Henry Arthur, the chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Taxi Association and regional Santaco, says Marlin died trying to save a woman who was being robbed.
Henry’s daughter, Ingrid Pintoe, a nursing sister who had rushed to the scene, says Marlin and his driver had a full load and had been heading towards the city when they witnessed a woman being robbed along Jakes Gerwel Drive.
She says the concerned driver had stopped and a brave Marlin had jumped out of the van and was running over the busy road when he was struck by a car.
Marlin, who was severely injured, went into a coma before he passed away in hospital.
“He had tried to stop a robbery. Two men were trying to rob a woman,” Ingrid explains.
“Traffic cops were on the road at the time. The driver of the car which knocked Marlin was rushing his sick child of about eight years old to hospital. The traffic cops saw the accident and assisted the man by taking him and the child to hospital.”
SCENE: Crowd gathers as medics assist after the accident on Jakes Gerwel Drive
Ingrid says Marlin’s funeral is being arranged by his employer and he will be laid to rest on Saturday.
The service will take place at the Charismatic Church in Don Carlos Street in Eastridge at 8.30am.
Henry says Marlin was a dedicated worker who always left a good impression on customers.
Yes, he had a past, but we leave the past there,” said Henry.
“He started working here seven months ago and he worked with pride.
He was a sliding door operator, but he made sure the taxis were clean.
“Even after his death, passengers asked for him, not knowing that he passed away.”
Police did not respond to enquiries.
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za