Regular customers who park at Langverwacht Kwikspar probably are familiar with a neatly dressed and friendly car guard.
Last week his big bright smile might have been even broader than usual.
Paul Vyisigiro (30) says he will never forget the two women who handed him a replacement bicycle.
Sharee Dreyer and Lizelle van der Merwe, who live “just around the corner”, often stop at the store for neccesities. Both women are avid mountain bikers and entrepreneurial with Lizelle running her own business, Cycle Shift, trading in second hand mountain bikes.
Sharee and Lizelle recognises Paul as an entrepreneur in his own right with his car guard service. “He even had his own uniform made,” says Sharee.
They realise car guards are often treated with disrespect, but say one will never hear Paul complain. He is always friendly and ready to assist.
The couple have helped Paul out a few times with various mechanical issues he had with his old road bicycle – his means of transport to and from work.
Lizelle says they have fixed the wheels but lately there was an issue with the bicycle’s crank which often led to the chain coming off. To push a bicycle defeats the purpose of having one, she says.
Not too long ago, they told Paul they will find him a better bicycle.
Sharee says the only condition was that Paul should in turn give his bicycle to someone else in need.
Paul told them he would give it to his brother. Last Tuesday 15 February Sharee and Lizelle arranged to meet Paul close to his workplace to hand over a mountain bike along with some accessories including a helmet and a saddle bag with tools and a spare inner tube.
It turned out to be perfect timing as the crank on Paul’s old bicycle went from being a bit cranky to giving up the ghost that morning on his way to work.
Sharee posted a photo of Paul and his new set of wheels on a community Facebook page to which many responded positively about the gesture and Paul being a deserving recipient.
Nicky Brooks said Paul keeps an eye on her dogs when she visits the store. “Today he came running, he could not wait to show me his new bicycle.” She said he also told her he can now even lock his bicycle safely.
Paul, who lives in Happy Valley, is originally from Burundi.
“It is so far you have to cross at least two countries” to get there, he says.
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