Cape Town singer, songwriter and poet, Janine van Rooyen-Overmeyer, aka Blaq Pearl, has become a victim of crime after a dief stole her toilet paper.
The award-winning artist was robbed on Sunday close to her home in Mitchells Plain.
The mom of one says she still believes in humanity despite the incident that left her and her niece traumatised.
Janine, who works closely with vulnerable youth and women across the Cape Flats, says she was on her way home from the Promenade Mall and was walking because she lives close to the busy mall.
She had bought a few grocery items and two bags of toilet rolls for her organisation and was on her way when she experienced the “terrible ordeal”.
“It was after 12 pm and the shops were already closed outside the mall, and fewer people were around,” she explains.
“My 17-year-old niece and I were crossing the road when we noticed a suspicious-looking guy standing on the corner but we continued walking.
“At this point, we were at the main road and cars were standing at the red robot. But when we passed the guy, he grabbed toilet paper and ran.
“A man in a car gave chase after this skelm and he managed to get my toilet paper back. It was such a traumatic experience, and to think this boy walks in my street often.
“It goes to show they don’t care who you are but will do anything for a quick fix.”