A young mother from Bishop Lavis was overjoyed when her lost purse was returned to her after it was found by a good Samaritan working at Parow Centre.
Panelle Swartland, 23, says she got a skrik last week when her photograph appeared in the Daily Voice after the management of Parow Centre appealed for help in finding her.
Security manager, Ronald Pillai, explained they were searching for her after they discovered over R1000 in cash and various cards including an ID in the purse found and turned in by trolley supervisor Sipho Mashinini.
Panelle says she was at work on Thursday when her phone kept ringing.
“On the day my purse went missing, me and my boyfriend went to Parow Centre to buy food,” she says.
“When I got home, I realised that it was missing and decided to just leave it because I thought it was gone forever.
“I was at work when the article (in the Voice) came out and was busy helping customers when my phone kept ringing.
“I have a friend who is pregnant and is due to give birth soon, so I thought maybe it was her calling me. I was so shocked when I read the messages. I couldn’t believe it.”
She says when she checked her phone, she found a flurry of text messages from friends who had read the Daily Voice alerting her that her valuables had been found.
“If it was not for the honesty of this man, I would have had to take off work to get a new ID and I was thinking of those long lines (at Home Affairs) and that I have a 10-month-old baby boy at home.
“Luckily before I lost my purse, I had already bought my baby supplies, but I needed that money.
“Even my bus card was in the purse and my boyfriend offered to help me with transport money even though I said no.”
On Friday, Panelle went to Parow Centre where she met with Sipho and thanked him for his kindness.
“He was really shy when he saw me, but I gave him a R100 to thank him for his honesty.
“Another person would have just taken the money and thrown the purse away. I am really thankful for him.”
monique.duval@inl.co.za