A Manenberg resident who collects school shoes for hundreds of kids has been robbed.
Sabastian Haricome, who runs a school shoes donation campaign called HOPE (Helping Others Prosper Everywhere), says his bakkie was stolen on Sunday just after 4am.
Sabastian became a Cape Flats hero after he went from skollie to humanitarian.
The 30-year-old says the white Opel Corsa bakkie, branded with HOPE signage, was stolen by three unidentified men who were caught on camera.
“I got up and wanted to fetch the bakkie to deliver things, but when I got to the neighbour’s house in Thames Walk, where we park, I saw the bakkie was gone,” he says.
“I thought perhaps my dad took it to go to church, but then I saw I had both the keys with me and that's when I suspected something was wrong.
“I asked the neighbour if they know where the bakkie is. They checked the security footage and it shows how three men came into her yard, one opened the bakkie at the driver’s side, started the bakkie and then reversed it out.”
Sabastian said the vehicle was donated to him three years ago.
“We were given this Opel Corsa bakkie to help us with transportation for the school shoes campaign,” he says.
“It's sad to see our own people steal from us while they know we are trying to build up our community. The bakkie is branded; they know and what it’s used for.
“I am heartbroken by the loss, but we trust in God for bigger and better things to come.”
Sabastian and his father Ralph Haricombe, 62, started the campaign in 2012.
“We come from a background of drug addiction and gangsterism and our lives changed.
“Now we are working by giving back to the community and at schools,” he says.
SAPS’ Noloyiso Rwexana confirms that a theft of a motor vehicle case is being investigated with no arrests made yet.
HOPE is appealing for help for a new vehicle. Please call Sabastian on 071 098 6787.
Caption:
Caption: THEFT: Footage shows the men stealing the vehicle