Youth Leaders help solve problem :)

Sifiso told me that they found him approaching buyers on the Parade and when questioning him about the laptop bag he denied it. When they opened his bag, my laptop was there. SAPS arrived to arrest the guy and I immediately went to the station to lay charges.

By: Gary Wagenheim

MyLife Foundation – Managing Director

Yesterday evening – Wednesday 25^th August.

A homeless man had been hanging around our office that day, trying to get assistance. Being humane and kind people, we allowed him into our office to watch TV with some of our Youth. At the time he was inside, I was outside chatting with our Youth. After about 20 minutes he left, tapping me on the shoulder saying thank you and goodbye (with a smirk on his face). I didn’t think anything was wrong at that time. About 5-10 minutes later (after having a cigarette) I returned inside to collect my bags (which were on the couch) as I was going to a late meeting. When I got to the couch I realized my laptop bag was gone. Immediately I knew it was the homeless guy as he was the only person to have left the office while I was there.

Immediately I called all our Youth whom were around the office. Within seconds they gathered outside, discussed their strategy and split up to hit the streets in search of this guy. I got in my car and drove around the Gardens area in search of him too. Within no more than 10 minutes Sifiso called me to tell me “Gary, We got him! We at the parade, come here!”

Sifiso Jezile - One of the Youth Leaders and a close friend.

Upon arriving at the Parade, the guy was already in a CCID van and there was a crowd of about 40 people around the van. The CCID guards had my laptop with all possessions inside and so I was extremely relieved. Sifiso told me that they found him approaching buyers on the Parade and when questioning him about the laptop bag he denied it. When they opened his bag, my laptop was there. SAPS arrived to arrest the guy and I immediately went to the station to lay charges.

My laptop contains all the work I’v been doing for MyLife for the past 7 months, as well as all our current work which was not backed up. The loss of the laptop would’ve set me back months, besides the fact that I would have lost my ID, Wallet, Drivers License & Cards. I am deeply grateful to all our Youth and have so much respect for them all. I’v never seen a bunch of guys react so quickly and achieve such results.